PREVIEW SCREENING & FEEDBACK SESSION: "Coming Round: The Kashia Pomo Struggle for Homeland"

Join award-winning filmmaker J. Mitchell Johnson and MIRS Director Professor Anna Vassilieva for an exclusive preview screening of “Coming Round,” an 85-minute documentary presenting the Kashia Pomo Indian tribe’s struggle to heal from historical trauma through the landmark repatriation of their ancestral lands on California’s northern coast.

The film interweaves the little-known history of Russian colonial presence in Kashia territory with contemporary negotiations and renewed international relations, highlighting how diplomacy, cultural resilience, and community leadership converged to restore sacred places. Filmmakers Mitchell Johnson and Daniel Golding followed this story for 13 years, capturing an unprecedented journey of land repatriation and cultural renewal.

Currently at the “Fine Cut” stage, with completion expected by late January 2026, this PBS documentary (scheduled for release November 2026) is funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, California Humanities Council, Vision Maker Media, and other major sponsors.

Following the screening, viewers will be invited to provide feedback to help the filmmaking team refine story points and scene adjustments for the final cut.

This screening is sponsored by the Monterey Initiative in Russian Studies (MIRS).