Best of Fests: REMAINING NATIVE
Co-Presented by Salem Film Fest

ABOUT THE FILM
REMAINING NATIVE is a coming-of-age documentary told from the perspective of Kutoven (Ku) Stevens, a 17-year-old Native American runner, struggling to navigate his dream of becoming a collegiate athlete as the memory of his great-grandfather’s escape from an Indian boarding school begins to connect past, present, and future.

Learn more about the Salem Film Fest: www.salemfilmfest.com

ABOUT BEST OF FESTS
Best of Fests is a new curated series showcasing standout films from national and international festivals, spanning experimental nonfiction and documentary to fiction cinema and animation. The series aims to connect Newton’s audiences with the most exciting work on the global festival circuit and bring those conversations home. Curated by Homa Sarabi, in partnership with the West Newton Cinema Foundation, Best of Fests connects our community-run nonprofit cinema—saved and purchased for the community in 2024— to the best of contemporary films around the world.

Rooted in the Foundation’s mission to “foster joy and deepen community connections through innovative, engaging film and arts programming,” the series invites viewers to discover new voices, connect with global stories, and experience the power of cinema together in a historic neighborhood theater.

Curator’s Note:
“It is simple. I believe in the power of cinema to bring us together. I’ve seen how films ignite revolutions, energize movements, resist authorities, grow empathy, spread love, and remind us that life is expansive, multidimensional, and luminous. This world is made of collective struggles, and we are in it together—inside and outside the theater.” — Homa Sarabi