The company has partnered with Dark Winds Star Jessica Matten’s Indigenous Film & Arts Academy, 7 Forward Entertainment and the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) to provide hands-on internships, learning opportunities and more
Go behind the scenes on Season 3 of Dark Winds empowering the next generation of Indigenous storytellers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROIEFHkfla4
New York, NY, November 13, 2025 – In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, AMC Networks has partnered with Dark Winds star Jessica Matten’s Indigenous Film & Arts Academy (IFA) // 7 Forward Entertainment and the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) to elevate Indigenous voices across film and television in a variety of ways, including through a spotlight collection on AMC+.
As part of this initiative, AMC Networks has launched a training program and cross-border apprenticeship program in the U.S. and Canada, offering emerging Indigenous creatives direct access to the film and television industry. These on-set apprenticeships—developed in collaboration with the Indigenous Film Academy and IAIA—provide practical experience and mentorship designed to cultivate the next generation of Indigenous storytellers.
Over the past three years, AMC has worked with the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) and its Cinematic Arts and Technology department to provide internships on the set of the company’s hit noir series Dark Winds in Santa Fe, New Mexico, providing interns with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience across production departments including lighting, wardrobe, props, camera and more. With IFA, AMC recently placed interns on the set of the fan-favorite original series Anne Rice’s The Vampire Lestat, premiering in 2026.
In tandem, AMC+ is proud to premiere Tales from the Rez, a bold new series created with graduates of the Indigenous Film Academy. Directed by Trevor Soloway and produced by Blackfoot Nation Films, Colin Van Loon and Jessica Matten, the series is a compelling testament to the power of Indigenous storytelling. Tales from the Rez will stream exclusively on AMC+ as part of the platform’s Indigenous Heritage Month programming collection, “Celebrating Native Voices.” The collection also includes the award-winning film Lakota Nation vs. United States, Dark Winds and other titles.
“This initiative is about more than representation—it’s about restoration,” said Jessica Matten, founder of the Indigenous Film Academy. “We are reclaiming our narratives, healing generational trauma, and building real opportunities for Indigenous youth to thrive as creators, leaders, and innovators. I’m deeply grateful to AMC Networks for their unwavering support. Our partnership is already changing lives, and the ripple effects will be felt for generations.”
Jessica Matten stars as Bernadette Manuelito in Dark Winds (first three seasons now streaming on AMC+ and Netflix) with Season 4 to be released Sunday, February 15, 2026 on AMC and AMC+.
“At the Institute of American Indian Arts—the University for Indigenous Creative Excellence—our students are already changing how the world understands Indigenous stories. Partnering with AMC Networks, Jessica Matten’s Indigenous Film & Arts Academy, and 7 Forward connects them directly to sets like Dark Winds, where they can learn alongside working professionals while staying grounded in their communities and cultures. These apprenticeships help our students turn curiosity into craft and vision into careers, and they remind all of us that storytelling, art, and culture remain some of our strongest tools for healing and imagining what comes next.”
— Dr. Shelly C. Lowe (Navajo), President, Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA)
For more information about AMC’s Indigenous Heritage Month programming and Tales from the Rez, visit www.amcplus.com.