Press Release

New Award for Best Indigenous Filmmaker Announced

Rio de Janeiro / Window Rock - Indigenous peoples are among those most affected by uranium mining and the nuclear industry in general. However, so far only a few indigenous filmmakers have addressed this issue. Therefore, the International Uranium Film Festival announces a special award to stimulate the production of indigenous films on nuclear power, nuclear weapons, nuclear waste, uranium mining and their consequences. 

To remember and honor Diné (Navajo) musician, traditional dancer, artist, filmmaker and Indigenous activist Klee Benally, who died at the age of 48, on December 30, 2023, in Arizona it is called „Klee Benally Earth Protector Award“. 

Klee is originally from Black Mesa and has worked nearly all of his life at the front lines in struggles to protect Indigenous sacred lands. He particularly advocated against uranium mining and for the cleanup of the more than 500 abandoned uranium mines that continue to contaminate the Navajo Nation territory. In his last book “No Spiritual Surrender: Indigenous Anarchy in Defense of the Sacred“, he writes, “If history is written by the conquerors, it will be unwritten by those who refuse to be conquered.”

The „Klee Benally Earth Protector Award“ comes with a prize money of US $ 1,000 donated by a collective of grassroots individuals. It will be presented for the first at the next Window Rock International Uranium Film Festival at the Navajo Nation Museum, November 13 and 14, 2025. After Window Rock the festival will be held in Las Vegas.

Filmmakers and producers are invited to submit their films to the International Uranium Film Festival to compete for the award and to be screened at Window Rock. The deadline for film submissions is August 17, 2025. Contact: info@ uraniumfilmfestival.org