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This article contains references to suicide.

Rez Ball is a moving sports drama based on true events that rocked a small community following a suicide. The film approaches challenging topics, while also focusing on the hope and unity the Native American community experiences despite tragic events. While a high school basketball team may be a fairly small part of daily life for most, it becomes the vehicle for healing, growing, and thriving, especially for the new team captain, Jimmy Holiday.

Rez Ball (2024)

Director Sydney FreelandRelease Date September 27, 2024Writers Sterlin Harjo, Michael Powell, Sydney FreelandCast Zoey Reyes, Kusem Goodwind, Jaren K. Robledo, Hunter Redhorse Arthur, Jojo Jackson, River Rayne Thomas, Devin Sampson-Craig, Ernest Tsosie III, Dallas Goldtooth, Kauchani Bratt, Cody Lightning, Jessica Matten, Amber Midthunder, Kiowa Gordon, Julia JonesRating PG-13Runtime 113 MinutesGenres Drama

The latest Netflix sports drama spotlights the high school basketball team, the Chuska Warriors, who have high hopes for the upcoming District Championships.

Sydney Freeland’s “Rez Ball” is the perfect crowd-pleaser, blending drama, comedy and the excitement of competitive basketball into a slick and heartfelt package. Ten years after her Sundance debut “Drunktown’s Finest,” the writer-directed returns to her roots with this inspiring story of a Native high school basketball team trying to make it all the way to the championship. Like her first film, “Rez Ball” takes place on a Navajo reservation in New Mexico where opportunities are scarce and morale is low. Freeland and co-writer Sterlin Harjo deftly blend the often difficult truths of life on the reservation with an optimistic tone rooted in the continued resilience of the Navajo people.

Made in collaboration with the Navajo Nation Government on location in New Mexico, “Rez Ball” takes the time to show viewers the beauty of the land and its people. The film, based on author Michael Powell’s nonfiction...

"Let's win this title. For you! For me! But most of all – for the Rez!" Netflix has revealed the energetic first official trailer for a film called Rez Ball, which is an actual feature film and not a documentary or doc series or anything else. It will be premiering at the 2024 Toronto Film Festival coming up this fall, screening in the Special Presentations section, before landing on Netflix this September. From producer LeBron James and the co-creator of Reservation Dogs, comes the story of the Chuska Warriors - a high school basketball team rich in Native American heritage. After losing their star player, the team must come together like never before to keep their state championship dreams alive. Starring Jessica Matten, Kauchani Bratt, Cody Lightning, Dallas Goldtooth, Ernest David Tsosie, Kusem Goodwind, Zoey Reyes, with Amber Midthunder and Julia Jones. Set in the beautiful Navajo Nation, Rez Ball shares the...

Netflix has released the official trailer and poster for Rez Ball, which was produced by LeBron James and will begin streaming on September 27, 2024. The film is rated PG-13 for thematic elements, including suicide, teen drug/alcohol use, language, and some crude references.

In the heart of Chuska, New Mexico, the Chuska Warriors, a high school basketball team rich in Native American heritage, face their greatest challenge. After the loss of their star player, the team must unite like never before to keep their dreams of a state championship alive.

This is more than just a game; it’s a journey of resilience and unity, a true underdog story deeply rooted in Native American culture. The movie is an official selection of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.

Sydney Freeland directed Rez Ball from a script by Freeland and Sterlin Harjo. The cast includes Jessica Matten, Kauchani Bratt, Cody Lightning, Dallas Goldtooth,...

LeBron James is teaming up with “Reservation Dogs” co-creator Sterlin Harjo and “Echo” director Sydney Freeland for a coming-of-age true story.

The trio are behind Netflix film “Rez Ball,” which will debut at TIFF 2024. “Rez Ball” follows New Mexico-based Native American high school basketball team the Chuska Warriors, who must pivot their game plan after losing their star player. Per the official logline, “the team must come together like never before to keep their state championship dreams alive.”

Freeland and Harjo co-wrote the script, with Freeland directing. NBA icon James produces through his Springhill Entertainment banner.

The cast includes Jessica Matten, Kauchani Bratt, Cody Lightning, Dallas Goldtooth, Ernest David Tsosie, Kusem Goodwind, Zoey Reyes, Amber Midthunder, and Julia Jones.

“Rez Ball” is produced by James, Katie Elmore, Maurício Mota, Spencer Beighley, Jamal Henderson, and Nancy Utley.

Actor/producer James produced fictionalized autobiographical feature “Shooting Stars” based on his own teen...

"He wanted me, his only daughter, to have that same connection to the water that he had." Holt Hamilton Films has debuted an official trailer for an indie drama titled Touch the Water, made by the filmmaker Travis Holt Hamilton. He wrote, directed, and produced this, and is also releasing the film through his own company later this fall. When a young intern at a local Senior Day Center challenges Daisy, an accomplished elderly Native American woman to dream big, she re-evaluates her old frail body yet still strong youthful mind and sets out on a stirring quest to fulfill a life-long desire to swim in the ocean. "Come with Daisy as she sets out on a stirring journey to fulfill a life-long vision full of hope, family and truth." The film stars Pershlie Ami as Daisy, Emeka Ukaga as Dyami, with Alex Camacho, Roz Monahan, Jan Sandwich, Ernest Tsosie III,...

Exclusive: Netflix has unveiled the cast for its coming-of-age sports drama Rez Ball, set in the world of Native American basketball, which Sydney Freeland (Marvel Studios’ Echo) boarded as director in 2021. Among those set to star are Jessica Matten (Dark Winds), Julia Jones (The Mandalorian), Amber Midthunder (Prey), Kiowa Gordon (Dark Winds), Dallas Goldtooth (Reservation Dogs), Cody Lightning (Echo), Ernest Tsosie (Better Call Saul) and Kauchani Bratt.

The ensemble will also feature a big set of newcomers in Devin Sampson-Craig, River Rayne Thomas, Jojo Jackson, Avery Hale, Hunter Redhorse Arthur, Henry Wilson Jr, Jaren K. Robledo, Damian Henry Castellane, Kusem Goodwind and Zoey Reyes. Production in New Mexico is now underway, with filming taking place on the Navajo Nation, with the permission and support of the local sovereign tribal nations.

(L-r) Jaren K. Robledo, Hunter Redhorse Arthur, Jojo Jackson, Devin Sampson-Craig, Henry Wilson Jr., Kauchani Bratt, Kusem Goodwind, Avery Hale,...

Flagstaff, Ariz. — The Hollywood image of Tonto once had the Lone Ranger's sidekick wearing a thin headband and lots of dangling fringes. The latest Disney version has a shirtless Johnny Depp adorned with feathers, a face painted white with black stripes, and a stuffed crow on his head.

The character in the upcoming "The Lone Ranger" still speaks broken English and chants prayers. But Depp has said he's less subservient, honors the proud American Indian warrior and displays a dry sense of humor seen throughout Indian Country. The production even hired a Comanche adviser, making it decidedly a Comanche story, and received the blessing of other tribes through ceremonies during filming.

Yet Disney has caught flak for what some say is the perpetuation of stereotypes through a character that lacks any real cultural traits. Moviegoers will have to wait until July 3 to see how all this plays out on screen.