Gift of Fear - Official Trailer

A SAG AFTRA feature film addressing the issue of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women.

Starring Justin Johnson Cortez, Laura Vallejo, Michael Horse and introducing Isa Antonetti. Also starring Christian Vilina, Jataun Gilbert, Sam Marra, Jonathan Cahill, BJ Iwouha, Carly Kohler, Vanessa Allen, Keith Baker.

She couldn’t save her mother 11 years ago,

but when her friend gets taken by a kidnapping ring working the reservation, a hardened young woman leaves her world behind to seek "justice . . . and vengeance."

Mili (Isa Antonetti) knows the statistics: Native American women are 10 times more likely to be murdered than the general population. Thousands of Native women are missing and 72 of them are from her own reservation. This isn’t about statistics for Mil - It is eminently personal.

Mili shut down after seeing her mother murdered 11 years ago. As a child she had to look out for herself and navigate the foster care system. Out of options, she is finally making it work at her placement in a group home. Now she has embraced a MMA Jiu Jitsu team as her family of sorts.

Only her past refuses to stay in the past. The gang she once ran with, led by Tomas Brown (Christian Vilina) decides to teach her a lesson by kidnapping her friend. Now Mili must choose between the life she’s finally making work or risk everything to save her friend from a life of sex trafficking.

It’s present day in Northern California on tribal lands. The community is suffering from the disappearance of daughters,

sisters, mothers, aunties and wives. Tribal police and local law enforcement argue over jurisdiction while families helplessly

grieve.

Mili is a 17-year-old Native American girl. As a child she had to look out for herself and navigate foster care. She’s a tough, defiant, LGTBQ foster youth who lives in a group home.  A major chip on her shoulder has created a wall between her and anyone wishing to help her. She sought family with a gang; breaking free from gang life, she wants to get her future on track.

Youth search for ways to channel the impacts of generational trauma and a bleak future. Some turn to gangs, some to

substances and others find a positive outlet in the local MMA Jiu Jitsu Dojo. The feisty, retired MMA fighter, Koko, is a mentor to the kids she coaches, including our hero.

Manny (Justin Johnson Cortez) is a 40 year  Native American man, athletically fit and handsome. He is ead of the new regional Missing & Murdered Unit for the Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services. Manny arrives to investigate human remains discovered near the reservation. He must overcome suspicion from law enforcement and mistrust from the victims’ families when another girl is missing.

Koko (Laura Vallejo) is a 36-year-old Native American MMA fighter and Jiu Jitsu Coach for Dragon Fox Dojo. Rising from an abuse-laden past, she serves in Tribal Preservation and is a local activist for MMIW. Although a badass on a Harley, she has a genuine concern for Mili and all kids she coaches.

Ten (Nora Zade) is a 17-year-old Native American woman from a strong family. She was kidnapped by the Sidewinders Gang and Mili is determined to rescue her. Her grandfather, Chance (Michael Horse) is the Tribal Police Chief who partners with the MMU agent to find her. 

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER 

Dr. April Lea Go Forth

Shingle Springs Band of Miwoks

DIRECTORS 

Katy Dore & Jack Kohler

PRODUCER/FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHER 

Elle Beyer

PRODUCER/FIGHT COORDINATOR 

Lon Beyer

WRITERS

Carly Kohler &  Jack Kohler