A New Mexico feature film about a missing Indigenous girl—and what happens when Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities work together to bring her home.
A PG-rated dramatic thriller inspired by the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People crisis.
ARTHUR
HIDES THE FIRE
A Diné stuntman who sees what others overlook. When a young woman disappears, he refuses to look away
RICHARD ALLEN
A veteran wrangler who knows the land—and the workings of a film set.
He knows when something isn’t right.
TALA BEGAY
A determined Diné woman who knows the disappearances are not isolated.
She connects the pattern—and pushes them to act.
THE STORY IS FICTION.
THE CRISIS IS NOT.
Across the United States, Indigenous families continue to confront a missing-person crisis complicated by fragmented databases, jurisdictional barriers, and inconsistent attention.
Hides the Fire tells a different kind of story.
Indigenous characters lead the search, joined by non-Indigenous people who listen, contribute and act alongside them.
The film’s message is simple:
This crisis belongs to all of us.
And solving it requires all of us.
NOW IN DEVELOPMENT IN NEW MEXICO
Hides the Fire has moved beyond the screenplay.
A proof-of-concept film is being produced near Santa Fe in October 2026 under the SAG-AFTRA Micro-Budget Project Agreement, bringing together experienced New Mexico film professionals, Indigenous actors, advisors and community participants.
To learn more about the proof of concept click HERE
The screenplay received a 7 evaluation on The Black List and has been submitted to major national screenwriting programs and fellowships.
Relationships are being built with New Mexico film organizations, Indigenous organizations, businesses and community leaders—not simply to support the production, but to help ensure the film is made with authenticity, respect and meaningful community involvement.
The goal is not just to make a film about this crisis. It is to build the film with the communities it represents.
To learn more about the MMIP crisis click HERE.
Community Partners
Founding Community Partners
Organizations Helping Address the MMIW/MMIP Crisis
National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center (NIWRC)
Urban Indian Health Institute (UIHI)
Coalition To Stop Violence Against Native Women (CSVANW)
Missing & Murdered Diné Relatives Task Force (MMDR)
New Mexico Film Education Partners
Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA)
Santa Fe Community College (SFCC)
Northern New Mexico College (NNMC)
Central New Mexico Community College (CNM)
Community Businesses & Supporters
HIDES THE FIRE IS MOVING FORWARD.
We are bringing together the people, partnerships and resources to tell this story with authenticity—and to demonstrate what Hides the Fire can become on screen.
The screenplay and complete project lookbook are available to producers, investors, and industry professionals upon request.
Richard Beal — Producer / Screenwriter
[email protected]
© 2026 Hides the Fire LLC. All Rights Reserved.