Ep. 61 - Finding Home in FRYBREAD FACE AND ME: A Conversation with Filmmaker Billy Luther
Kier Tallman as Benny in FRYBREAD FACE AND ME (2023): Photo source: Array
…my grandmother didn't judge me, and she was allowing me…to act things out and talk to myself. And I think that's the beauty of kind of just going home to the rez….I hope that most of us have had at going home to our grandparents. It was safe.
Billy Luther
In episode 61,The Boston Sisters are talking with filmmaker Billy Luther (Navajo, Hopi, Laguna Pueblo) about his 2023 feature film FRYBREAD FACE AND ME. The conversation highlights the film's themes of identity, family, and cultural heritage, and the impact of executive producer Taika Waititi.
Set in 1990 FRYBREAD FACE AND ME (Netflix) follows 11-year-old Benny from San Diego, and his precocious cousin Dawn (also known as Frybread Face) as they bond during a summer with their Diné-speaking grandmother at her ranch on the Navajo reservation in Arizona. It’s a transformative summer for Benny and Dawn who are learning more about their family’s past, their culture, and themselves.
GUEST
Billy Luther
FRYBREAD FACE AND ME is the first feature film by Billy Luther (Navajo, Hopi and Laguna Pueblo). Billy launched his filmmaking career in documentary films beginning with the award-winning MISS NAVAJO, which aired nationally on PBS’ Independent Lens in 2007.
Billy’s second documentary feature, GRAB, premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and aired nationally on PBS. Billy’s short documentary film, RED LAKE, had its world premiere at the 2016 LA Film Festival and was nominated for Best Documentary Short at the 2016 International Documentary Association Awards. In 2018, he launched his web series “alter-NATIVE” featuring Indigenous fashion designer Bethany Yellowtail for PBS’ IndieLens StoryCast.
Recently Billy Luther is story editor, writer and director for the AMC Plus series DARK WINDS based on the detective novels by Tony Hillerman.
Follow Billy Luther on Instagram | Download a transcript of this podcast conversation
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FRYBREAD FACE AND ME
Trailer for FRYBREAD FACE AND ME (2023)
Winner of the best narrative feature at the 2023 Urbanworld Film Festival, FRYBREAD FACE AND ME follows two adolescent Navajo cousins from different worlds as they bond during a summer on their grandmother’s Arizona ranch, learning more about their family’s past and about themselves. FRYBREAD FACE AND ME is the first feature film by writer/director Billy Luther (Navajo, Hopi, Laguna Pueblo). Produced by Chad Burris and executive produced by Taika Waititi (Maori), the film stars Kier Tallman (Benny), Charley Hogan (Dawn/Frybread Face), Martin Sensmeier (Uncle Marvin), Kahara Hodges (Aunt Lucy), and Sarah Natani (Grandma Lorraine).
FRYBREAD FACE AND ME is streaming on Netflix. You can also book a screening from ARRAY.