Amazon will cover tuition for the Cherokee Film Institute’s inaugural class

Cherokee Film Institute has established a partnership program with Amazon that will provide full scholarships to the school’s inaugural class of 25 students.

The pact between the global e-commerce giant and the newly formed film institute was unveiled Tuesday during a press conference with officials from Cherokee Nation and Amazon. Lt. Gov. Oklahoma’s Matt Pinnell was also at the event in Owasso, Oklahoma. In September, the Cherokee Film Institute announced plans for its first class of students to begin in January.

“Cherokee Film Institute is more than a place of learning; it is a place of empowerment that will help create the talented Native American workforce needed to bring authentic Native perspectives, characters, cultures and more to a global audience,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “We are grateful to incredible allies, like Amazon, for joining our efforts to ensure Natives are seen, heard, respected and accurately represented in film and media by removing barriers for Cherokees and other Natives to opportunities and to pursue sustainable careers in this thriving industry.”

CFI is the first tribally administered film education program designed to help aspiring filmmakers develop skills in below-the-line production in hopes of strengthening the entertainment workforce within the Cherokee Nation and in its home state of Oklahoma. Although the 120-hour curriculum is primarily designed to help Native Americans pursue a career in entertainment, CFI is open to anyone over the age of 18.

According to Cherokee Nation, the film school is part of a “Cherokee Film Ecosystem” that also includes Cherokee Film Productions, Cherokee Film Studios and Cherokee Film Commission. These four pillars were designed by the Cherokee Nation to “pursue a shared purpose: innovating narrative sovereignty while creating economic development within the Tribe’s reservation.”

Amazon approached the Cherokee Film Institute to engage the community after the company worked in the region on director Cyrus Nowrasteh’s upcoming Amazon MGM Studios film “Sarah’s Oil.”

“We can’t wait to see where these participants go in their film careers and to see what’s next for Cherokee Film and film in Oklahoma,” said Brian Huseman, Amazon’s VP of Public Policy and Community Engagement. “Cherokee Film Studios was a key partner on Amazon’s upcoming film ‘Sarah’s Oil,’ our first production in Oklahoma, and we are excited to continue that partnership through the Cherokee Film Institute.”

Brettlyn Bevenue, program manager for CFI, wants students to benefit from the growth of manufacturing operations outside of Los Angeles and New York.

“We are thrilled about the opportunity to partner with Amazon for the inaugural classes of the Cherokee Film Institute,” said Bevenue. “We hope this partnership is the first of many bridges built to connect CFI certificate earners with careers in the film industry.”