An Important First For First Americans

In recognition of Native American Heritage Month 2014, Comcast offered a collection of films directed exclusively by Native American women across XFINITY On Demand™ platforms, including "Opal".

Navajo filmmaker Ramona Emerson of Tohatchi, New Mexico, directed the short film, "Opal", a summer tale about a young Navajo girl who confronts the town bully who doesn’t allow girls at the local bike jump.

"Opal comes from two worlds," said Emerson. "She grows up with her grandmother on the ‘Rez’ (Reservation) and with her artist mother in the city. Opal’s character is very worldly, adaptable and smart...she’s like a little adult in 10-year-old body."

Emerson’s screenplay was written in 2010 at the native film workshop organized by the Sundance Institute’s Native American and Indigenous Program. Sponsored in part by Comcast NBCUniversal, the program provides direct support to emerging Native American and Indigenous film artists throughout the United States.

The celebration of American Indian and Indigenous cinema was the company's first-ever collection of all-female-directed content.