Copyright 2026, Documentary Educational Resources https://store.der.org/dupris-ben-alex-c1016all.aspx Mon, 21 Sep 2026 05:45:33 GMT 60 Nexternal RSS 2.0 en-us https://store.der.org/sweetheart-dancers-p1029.aspx Product1029 Fri, 15 Nov 2019 07:39:28 GMT <div style="float:left"><a class="url" href="https://store.der.org/sweetheart-dancers-p1029.aspx"><img src="//cdn.nexternal.com/der/images/sweetheart-dancers.jpg" alt="Sweetheart Dancers" border="0" hspace="3"></a></div><span class="riRssTitle"><a href="https://store.der.org/sweetheart-dancers-p1029.aspx">Sweetheart Dancers</a></span><br><a href="https://store.der.org/sweetheart-dancers-p1029.aspx">Buy Now:</a> <span color="#990000"><b>$275.00</b></span> <br /><br /><div><div style="display: none;">[ &lt;script/style&gt; code inserted at beginning of text ]</div><div>Indigenous dancers Sean&nbsp;and&nbsp;Adrian&nbsp;challenge the rulebook of San Manuel's Native American Sweetheart Special as they attempt to compete in the annual couple's competition. Dancing not only against the other dancers, but against the drums of oppression and closed-mindedness, this two-spirit couple is determined to rewrite the rules of "one man, one woman" with their resplendent charisma, character and resilience. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><style><!-- /* Font Definitions */@font-face{font-family:Cambria;panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;mso-font-alt:"Times New Roman";mso-font-charset:77;mso-generic-font-family:roman;mso-font-format:other;mso-font-pitch:auto;mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}@font-face{font-family:"êundefinedÛø\/U\0027EA";panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;mso-font-alt:Geneva;mso-font-charset:77;mso-generic-font-family:auto;mso-font-format:other;mso-font-pitch:auto;mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal{mso-style-parent:"";margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}@page Section1{size:8.5in 11.0in;margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;mso-header-margin:.5in;mso-footer-margin:.5in;mso-paper-source:0;}div.Section1{page:Section1;}--></style><div>Director, Ben-Alex Dupris explains the origin of the film. "This story is rooted in an incident wherethe first Two Spirit couple, Sean Snyder and Adrian&nbsp;Stevens, decided to enter a Sweetheart specialcompetition at one big influential powwow. This had never been attempted beforein modern tribal dance circles and they were disqualified for not adhering to therule of the "one man, one woman" competition.&nbsp; This led to a year of reflection, and thoughtful preparationfor the next year where they courageously returned to the same powwow and were allowedto compete. This success story of resilience, and the action of love provided atalking point that spans decades of colonization with Indigenous communities. &nbsp;Prior to the Catholic boarding school era, LGBTQIA were accepted and respected by Native people. &nbsp;This story, and the spiritual renewal of our sacred Identitiesis one that leaves the audience with a greater understanding of our triballifeways. Within our hearts we are all one."</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><i>Sweetheart Dancers</i> was directed by Ben-Alex Dupris, an enrolled member of the Colville Confederated Tribes in Washington State, where he grew up.</div><blockquote><div>"[T]he expert cinematography and editing make Adrian and Sean’s relationship and emotion immediately legible. When they’re first turned away from competition by organizers who insist that “a couple must consist of two people. One man. One woman,” you feel their devastation intimately. A year later, when they win third place at a sweetheart dance open to all partners, you feel their elation and their love just as keenly." – <span class="value" data-bvo-item-id="21081476" data-bvo-item-type="platform-content"><i>Washington City Paper</i></span></div></blockquote></div><div><div><b>SELECTED SCREENINGS &amp; AWARDS</b></div><div><i>Grand Jury Award, Best Short Documentary</i>, OUT Fest, US, 2019 <br /></div><div><i>Grand Jury Award, Best Short Documentary</i>, <i>Audience Award</i>, "Out On Film" Atlanta LQTBQ Film Fest, US, 2019</div><div><i>Best Short Film</i>, Lumbee Native Film Festival, US, 2019<br /></div><div><i>Competition, Best Short Film</i>, New Orleans Film Festival, US, 2019</div><div><i>Competition, Best Short Film</i>, Palm Springs International Film Festival, US, 2019</div><div><i>Competition, Best Short Film</i>, American Indian Film Festival, US, 2019</div><div><i>Competition, Best Short Film</i>, Mountain Film, US, 2019<br /></div><div>Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, US, 2019</div><div>Seattle International Film Festival, US 2019</div><div>Cine Las Americas, US, 2019<br /></div><div>Cucalorus Film Festival, US, 2019</div><div>Frameline, <span class="st">San Francisco International LGBTQ Film Festival, US, 2019<br /></span></div><div>Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, US, 2019</div>AFI Docs Film Festival, US, 2019<br />Film Independent’s “The New Wave”, US, 2019</div><div>Hot Springs Film Festival, US, 2019<br />People of the Plains Visionmaker Film Festival, US, 2019<br />Way OUT West Film Fest, US, 2019</div><style type="text/css">p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 14.0px Montserrat; color: #444444; -webkit-text-stroke: #444444; background-color: #ffffff}span.s1 {font-kerning: none}</style><br /><br />Visit <a href="https://store.der.org/dupris-ben-alex-c1016all.aspx">Dupris, Ben-Alex</a> to see additional products in this category.</div>