This Native American Heritage Month, AMC Networks is amplifying Indigenous talent across film and television through new partnerships, mentorship programs, and exclusive AMC+ programming. In collaboration with Dark Winds star Jessica Matten’s Indigenous Film & Arts Academy (IFA), 7 Forward Entertainment, and the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), the company is expanding hands-on opportunities for emerging Indigenous creatives.
A new training and cross-border apprenticeship program in the U.S. and Canada gives aspiring filmmakers direct, on-set experience through the Indigenous Film Academy and IAIA. Participants receive practical mentorship in production roles ranging from lighting and wardrobe to props and camera—preparing the next generation of Indigenous storytellers to thrive in the industry.
AMC’s long-standing relationship with IAIA has already created impactful internships on the Dark Winds set in Santa Fe, while recent placements with IFA brought Indigenous interns onto the upcoming Anne Rice’s The Vampire Lestat, premiering in 2026.
AMC+ is also debuting Tales from the Rez, a bold new series created with graduates of the Indigenous Film Academy and produced by Blackfoot Nation Films, Colin Van Loon, and Jessica Matten. Premiering exclusively on AMC+, it anchors the platform’s “Celebrating Native Voices” collection, which also features Lakota Nation vs. United States, Dark Winds, and more.
As Matten notes, this work is “about restoration”—reclaiming narratives and building lasting opportunities for Indigenous youth to lead, create, and imagine what comes next.
