Remaining Native SXSW Premiere

Remaining Native follows Ku Stevens as he retraces his great-grandfather’s 50-mile escape from an Indian boarding school, a journey that explores memory, resilience, and the ongoing impact of this history on Native communities. For director Paige Bethmann, the story was personal—her great-grandmother attended a Catholic-run boarding school in New York, shaping her family’s history in ways that still resonate today.

With the support of the BAVC MediaMaker Fellowship, Bethmann navigated the challenges of independent filmmaking, finding mentorship and a network of peers to help bring Remaining Native to life.

In this interview, producer Jess Epstein discusses the collaborative process, the role of community in the film’s development, and what’s next after its SXSW premiere.

Story Behind Remaining Native

What inspired Paige to tell Ku’s story?

Like Ku, Paige is a descendant of an Indian Boarding School survivor, her great grandmother attended a Catholic run boarding school in Upstate, New York leaving imprints on her families story. When Paige was working in New York City for Vox, the story of the unmarked graves of Indigenous children’s remains discovered in Kamloops, Canada came out. Paige noticed the community outpour of storytelling but also the lack of awareness most people had around her about this history. Through a family friend, Paige saw an article written about Ku and his aspirations to retrace his great-grandfather’s 50 mile escape. Paige was moved not just by the visual opportunity of filming Ku running in the desert, but by what it would mean to tell a story about a young person navigating this painful memory at this time while also trying to achieve his dream as a runner. At the core, Paige wanted the film to show the community coming together to heal.

The Role of BAVC Media

How did being a BAVC MediaMaker Fellow support Paige’s filmmaking journey?

BAVC MediaMaker was crucial in the development of Paige’s filmmaking journey. Making a film can be incredibly isolating and lonely, it’s difficult to find support at all stages of the process. BAVC cultivated community and provided mentorship from seasoned filmmakers but also thoughtfully selected projects that complimented one another to be able to seamlessly exchange ideas on a peer-to-peer level. Through BAVC’s programming, attending festivals and workshops helped so much with visibility and navigating the industry which can be difficult to access as a first time feature filmmaker.

How did BAVC’s support help shape Remaining Native?

BAVC reaffirmed Paige’s vision for the film, her cohort reminded her to stay grounded in her ideas, drown out the noise and fight for the version of the film that resonated the most with her. Having strong advocates and idea collaborators helped instill confidence and made it possible to dream bigger, and delve into the creative in a way that wouldn’t be possible without the support and resources provided by the MediaMaker fellowship. 

The Premiere Experience at SXSW

How does it feel to have Remaining Native premiere at SXSW?

It feels surreal to finally have the film out there after 4 years of working so hard to tell this story. We were particularly excited about SXSW because we knew it was going to be an opportunity to connect with Austin’s large running community and Indigenous communities. The film is built by the community and to be able to invite folks in to join us during our premiere felt amazing.

What do you hope audiences take away from the film?

We want audiences to see that healing is possible when we come together not just to acknowledge the wrongdoings of the past, but to celebrate, share, practice culture, and dream big. Ku is a vehicle in this story to share an experience that resonates with many Native American families but also young people who are navigating changes in their lives while trying to hold on to their identity.

Paige and Jess

How did you begin working together on this film?

We started working together on the film in 2021. We had worked together at VOX Media, where Paige was staff and Jess was freelance in 2020, and after that we became close friends. When Paige set out to make this film and see where Ku’s story would take her she turned to community first. Jess was just one of the many friends Paige reached out to. Turns out, now four years later, many of those same friends are still working on the film too! 

What has your collaboration been like throughout the filmmaking process?

Our collaboration has been extremely close throughout the process. We are in pretty constant communication and are always checking in with one another. Making a film like this requires a lot of support, understanding, and care and we are very grateful to have each other and a community of support around us. 

5k at SXSW

How did the idea for the 5K run at SXSW come about?

We came up with the idea of a 5k because it was something Ku wanted to do. It felt like a natural extension of the Remembrance Run, which Ku has done 4 years in a row now, to honor his great-grandfather Frank Quinn. A 5k is a bit more accessible than 50 miles, so it feels like a great way to engage folks around the film and develop community wherever we go. One of our partners on the film, Running Strong for American Indian Youth, put us in touch with Nike and we were able to come together to have their support for the event. With Nike, we were able to make some really great swag but more than that truly connect with the running community in Austin and also support the participation of the Austin Powwow Committee who made Indian Tacos and performed at the event. All of that support led to over 550 people signing up for the event and around 200 runners participating on a cold, windy Austin morning. 

How do events like this broaden the film’s impact?

Events like this broadened the film’s impact in a number of ways. It helps us connect with folks outside of the theater, but it also shows an important element of the film. Ku’s father, at one point, says “There’s many ways to pray, I believe running is one of those way.” By running in the community, we are able to uplift the message of the film and of organizations like the Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, Running Strong, and local groups like the Austin Powwow committee, to highlight issues and needs for each group. It’s a way for us to show up, put our bodies in motion, be present, connect with the land (no matter where you are,) and remind people that this is Native land. It allows us the opportunity to have conversations around Land Back, healing, action, education, and demand accountability. 

The Future of Remaining Native

What’s next for the film after SXSW?

We’re on the festival circuit – heading to Salem Film Festival and RiverRun International Film Festival with lots more to come after that (so stay tuned). Check out out Instagram and website, and sign up for our newsletter for updates. 

How can audiences support or follow the film’s journey?

People can support the film by following along on social or signing up for our newsletter but also by donating to our impact campaign. You can also request a screening for your community. And please do get in touch, we want to hear from you!