WATCH: ‘Imagining the Indian’ trailer
Award-winning documentary opens in NYC on March 31
“Imagining the Indian: The Fight Against Native American Mascoting” will open exclusively in movie theaters beginning on March 31 in New York, followed by Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Atlanta, Kansas City, Chicago, Phoenix, San Francisco and other cities throughout April.
“Imagining the Indian” is a comprehensive examination of the movement to eradicate the words, images, and gestures that many Native Americans and their allies find demeaning and offensive. While the filmmakers are encouraged by the changes made by Washington’s NFL team to the Commanders, and Cleveland’s MLB team to the Guardians, they realize that the fight against Native American mascoting is far from over.
Ownership for Kansas City’s NFL team, Chicago’s NHL team, and Atlanta’s MLB team remain adamant that they will not change their team names or practices, including the insidious Tomahawk/Arrowhead Chop. Additionally, close to 2,000 secondary schools throughout the country still have harmful Native themed mascots. “Imagining the Indian” seeks to shine a light on these harms.
“Changing the names for the Washington Football team and Cleveland’s baseball team was long overdue, but the victory is only piecemeal until names are also changed in Atlanta for baseball, in Chicago for hockey, and in Kansas City, and don’t ignore the almost 2000 other teams with problematic names,” said co-director Aviva Kempner.
THEATRICAL RELEASE SCHEDULE FOR ‘IMAGINING THE INDIAN’
Friday, March 31
New York – Quad Cinema (Landmark) – Four shows daily!
Opening Weekend Q&A’s
• Friday, March 31 (7:20 pm show) – Q&A with director Aviva Kempner (The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg) and sports journalist Kevin Blackistone (The Washington Post)
• Saturday, April 1 (7:20 pm show) – Q&A with director Aviva Kempner (The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg) and sports journalist Kevin Blackistone (The Washington Post)
• Sunday, April 2 (3:00 pm show) – Q&A with director Aviva Kempner (The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg)
Friday April 7
Washington, DC – Avalon
Friday, April 14
Atlanta – Midtown
Los Angeles – Laemmle Monica Film Festival
Friday, April 21
Chicago – Gene Siskel Film Center
Sunday, April 23
Highland Park, IL – Wayfarer Theaters
Friday, May 5
Kansas City – Screenland Armour
San Francisco – Opera Plaza (Landmark)
Friday, May 12
Phoenix – Shea 14 (Harkins)
For more information on “Imagining the Indian: The Fight Against Native American Mascoting,” visit imaginingtheindianfilm.org. Theatrical dates and locations will be updated weekly on the website. Watch the trailer now here: https://youtu.be/f76VkRfphHU.
