Question: Does anyone have info on previous versions of TCM's Race in Hollywood film festivals?

[Stacey Drenk]

TCM is doing a film fest next month called Race in Hollywood: Native American Images on Film.  They are showing films in several categories (non-Indians in Indian roles, Native American actors and filmmakers, etc.) to show how the depictions of Native Americans in film have changed over the years.  Along with he films will be discussions with Professor Hanay Geiogamah, the director of the American Indian Studies Center at UCLA, 

Here's the link to info for this year: http://www.tcm.com/2010/naof/index.jsp

Apparently they have been doing these fests for several years (covering African-Americans, Asians, Latinos, as well as a series about the depictions of gay images in film) and I have been oblivious to it until now.  Does anyone have any information on previous fests?  Film lists?  Places to find the discussions?  Thanks!

[Frank W. Baker]

Stacey
It has been my impression and experience that SOME of these so-called festivals are nothing more than an attempt by the network to combine a bunch of films into some type of genre category, and nothing else.
The host may introduce these films with some insight,or expert, but I do not believe there is anything new about these festivals. Occassionally, TCM may produce a special about a director or star with appropriate clips and interviews, but in this case, I think it's all marketing....too bad, because they COULD be contributing to helping students better understand "film language" and film techniques. Frank Baker