Avi Bar-Lev's film debut, West of Thunder, has been listed among the influential "political" films in the Second Edition of the critically acclaimed book "Projecting Politics: Political Messages in American Films". West of Thunder is an AIFI Top 10 American Indian Film (1970-2014), is the only film to be awarded Best Film - Human Rights and Best Film - Peace in the 28 year history of the Political Film Society of Hollywood, is the only film of its type to be considered for nomination for an NAACP Image Award, was asked by the Smithsonian Institution to be included in their film archives, and (screenplay) asked by the Margaret Herrick Academy Awards Library to be included in their collection.
