Courage on the Big Screen at The Autry

I ended up booking this trip to LA at the very last minute. Courage was scheduled to screen at An Evening of Indigenous Cinema at The Autry Museum, and even though my schedule was packed, I knew I wanted to be there in person. I looked up flights, found one seat left on a semi private JSX plane, and decided that was my sign. I had never flown JSX before, but the whole thing felt comfortable and honestly a little luxurious, especially for something I booked barely a day ahead. That alone made the trip feel like an adventure before it even started.

When I arrived at The Autry, the reception had already begun. Guests were gathering, meeting the filmmakers, taking photos, and enjoying Chef Pyet’s food. The energy in the room was warm and welcoming. It felt like people weren’t just attending a film event, they were showing up for community. That atmosphere makes such a difference, especially for Indigenous storytelling.

The screening featured three Academy qualified short films:

Tiger
Directed by Loren Waters
A documentary honoring artist and elder Dana Tiger and the legacy of the Tiger family’s art. It follows her story, her daughters, and the revival of the Tiger T Shirt Company. The film feels like a living tribute to strength, resilience, and generational creativity.

Pow!
Directed by Joey Clift
A bright, funny, fast-paced animated short about a young Native boy trying to charge his video game at a powwow. It is heartfelt, modern, and rooted in community humor. The audience loved this one.

Courage
Directed by Eric Michael Hernandez
This one is especially meaningful to me because I had the honor of producing it. Watching it on the big screen again, surrounded by people who were experiencing it for the first time, brought up a lot of emotions. Courage tells the story of a young boy reconnecting with his heritage through Hoop Dance, guided by his uncle. Seeing the audience lean into the story, laugh at certain moments, and fall quiet during others reminded me why we made this film.

After the screenings, Bird Runningwater moderated the filmmaker panel. He asked thoughtful, grounded questions that gave each director room to speak honestly about the inspiration behind their films and the cultural threads woven through their work. Hearing the directors talk about their creative processes added a layer of meaning to each film. It felt like the conversation tied the entire evening together.

One of the highlights for me was seeing Eric’s uncle Terry perform a hoop dance at the end of the night. The entire room went still the moment he stepped into the circle. His dance brought the night back to culture, movement, and memory in such a beautiful way. It felt like a gift to everyone there.

I flew in that afternoon and flew out the next morning, but I am so glad I made the trip. Supporting our team, taking photos, watching the other films, connecting with everyone, and feeling the connection in that room was worth every minute. It was a night filled with pride, community, creativity, and storytelling.

And yes, JSX might have created a new problem for me, because now I am already looking at my next excuse to fly with them again.