EXCLUSIVE: Deadline has a new clip from the Indigenous family drama Fancy Dance, marking the narrative feature directorial debut of Erica Tremblay (Reservation Dogs), which last Friday headed to SXSW for its Texas premiere after world premiering to critical acclaim at Sundance.
The film tells the story of Jax (Billions‘ Lily Gladstone), a Native American hustler who, upon her sister’s disappearance, kidnaps her niece from the child’s white grandparents, setting out for the state powwow in hopes of keeping what is left of their family intact.
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“In the clip, Jax feels like she’s the only one truly searching for her missing sister, Tawi,” Tremblay tells Deadline. “However, when she discovers that her brother JJ has betrayed her by withholding a crucial piece of information, Jax is pushed further into a spiral of alienation and doubt, fearing that she may never be reunited with her sister again.”
Fancy Dance also stars Isabel Deroy-Olson (Three Pines), Ryan Begay (Frybread Face and Me), Crystle Lightning (Three Pines), Audrey Wasilewski (Big Love) and Shea Whigham (Eileen).
While the film has established itself as a 2023 festival favorite, it’s still seeking distribution, with WME handling sales. Tremblay wrote the pic with Miciana Alise, also producing alongside Deidre Backs, Heather Rae, Nina Yang Bongiovi and Tommy Oliver. Exec producers on the project included Bird Runningwater, Charlotte Koh and Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker.
“This story was born from the yearning to see ourselves reflected on the screen,” says Tremblay of Fancy Dance. “To be Native American women with multi-dimensional identities means facing harsh realities in spaces that are virtually invisible. For centuries Native families have been fractured by corrupt systems, and yet a vibrant and beautiful community still withstands. FANCY DANCE is ultimately our love letter to that community and the women and queer folks who hold it together.”
Watch our clip from Fancy Dance by clicking above.
