FACT SHEET: Four Directions Productions

In the past, American Indians used runners to deliver the message. Since 1994, the Oneida Indian Nation has been investing in technology, staff and other resources to make its enterprises and services leaders in their fields. Today, the Nation is home to Four Directions Productions.

This high end animation and multimedia production house, specializes in 3D animation, HD cinematography and interactive projects. Their work includes a PSA with Graham Greene for Disney ABC and a tribute video for Maria Tallchief for the Producers Guild of America, an animated children's story for the Oneida Indian Nation, and the “World of American Indian Dance” (an hour-long program on the beauty of Amerian Indian Dancing that ran on NBC in 2003. The program was created by Four Directions with help from NBC executives Rob Wright, Jeff Zucker, and Marc Hirschfeld. Four Directions Productions was established in 2002 to help develop, produce, and distribute original film and television projects with an American Indian touch. The department also completed work on an interactive kiosk for the Children's Museum in Utica. “Raccoon and Crawfish,” the group’s first 3D animated short has won various honors world and was screened at the Cannes Festival in May 2008. Awards include:

•Las Vegas International Film Festival, Best Animation, April 2009

•Flint Film Festival, Best Animation, Oct. 2008

•Secret City Film Festival, Best Animation, Oct. 2008

•GIAA Festival of Short Films and Videos, Best Animation, Oct. 2008

•Southern Winds Film Festival, Best Animation, Sept. 2008

•Boston International Film Festival, Best Animation, June 2008

•International Film Festival of England (UK), Best Animation/CGI, June 2008

•Sweet Auburn International Film Festival, Best Animation, May 2008

•Okanagan Film Festival (CAN), Best International Animation, April 2008

•On Location: Memphis, Best Animation, March 2008

•Washington DC Independent Film Festival, Audience Award/Best Animation, March 2008

•All American Film Festival, Best Animation, March 2008

•Gem City Film Festival, Best Animation, Jan. 2008

•American Indian Film Festival, Best Animation, Nov. 2007

•California International Animation Festival, Best Animation, Oct. 2007

•Big Bear International Film Festival, Audience Award/Best Animation, Sept. 2007

•Moondance Film Festival, Sandcastle Award/Best Animation, Sept. 2007

•Reel to Real Film and Video Festival, Best Animation, July 2007