Smoke That Travels (2016)

Published on January 31, 2023
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I started this film at 17, because I had a fear that part of my identity, my native Prairie Band Potawatomi heritage, would be inevitably lost in time. Through music, dance, and color, I’m inviting others to become immersed in the thoughts, histories, and emotions I grew up with.

During the creation of this personal film, I had the intention for this to simply be a time-capsule for myself and my baby brother to look back on in the future, as adults. Little did I know that upon it’s release, this film would take me on a journey for over a year. I got to meet indigenous communities from around the world – from the Sami of Scandinavia, Ainu of Japan, and many more – who were all dealing with the same struggle to preserve their language and culture. I felt so lucky to hear their stories and for the first time, experienced the power storytelling has to connect us to each other as human beings.

Thank you so much to all who have supported this film time-capsule.

with love x
Miigwech (Thank you),
Kayla

Dedicated to my (currently 3 year old) brother, Senachwine.

runtime 13 min
with Gary Wiskigeamatyuk
directed + edited + cinematography + original score by Kayla Briët | 19 years old

“Smoke That Travels” Original Music here: https://soundcloud.com/kaylabriet/sets/smoke-that-travels-the-original-music-2016

Family History Website: www.wiskigeamatyuk.com

“Smoke That Travels” is a personal documentary by Kayla Briët that explores preservation and loss of culture and her own identity as Prairie Band Potawatomi.

FESTIVALS

Full Film

Awards
2017 MoMA Doc Fortnight (NYC)
2017 Smithsonian Institute NMAI Mother Tongue Film Festival (Washington, D.C.)
2017 National Geographic Short Film Showcase (NatGeo, Online)
2016 YoungArts (Los Angeles) – Winner in Cinematic Arts
2016 National Film Festival for Talented Youth NFFTY (Seattle) – Audience Award “Around the World in 10 Films”
2016 National Film Festival for Talented Youth NFFTY (Seattle) – Best Emerging Female Filmmaker
2016 Chicago CineYouth Festival (Chicago) – Best Documentary Senior Division
2016 New Renaissance Film Festival (London) – Best Young Talent (Documentary)
2016 Bushwick Film Festival (New York) – Best Short Film
2016 ImagineNATIVE (Canada) – Best Youth Work
2016 Seattle International Film Festival SIFF (Seattle) – Official Selection, Best of NFFTY
2016 Chicago International Film Festival (Chicago) – Official Selection, Best of CineYouth
2016 Rockland Youth Film Festival (New York) – Director of the Year
2016 Kleinkaap Short Film Festival (South Africa) – Best Documentary

Official Selection
2016 DocumentaQro (DOQU) Festival (Queretaro, Mexico) – Official Selection
2016 Miami Independent Film Festival (Florida) – Official Selection
2016 Largo Film Awards (Switzerland) – Official Selection
2016 Move Me Productions Festival (Belgium) – Official Selection
2016 Kleinkaap Short Film Festival (South Africa) – Official Selection, Cinematography Nominee
2016 VisionFest 3.0 (Los Angeles) – Official Selection Director’s List
2016 CUCALORUS Film Festival (North Carolina) – Official Selection
2016 Guam International Film Festival (Guam) – Official Selection
2016 Broke Student Film Festival (Michigan) – Official Selection
2016 Tribal Film Festival (Oklahoma) – Official Selection
2016 Orlando Edge Film Festival (Florida) – Official Selection
2016 IndieWise Virtual Festival (Online) – Official Selection
2016 RAW Film Festival (Los Angeles) – Official Selection
2016 Buffer Festival (Canada) – Official Selection
2016 Winda Film Festival (Australia) – Official Selection
2016 Ethiopia International Film Festival (Ethiopia) – Official Selection
2016 Citizen Jane Film Festival (Missouri) – Official Selection
2016 Big Water Film Festival (Wisconsin) – Official Selection
2016 Vidcon (California) – Official Selection, Intermix
2016 One Flaming Arrow Festival (Oregon) – Official Selection
2017 Big Muddy Film Festival (Chicago)
2017 Human Rights Arts & Film Festival (Melbourne, AUS)
2017 Skabmovat Film Festival (Finland)
2017 Native Crossroads Film Festival (Norman, Oklahoma)
2017 MINDIE Film Festival (Miami, Florida)
2017 Video Consortium LA (Los Angeles)
2017 Unearthing Another World (NYC)

Excerpt
Awards, Screening, and Official Selection
2015 Summer in the City (London, UK) – Official Selection INTERMIX
2015 Buffer Festival (Canada) – Women of Youtube Award
2016 Sundance Film Festival Ignite Fellowship
2016 YoungArts (Miami, Florida) – Cinematic Arts Winner
2016 SundanceTV, nofilmschool.com, Adobe Project1324 (Online)
2017 Teen Vogue (Online)

BROADCAST SCREENINGS

2017 PBS : First Nations Experience Shorts (TV)
2017 National Geographic Short Film Showcase (Online)
2016 LA Weekly November Issue Cover Story (Online)

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