Erica Tremblay, acclaimed Native American filmmaker, returns to Circle Cinema for a Tulsa screening of her made-in-Oklahoma film “Fancy Dance” on Friday June 21, 7:30pm. The screening, presented with the Cherokee Film Commission, will include an extended introduction by Erica Tremblay before the film. Tickets are on sale now at CircleCinema.org.
Directed by Erica Tremblay and starring Academy Award nominee Lily Gladstone, “Fancy Dance” was filmed in Oklahoma and was a Grand Jury Prize nominee at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. The film also screened to a sold-out preview crowd at last July’s Circle Cinema Film Festival. The return engagement for the official release from Apple Original Films will see the film continue with daily showtimes after the June 21 premiere.
Since her sister’s disappearance, Jax (Lily Gladstone) has cared for her niece Roki (Isabel Deroy-Olson) by scraping by on the Seneca-Cayuga reservation in Oklahoma. Every spare minute goes into finding her missing sister while also helping Roki prepare for an upcoming powwow. At the risk of Jax losing custody to Roki’s grandfather, Frank (Shea Whigham), the pair hit the road and scour the backcountry to track down Roki’s mother in time for the powwow. What begins as a search gradually turns into a far deeper investigation into the complexities and contradictions of Indigenous women moving through a colonized world while at the mercy of a failed justice system. Gladstone stars alongside Deroy-Olson, Ryan Begay, Crystle Lightning, with Audrey Wasilewski and Whigham. “Fancy Dance” is rated R and runs 1h 30min. The film premieres in select theaters on June 21, 2024, ahead of its global debut on Apple TV+ on June 28, 2024
“The Cherokee Nation has worked diligently alongside our state and local partners to help grow the film and television industries in Oklahoma, while simultaneously pursuing efforts to increase diversity, inclusion and accurate Native American representation at every level of these industries,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “We are extremely proud to lend our support and services to such an incredible project as Fancy Dance that exemplifies Cherokee Film’s important mission through an accurate, current and unique storyline featuring Natives in front and behind the camera.”
“We are thrilled to shine a spotlight on Fancy Dance and celebrate the film’s theatrical release at Tulsa’s beloved independent theater, Circle Cinema,” said Jennifer Loren, senior director of Cherokee Film. “As the first film to utilize Cherokee Film Commission’s film incentive program, we couldn’t be more pleased about the powerful story brought to life by a primarily Native American cast and crew.
“We have had so many messages since last year’s film fest about when ‘Fancy Dance’ will return,” said Ryan Thomas, Circle Cinema Film Programmer. “We know our guests will be delighted to see the film is getting a full theatrical release, and it’s an incredible opportunity to learn about the making of and impact of the film from director Erica Tremblay on opening night.”
Tickets for the 7:30pm June 21 screening are on sale now, with director Erica Tremblay in-person for a special introduction before the film. Standard daily showtimes of the film from Saturday June 22 through Thursday July 4 will be available soon. Visit CircleCinema.org for more information or call the box office at (918)585-3456.
