Chris EyreByJesse Brunner

Early Life

Born in 1968 in Portland, Oregon, USA.

Member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribe.

Because of his love for photography, he attended Mt. Hood Community College, majoring in Television Production.

Graduating from Mt. Hood in 1989 he left with a strong desire to be a director.

Enrolled at the University of Arizona where he received a bachelor's degree in Media Arts.

“Things Learned Young”

In 1991, Chris returned to Oregon and set out to make his first feature length movie based on the script he wrote in college.

“Things Learned Young” was inspired by Chris' own childhood as a Native adoptee and his search for his biological mother.

New York University

Started the graduate film program there in 1992.

Chris made three sync-narrative shorts on 16mm film.

His second year film, Tenacity, about two young boys that encounter "rednecks" on a reservation road, garnered much attention and won 1st Place in the Graduate Film Department. It was also invited to screen at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival.

“Tenacity” Awards

Chris became the recipient of numerous awards including: Rockefeller Film

Fellowship The Haig Manoogian

Award The Martin Scorsese

Post Production Award Warner Brother's Post

Production Award (1995)

Best Film of 1995 in the Graduate Film Program.

“Smoke Signals”

Chris was invited to participate as a fellow in the Sundance Institute's Directing Workshop under the tutelage of Robert Redford and other mentors.

Chris' submitted project was culled from a short story-turned feature length script that would become “Smoke Signals”.

Miramax Films Co-Chair Harvey Weinstein bought “Smoke Signals” after a private screening and helped launch the film at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival.

The whole film!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j101YlDDtQ

“Smoke Signals” Awards

The film was an immediate success, winning the Audience Award and the Filmmaker's Trophy at Sundance.

Smoke Signals won numerous awards: The Taos Land Grant Award (1998). American Indian Film Festival

(1998) Florida Film Critics Circle Awards

(1999) Satyajit Ray Award at London Film

Festival (1998) Special Recognition from USA’s

National Board of Review (1998) Best Artistic Contribution Award at

Tokyo International Film Festival (1998)

“Edge Of America”

Chris' follow-up feature, Edge of America (2003) received numerous accolades.

The film was chosen for the highly coveted spot as opening night film at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival.

Actor James won an Emmy for his role in the film.

“Edge of America” Awards

Edge of America also won several other awards, including: a Peabody Award a Writer's Guild Award a Humanitus Prize The highly prestigious DGA (Director's Guild of

America) Award for outstanding directorial achievement.

“The American Experience”

A documentary series chronicled parts of American history.

Chris direceted three different segments: We Shall Remain Part I: After the Mayflower

(2009) We Shall Remain Part II: Tecumseh's Vision

(2009) We Shall Remain Part III: Trail of Tears (2009)

Other Films

“Skins” (2002) whole fim!!:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UYaMVcvGxc

“Skinwalkers” (2002)

“A Thief of Time” (2004)

“A Thousand Roads” (2005)

“Freedom Rider” (2009)

“Hide Away” (2011)

Also directed two episodes of “Friday Night Lights” and one episode of “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit”

Interviews

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4UpFnP3Om0 part 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUIghfDSobg part 2

Short video for Honor the Earth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9lWCAAV_Uo

Chris’s Philosophy

When asked if he’ll make a film without Native American

characters re replied

"Of Course! I love making movies and telling people's stories. However, cultural

aspects of a film mean nothing if you're not

personally and emotionally engaged in the characters

you are watching. I am interested in the people I'm portraying. For that reason,

the films that have interested me the most are the ones I'm

making."

Resources

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0264220/

http://www.chriseyre.org/

Photos from IMDB