Metal Road

Documentary Short | Sarah Del Seronde

For decades, thousands of Navajos worked the railroads, maintaining the trans-continental network. Metal Road explores the dynamics of livelihood, family, and the railroads through the lens of a Navajo trackman.

27 minutes

Release: August 26, 2017

Expiration: August 26, 2021

Distributor: NETA

NOLA: MTRD 00H1

Rights: Unlimited releases over 4 years beginning 8/26/2017;

SCH/1 year; Streaming via COVE beginning 9/4/2017; and non-commercial cable rights granted. 

Sarah Del Seronde

Director/Producer
Sarah Del Seronde is from the Bennett Freeze lands of the Diné Nation, an undeveloped area of land banned from all repairs and development because of ownership disputes with the Hopi Tribe. She obtained an MA in American Indian Studies from the University of Arizona and founded Aboriginal Lens LTD. Metal Road is her second film— her directorial debut was Making the River, a biographical tale of an American Indian charged with the murder of a prison guard that took her inside the Washington State Penitentiary.

Leighton C. Peterson

Writer/Producer
Leighton C. Peterson is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Miami University, an established scholarly writer, and TricksterFilms producer.
His production credits include the award-winning documentary films Columbus Day Legacy and Weaving Worlds (co-produced by the Independent Television Service (ITVS) in association with Vision Maker Media (NAPT)), and he was executive producer and voice-over talent for Bennie Klain’s award-winning short Yada Yada (Sundance), which premiered on the groundbreaking PBS series ColorVision.

Walt Pourier

Vice Chair

Walt is Oglala Lakota and created the logo for Urban Rez. He is Creative Director, owner of Nakota Designs Advertising Designs and Graphics. Executive Director of the Stronghold Society nonprofit dedicated to instilling hope and supporting youth movements through Live Life Call To Action Campaigns.

JORDANA BASS

Project Coordinator​

(Hataža Mani Winga)​

"Cinema Aficionado"

Role: Jordana is excited to engage with different Native/Indigenous communities. Her passion for working with youth will help develop the Native Youth Media Project. She will also assist with the Creative Shorts Fellowship (CSF) to help organize deliverables for filmmakers.