HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - Educational Media Reviews Online (EMRO) | BEST FEATURE-LENGTH DOC - Big Apple International Film Festival | OFFICIAL SELECTION - Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
American Studies • Race, Culture & Ethnic Studies • Anthropology • Artistic Expression & Performance Studies • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Engagement • Film, Journalism & Media Studies • Music Studies • Native American & Indigenous Studies • Social StudiesDate of Completion: 2021 | Run Time: 75 minutes | Language: English with English and Spanish subtitles | Captions: Yes | Director: Ashkan Soltani Stone | Producer: Ashkan Soltani Stone
When Navajo heavy metal band I DONT KONFORM sent out a demo album to Flemming Rasmussen, the Grammy Award-winning producer of Metallica, they never imagined that a few months later they would be rehearsing with him inside a hot Hogan on the Navajo reservation. As Rasmussen states after hearing their demo, “a specific technical element wasn’t what stood out for me but the raw emotion and the thematic rage running through their music stood out as something refreshing and unique” – something true to the life of this metal band. REZ METAL explores the thriving heavy metal scene on the Navajo reservation through the remarkable story of I DONT KONFORM and their journey gaining popularity on reservations and recording their debut album in Denmark with one of the music industry's most influential producers.
Educational Media Reviews Online (EMRO) | Monique Threatt, Indiana University, Herman B Wells Library
"This film is highly recommended, and serves as an excellent resource for American studies, Film studies, Native American and Indigenous studies, and Music."
Western Historical Quarterly | Thomas Michael Swensen, Professor of Ethnic Studies at University of Utah
"High school and undergraduate courses in music and culture can find Rez Metal a useful resource."
AWARDS
Best Feature-Length Doc | Big Apple International Film Festival
Nominee, Best Feature Doc Audience Award | Cine Las Americas International Film Festival
Nominee, Best Feature Doc Jury Award | Riverside International Film Festival
Programmer's Choice Award | Bushwick Film Festival
Award of Distinction | Huntington Beach Cultural Cinema Showcase
FESTIVALS
Buffalo International Film Festival
American Indian Film Festival
Portland Film Festival
Indie Memphis Film Festival
Philadelphia Independent Film Festival
Santa Fe Independent Film Festival
Red Nation International Film
Tucson Film & Music Festival
Sound And Vision International Film Festival
Festival Internacional de Cine y Metal
Taiwan International Ethnographic Film Festival
Roxbury International Film Festival
Garifuna International Indigenous Film Festival
DeadCenter International Film Festival
Big Apple International Film Festival
Cine Las Americas International Film Festival
Milwaukee International Film Festival
Doc'n Roll Film Festival
Riverside International Film Festival
Bushwick Film Festival
Nevada City International Film Festival
Native Spirit Film Festival
Asinabka Film & Media Arts Festival
Other Venice Film Festival
Sound And Vision International Film & Technology Festival
Louisville's International Festival of Film
Decibels Music Film Festival
International Sound & Film Music Festival
SCREENINGS
Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Director of REZ METAL
Soltani Stone's works explore a wide range of topics such as identity, affordable housing, immigrant workers, indigenous land rights, sustainable farming, underground music, and Native American youth culture.