FRYBREAD FACE AND ME
CLOSING NIGHT FILM / RSVP REQUIRED
FRIDAY, JUNE 21 @ 6:00 P.M.
GGHC Auditorium: NMAI in New York
Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House
One Bowling Green, New York, NY 10004
ORIGINAL TITLE:
FRYBREAD FACE AND ME
DIRECTOR(S):
Billy Luther (Navajo/Hopi/Laguna Pueblo)
COUNTRY:
USA
DATE COMPLETED:
2023
LENGTH OF FILM:
83 min
FILM CATEGORY:
Drama
PRODUCER(S):
Chad Burris
CAST:
Keir Tallman, Charley Hogan, Martin Sensmeier, Kahara Hodges, Sarah Natani
The year is 1990, and 12-year-old Native American Benny Lovell, growing up in San Diego, enjoys playing with dolls and listening to Fleetwood Mac. Benny’s idea of his perfect summer quickly vanishes when his parents announce he’ll spend the summer with his Grandma Lorraine on her sheep ranch on a reservation in Arizona. Benny’s Grandma doesn’t speak English, and with no running water or electricity, Benny struggles to adapt to life on the ranch. His spirits lift when his cousin Frybread Face joins them.
Although Benny is first intimidated by Fry’s knowledge of Navajo traditions and her tough-as-nails tomboy persona, the two quickly form a friendship. Fry teaches Benny the Navajo way—including everything from introducing Benny to the Rodeo to the rituals of a baby’s first laugh ceremony. Frybread Face and Me presents a joyful and hilarious look into a summer of firsts through the eyes of two young Native kids.
Billy Luther (Navajo/Hopi/Laguna Pueblo)
Billy Luther (Navajo, Hopi and Laguna Pueblo) is the director/producer of the award-winning documentary Miss Navajo, which premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival and aired nationally on PBS’ Independent Lens that same year. His second documentary feature, Grab, premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and aired nationally on Public Television. His short documentary film, Red Lake, had its world premiere at the 2016 LA Film Festival and was nominated for Best Documentary Short at the 2016 International Documentary Association Awards. In 2018, he launched his web series alter-NATIVE for PBS’ IndieLens StoryCast. He is a writer and director for the AMC series Dark Winds.