The film follows four people through the gathering — Gina Bluebird; Ruben Littlehead, the MC; Jamie John, a non-binary dancer; and Freddie Cozad, a singer and drummer — and refuses the explanatory voice a documentary about a powwow usually reaches for. It closes on a 30-minute unbroken shot of a Northern Traditional dance special, a formal gamble that trades summary for presence and pulls you into the texture and collective motion of the room. If you go one night, go to a Q&A screening: the film
What to expect
A patient, observational feature at BAM's Fort Greene cinemas, building toward a long single take that asks you to stay with it rather than cut away. On the opening two nights the 7pm show is followed by a conversation with filmmaker Sky Hopinka.
Good to know
- The Q&A screenings are the opening two evenings only — later shows in the run are unaccompanied.
- BAM Rose Cinemas is at the Peter Jay Sharp Building on Lafayette Avenue in Fort Greene.
- Nearest trains: the B/Q/R to DeKalb Ave, the 2/3/4/5 to Nevins St, and the C to Lafayette Ave.
- BAM members get discounted cinema tickets, which is worth checking before you book.
- Buy ahead for the Q&A shows — an opening night with the director present sells through.
- Best for documentary audiences who are comfortable with long takes and no narration.
Planning Sep 11–13, 2026 in NYC?
This list keeps changing as events are verified. We'll send you the final version the Thursday before — and you can unsubscribe right after if that's all you need.
Common questions
Who is in the film?
It follows four central figures at the gathering: Gina Bluebird, MC Ruben Littlehead, non-binary dancer Jamie John, and singer and drummer Freddie Cozad.
Will the filmmaker be there?
Yes. Sky Hopinka takes part in a Q&A following the 7pm screenings on both September 11 and September 12.
What makes it unusual?
The filmmakers organized the powwow themselves rather than filming an existing one, and the documentary culminates in a 30-minute unbroken shot of a Northern Traditional dance special.
