This multi-award-winning film is a declaration of love to the indigenous communities of the USA and their women. Right in the middle of things: the brilliant Lily Gladstone (KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON) as Jax, who has been taking care of her niece Roki on a reservation in Oklahoma since the disappearance of her mother, Jax’s sister. Jax uses every free moment to search for her missing sibling, while preparing Roki for an upcoming powwow. Driven by the fear of losing custody of the girl, they comb the backcountry, hoping to find Roki’s mother in time for the powwow. What begins as a search gradually develops into a much more profound analysis of the complexities and contradictions of indigenous women, who move in an effectively colonised world and are dependent on the benevolence (or lack thereof) of a failed legal system.

Erica Tremblay is a queer and Native American director, writer and producer from the Seneca-Cayuga Nation. Her work across film and television has quickly established her as one of the most exciting new voices of this community. With FANCY DANCE, she is continuing her artistic mandate of crafting authentic stories that showcase contemporary Native American characters not typically seen on screen. She currently resides in Upstate New York, where she studies her Indigenous language.

Filmography (selection): 2014 IN THE TURN, 2020 LITTLE CHIEF (both short films), 2022 RESERVATION DOGS (tv series), 2023 FANCY DANCE

Awards (selection): Best Narrative Feature Film (Sun Valley Film Festival, USA 2023), ZEISS Cinematography Award (SXSW Film Festival, Austin/USA 2023)