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“Water Sweet – The Story of Jamul” Earns Top Honors at AAF Reno ADDY AwardsEast County News Service
April 1, 2026 (Jamul) – Jamul Casino Resort has been recognized with two prestigious ADDY Awards from AAF Reno, earning a Gold ADDY and Best of Show in the Corporate Social Responsibility category for “Water Sweet – The Story of Jamul.”
The short film honors the history, culture and resilience of the Jamul Indian Village of California. As a Gold ADDY recipient, the work will now advance to the national ADDY competition.
The ADDYs are presented annually by the American Advertising Federation. They are among the most competitive awards in the advertising industry. Best of Show represents the highest honor awarded across all categories at the competition.
“Water Sweet – The Story of Jamul,” was created to mark a defining milestone for the tribe, the 2025 opening of the Jamul Casino Resort hotel, a landmark expansion representing decades of perseverance and the tribe’s ongoing commitment to building a lasting legacy for its people.
The film was produced in partnership with Hey Frank, a Nevada-based advertising agency, and Orangetree Productions, a Reno-based video production company, with Mark Carey serving as director.
The film's name is taken from the Kumeyaay word for Jamul, which means “water sweet.” The movie offers an intimate portrait of the tribe’s deep connection to its ancestral land, its enduring traditions and the community it continues to build today.
“Our tribe’s story deserves to be told with honesty and care,” said Erica Pinto, chairwoman of the Jamul Indian Village Tribe. “We’re proud that ‘Water Sweet’ accomplished that, and we’re grateful to our partners at Hey Frank and Orangetree Productions for the reverence they brought to this project.”
Reno-based production for Jamul tribe's film needs
The film was produced in partnership with Hey Frank, a Nevada-based advertising agency with an office in Reno, and Orangetree Productions, a Reno-based video production company.
Brett Rhyne, Partner and Creative Director of Hey Frank, said, “You don’t get many chances to make something that truly matters. ‘Water Sweet’ was one of those chances, and we didn’t take it lightly. Winning Best of Show is gratifying, but what means more is knowing the tribe felt their story was told right.”
Jamul Casino Resort is owned and operated by the Jamul Indian Village of California, a federally recognized tribe with ties to its land spanning thousands of years. Jamul Casino Resort is owned and operated by Jamul Indian Village Development Corporation (JIVDC), a wholly owned enterprise of the Jamul Indian Village Tribe.
The casino opened in 2016, and the addition of the resort hotel in 2025 marked a new chapter in the tribe’s growth and economic self-determination. Jamul Casino Resort employs more than 1,500 people.
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