Copyright © 2005 NLThomas
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TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - Native American actors like West Studi will grace the streets of Tahlequah this week as they participate in the second annual International Cherokee Film Festival. So will some of the best producers, directors and instructors, including three Oscar and Emmy award-winning instructors from the University of Southern California.

Festival organizers invite the public to attend. The event runs through Saturday evening. Films will be shown during the day and at night at several different venue locations in downtown Tahlequah, Okla.

Actor Jim Beaver, who plays "Elsworth" in HBO's hit series Deadwood, will be in town on Saturday to conduct the Acting for Film workshop. Eddie Spears, lead actor in Rick Schroeder's new film Black Cloud, along with Wes Studi, Cody Lighting, Larry Blackhorse Lowe and others will be in town for a variety of festival events.

The public will get the chance to view films which have not yet been made publicly available. The films feature a variety of Native American artists, from producers to actors. The selection includes everything from full-length feature films to short films, documentaries and animations.

The festival film workshops are a rare opportunity for anyone interested in film to learn from the best in the field. Workshops run from Thursday through Saturday and include Composing for Film, Multi-Media Filmmaking, Screenwriting, Acting for Film, Producing, Editing and Filmmaking Elements.

Tickets may be purchased at the Dream Theatre on North Muskogee Avenue in downtown Tahlequah. Festival Passes for all events can be purchased at the Film Festival Office located in the offices of Suzanne Hathaway and Associates, at the intersection of Highway 51 at Choctaw Avenue and Muskogee Avenue in downtown Tahlequah. The ticket office phone number is 918-456-2589.

Related Cherokee Nation contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org