A Black Springs Homecoming: Finding History
An Award-Winning Documentary Film Produced by Nevada Humanities and Directed by Tsanavi Spoonhunter
A Black Springs Homecoming: Finding History tells the story of Black Springs—a small Nevada neighborhood—and the ability of its residents to establish an enduring sense of community in the face of widespread racial discrimination and economic hardship.
Current and former residents of Black Springs recall how the community worked together in the 1960’s and 1970’s to secure their own volunteer fire department, reliable water service, a community center and park, and to purchase homes for Black families against seemingly insurmountable odds. Together with community partners, they describe ongoing efforts to strengthen the neighborhood’s identity while preserving the story of Black Springs for future generations.
Produced by Nevada Humanities and directed by Tsanavi Spoonhunter, this film shares the story of a community united to establish itself and determined to survive for years to come.
A Black Springs Homecoming: Finding History is made possible with support from Nevada Humanities, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the John Ben Snow Memorial Trust, Our Story, Inc., and many community partners.
Watch the trailer here
2023 G 26 min.
About the Director
As an Indigenous reporter and filmmaker, Tsanavi Spoonhunter pursues the highest levels of accuracy and ethical standards when directing and producing stories about communities across the United States and abroad. Tsanavi is a Northern Arapaho and Northern Paiute nonfiction film director, producer and writer based out of the San Francisco Bay Area. She holds a Master of Journalism degree from the University of California, Berkeley, with a documentary film concentration. Spoonhunter is a 2022-2024 Firelight Media Documentary Lab fellow and Woodstock Film Festival resident.
Awards
Best Documentary at the 2023 Jubilee Film Festival, Little Rock, Arkansas
Best Short Documentary Film at the 2023 Nevada Women’s Film Festival, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Best Nevada Doc at the Cordillera International Film Festival, Reno-Tahoe, Nevada.
Festivals
Jubilee Film Festival, Little Rock, Arkansas. June 16, 2023
Nevada Women’s Film Festival, Las Vegas, Nevada. July 22-25, 2023
Cordillera International Film Festival, Reno-Tahoe, Nevada. July 27-31, 2023
Learn more about Black Springs
A Study in Black Perseverance, Our Story, Inc.
Reno Historical Black Springs Tour
A More Perfect Union: An Introduction to Black Springs, Nevada Humanities