REGINA SIMONS

“Filmmakers have the power to heal the past by telling their stories.”

Haile Gerima

Stories are powerful, and we must tell the diverse human experiences of our collective universe through film. My professional goals are to write, produce, and edit films that shed light on previously unheard and unknown human voices.

My father is Santee Sioux & Assiniboine—an enrolled member of the Assiniboine Nation, and my mother is Navajo & Hopi—an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. I am an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation.

Having worked in front of the camera as a performer since the age of five, I have often been frustrated by the lack of adequate roles offered (or available) to Native Americans. This frustration motivates me to action as I continue learning the technical aspects of filmmaking and work to create the content I’ve been searching for on-screen.

Many of us have seen Native American people in films, but most of the stories are told from an outside narrative, a non-Native perspective. Representation is important. Film is such a mass medium that it dramatically impacts the ideas that circulate in our society. 

My portfolio spans narrative, documentary, and experimental films. I believe filmmaking can help move society from one level of consciousness to another—opening minds, healing hearts, and improving the world.