Devin Neeley, director of the Four Corners Film Festival, spoke with Tri-City Record on Tuesday. David Edward Albright/Tri-City Record
Devin Neeley, director of the Four Corners Film Festival, spoke with Tri-City Record on Tuesday. David Edward Albright/Tri-City Recordcca

The Four Corners Film Festival returns to Farmington this September with a sharpened focus and a broader vision, promising two days of cinematic celebration that spotlight Indigenous voices, regional storytelling and cultural diversity.

Now in its sixth year, the festival – anchored at the historic Totah Theater and backed by San Juan County – has evolved into a dynamic platform for emerging filmmakers and seasoned artists alike, offering not just screenings but spirited discussions, Q&As and a growing sense of community around the power of film.

It all begins Friday, Sept. 12, at 10 a.m. with the screening of “Legacy of the Land.”

“Our mission is to make it as easy as possible for local filmmakers and large-scale, out-of-state productions to film in the Four Corners region,” it states at www.filmfourcorners.org.

“We also assist with permits, insurance, location scouting, transportation and craft services so that filmmakers can focus on making films! We want to be the connector between the industry and local film creators.”

“This year’s festival continues our commitment to celebrating Indigenous, regional and culturally diverse filmmaking through a thoughtfully curated lineup of films, discussions and Q&As,” Devin Neeley, board chairman, said in a news release.

Speaking of his experience as director of the film festival, Neeley said, “It really shows the creativity, the excitement, the passion that people have for filmmaking. What I’ve learned is everybody’s got a story to tell and some people use the art form of film to tell their story.”

Neeley, who’s been with Film Four Corners since 2017, said he was “loosely involved” at that time. The festival has been shortened to two days this year, featuring a notably diverse lineup of films.

This year, Film Four Corners expanded to include a weeklong filmmaking contest in the spring, with the entries screened at the end of the week.

In November, filmmakers will have the opportunity to display their talents at a Community Showcase, held at the Totah Theater.

“It’s still a challenge trying to explain to people the importance of building the film industry and the ramifications of economic impact, positive economic impacts,” Neeley said of his biggest challenge.

The consistent conversation is how to teach people that the film industry is a “viable economic sector that works hand-in-hand with everything else that’s going on in San Juan County.”

For young filmmakers – high school and college age – showcasing their work on the big screen is a big change from seeing it on a television or phone, Neeley said.

It takes a good group of people to put the festival together, he said. Generally, the board members are directly involved, along with some community volunteers.

“I hope that people come out to see some of the shows,” Neeley said. “It’s a really solid lineup this year.”

He mentioned the full-length feature “Hell or High Water,” a 2016 neo-Western crime drama directed by David Mackenzie, featuring Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine and Ben Foster as brothers who rob banks to save their family ranch.

Filmed in New Mexico but set in Texas, Neeley said it is “a good showcase of the beauty that New Mexico has.” It screens Friday at 7 p.m.

The Historic Totah Theater, 315 W. Main St., downtown Farmington. David Edward Albright/Tri-City Record
The Historic Totah Theater, 315 W. Main St., downtown Farmington. David Edward Albright/Tri-City Record

Friday, Sept. 12
10 a.m., ‘Legacy of the Land’

This six-part series, produced by NOVA and made by Indigenous filmmakers, highlights spotlights climate stories from Native communities across the United States and shares insight from their traditions cultures and knowledge.

“Tides of Tradition” (9:47 minutes): Directed by Kanesia McGlashan-Price (Unangax̂, Unalaska, Alaska), this short 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 minutes): Directed by Steven Tallas (Navajo Nation), this film 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 minutes): Directed by Anna Hoover (Bristol Bay, Alaska), this short 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” (7:51 minutes): Produced by Natives Outdoors (Colorado Plateau), this documentary examines how Indigenous ecological knowledge helps communities adapt to extreme drought in the American Southwest.“Keepers of the Coastline” (11:56 minutes): Directed by Jeremy Charles (Tolowa Deeni’ Nation, Smith River, California), this film follows coastal Indigenous communities as they apply traditional ecological practices to modern marine science and stewardship.“Harvesting the Future” (9:22 minutes): Directed by Wenona Benally and Sal Baldenegro (Tucson, Arizona; Tohono O’odham), this short profiles dryland farming in the Sonoran Desert and the Tohono O’odham community’s revival of sustainable agricultural practices.

11 a.m., Discussion

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

11:30 a.m., Lunch break

12:30 p.m., “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 adversityand redefining identity.

“And the Stars Are the Same” (12:40 minutes): 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 connect her past, present and future generations.“Double Life” (19:12 minutes): Directed by Marcia Robiou. After serving 25 years in prison for being the lookout in a mugging gone wrong, Shakoure Charpentier was released in 2015. Soon after, he was threatened with deportation to Haiti – a country he’s never been to. This short documents his 10-year struggle to prove his U.S. citizenship.“Farmers of the Sea” (19:15 minutes): Directed by Juan Carlos Dávila. Caribbean fishermen are desperately trying to adapt to rising sea temperatures. This documentary follows a crew in Vieques, Puerto Rico, who are forced to navigate further into the open sea, risking their lives to make a living.“Sangre Violenta / Sangre Violeta” (15 minutes): 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 gender violence in Mexico.“The Afro Mexpats” (16:34 minutes): Directed by Ebony Diaz. This short documents the growing movement of Black Americans moving to Mexico in search of refuge from racism. Through interviews with three “Mexpats,” the film explores how they navigate race, language and color in their new country, as well as accusations of gentrification.

2 p.m., Discussion

Led by Mike Wilson (Tohono O’odham)

4 p.m., “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 p.m., “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, Sept. 13

1 p.m., “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 reclaim Indigenous burning rights.

3 p.m. Showcase: The Work of Utah Filmmakers Carly and Jared Jakins

This program features films by Utah filmmakers Carly Jakins and Jared Jakins, highlighting their storytelling style and creative vision. Their work explores themes ranging from personal identity to social issues through compelling narratives and innovative filmmaking techniques.

“Rat Rod” (11 minutes): A haunted mechanic muses on life and death as he resurrects cars.“American Seams” (17 minutes): 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 minutes): Amid a formidable winter drought, a lone migrant worker struggles with his task of caring for thousands of sheep in the Great Basin desert. This poetic film explores isolation, climate change and the Sisyphean plight of migrant workers in the United States.

4 p.m., Q&A with filmmakers Carly and Jared Jakins

Led by guest festival programmer.

7 p.m., “The Arrangement” (70 minutes)

Directed by Shonie De La Rosa (primarily Diné, 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 p.m., Q&A with Director Shonie De La Rosa

A discussion with the director about the making of “The Arrangement,” cultural representation, and the importance of preserving the Navajo language through film.

Sponsors include San Juan County, Basin Health Cos., the Allen Agency LLC, KSJE Radio, Hutton Broadcasting, San Juan College, the city of Farmington and the Farmington Civic Center.

Friday’s daytime events will be open to high school groups at no charge. All-access passes are $20, and day passes are $10. Tickets and merchandise are available at www. FilmFourCorners.org.