2025 Four Corners Film Festival

September 12 & 13 @ The Totah Theater in Downtown Farmington

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2025 Festival Program

Friday, September 12


10:00 AM

Legacy of the Land

In this 6-part series, produced by NOVA and made by Indigenous filmmakers, highlights climate stories from native communities across the United States and shares insight from their traditions cultures, and knowledge.


Tides of Tradition (9:47 min)

Directed by Kanesia McGlashanPrice (Unangax̂, Unalaska, AK)

Follows an Unangax̂ hunter in the Aleutian Islands as he navigates food access, climate change, and cultural preservation in the remote Arctic.


Standing the Heat (8:44 min)

Directed by Steven Tallas (Navajo Nation)

Explores the cooling benefits of traditional Navajo hogans and how this ancient architecture could inform sustainable housing in the Southwest.


Sands of Time (6:47 min)

Directed by Anna Hoover (Bristol Bay, AK)

Blends archival film, contemporary visuals, and Indigenous oral history to highlight the impacts of coastal erosion in Alaska’s Bristol Bay region.


Megadroughts and Indigenous Voices (7:51min)

Produced by Natives Outdoors (Colorado Plateau)

Examines how Indigenous ecological knowledge helps communities adapt to extreme drought in the American Southwest.


Keepers of the Coastline (11:56 min)

Directed by Jeremy Charles (Tolowa Deeni’ Nation, Smith River, CA)

Follows coastal Indigenous communities as they apply traditional ecological practices to modern marine science and stewardship.


Harvesting the Future (9:22 min)

Directed by Wenona Benally & Sal Baldenegro (Tucson, AZ; Tohono  O’odham)

Profiles dryland farming in the Sonoran Desert and the Tohono O’odham community’s revival of sustainable agricultural practices.


11:00 AM

Discussion led by Mike Wilson (Tohono O’odham) on environmental justice and cultural stewardship in the Southwest


11:30 AM

Lunch Break


12:30 PM


Coming Home – Stories of Resistance, Identity & Belonging

A powerful series of documentary shorts produced by Latino Public Broadcasting by talented young filmmakers from across the U.S. that explore the challenges of adapting to new environments, overcoming adversity, and redefining identity.


And the Stars are the Same (12:40 min)

Directed by Raul O. Paz-Pastrana and Alan Dominguez

Eulalia Pedro, an Indigenous Mayan elder, fled war-torn Guatemala more than 25 years ago. In this meditative film, she reflects on leaving her home, resettling in Colorado’s San Luís Valley, and the stars overhead that are a connection between her past, present, and the generations to

come.


Double Life

Directed by Marcia Robiou (19:12 min)

After serving 25 years in prison for being the lookout for a mugging gone wrong, Shakoure Charpentier was released in 2015. Soon after, he was threatened with deportation to Haiti – a country he's never even been to. This short documents his 10-year-long struggle to prove his U.S.

citizenship.


Farmers of the Sea (19:15 min)

Directed by Juan Carlos Davila

Caribbean fishermen are desperately trying to adapt to rising sea temperatures. This documentary follows a crew of fishermen in Vieques, Puerto Rico, who are forced to navigate further into the open sea, risking their lives to catch enough fish to make a living.


Sangre Violenta/Sangre Violeta (15 min)

Directed by Arturo R. Jimenez and Edna Diaz

Why does the Mexican government consider the feminist movement a bigger threat than most drug cartels? A grieving father, an inspiring musician and survivor, and a radical feminist collective confront the horrifying reality of the epidemic of gender violence in Mexico.


The Afro Mexpats (16:34 min)

Directed by Ebony Diaz

This new short documents the growing movement of Black Americans moving to Mexico, hoping to find refuge from racism. Through interviews with three “Mexpats,” the film explores how they are navigating questions of race, language and color in their new country, as well as accusations of gentrification.


2:00 PM

Discussion led by Mike Wilson (Tohono O’odham)


4:00 PM

The American Southwest (100 minutes)

Directed by Ben Masters

Narrated by Indigenous Environmentalist Quannah Chasinghorse


This visually stunning, family-friendly documentary explores the diverse landscapes, rich cultures, and vibrant wildlife of the American Southwest. From dramatic desert vistas to thriving communities, the film offers an intimate portrait of a region shaped by nature and human history.



7:00 PM


Hell or High Water (102 minutes)

Directed by David Mackenzie

A modern Western thriller following two brothers who resort to bank robbery to save their family ranch, as a relentless Texas Ranger closes in. The film explores themes of economic hardship, justice, and family loyalty against the stark backdrop of the American Southwest.



Saturday, September 13


1:00 PM

Firelighters: Fire is Medicine (57 minutes)

Directed by Sande Zeig

This documentary follows the transformative work of women leaders from the Yurok and Karuk Tribes who are building educational resources to share Indigenous practices and create policies to take back Indigenous burning rights.


3:00 PM

Showcase: The Work of Utah Filmmakers Carly and Jared Jakins

This program features films by Utah-based filmmakers Carly and Jared Jakins. It highlights their storytelling style and creative vision, exploring themes ranging from personal identity to social issues through compelling narratives and innovative filmmaking techniques.


Rat Rod (11 min)

A haunted mechanic muses on life and death as he resurrects cars.


American Seams (17 min) 

The stories of three quilters reveal an intimate portrait of rural women in the American West.

Featuring Brenda Bailey, Sara Buscaglia, and Susan "Traditional Woman" Hudson.


El Desierto (19 min) 

Amid a formidable winter drought, a lone migrant worker struggles with his task of caring for thousands of sheep in the Great Basin desert. El Desierto poetically explores themes of isolation, climate change, and the Sisyphean plight of migrant workers in the United States.


4:00 PM

Q & A with Filmmakers Carly and Jared Jakins led by Guest Festival Programmer


7:00 PM

The Arrangement (70 min)

Directed by Shonie De La Rosa

Primarily Navajo with English subtitles

A romantic comedy set within the Navajo community, The Arrangement explores themes of love, tradition, and cultural identity through the story of an arranged marriage. The film features an all-Navajo cast and crew and was shot entirely on the Navajo Nation. It is the first feature film

produced primarily in the Diné (Navajo) language, supported by the Navajo Nation Film Office to help preserve and revitalize the language.


8:15 PM

Q & A with Director Shonie De La Rosa

Join us for a discussion with the director about the making of The Arrangement, cultural representation, and the importance of preserving the Navajo language through film.


Thank you to our 2025 sponsors!

If you are interested in sponsoring the 2025 film festival- please email info@filmfourcorners.org

San Juan County


SJCounty.net

Basin Health Companies


Basin.Health

The City of Farmington
The Farmington Civic Center

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES


We are currently looking for volunteers for future festivals ,
locations scouting and documentation.

Screenwriter Testimonial

 Very honored to have my screenplay, "The Loser's Club," chosen as an Official Selection. This such a classy competition and extremely well-run Festival. Thanks you. I will definitely be entering again next year!

- Jonathan Turner Smith, Screenwriter

Director Testimonial

For sure this is a great festival. I am very happy with the excellent communication and professionalism of those who produce this festival! Thank you for this enjoyable experience and for accepting and honoring our feature film "Stowaways"

- Chen Liang, Director, Screenwriter, Actor

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