Fancy Dance Finds Home with Apple: A Triumph for Indigenous Cinema

In a landmark deal for Indigenous cinema, Apple has secured the distribution rights for the acclaimed feature film, Fancy Dance, over a year after its successful premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. This announcement signals a significant moment for the film's director, Erica Tremblay, a member of the Seneca Cayuga Nation, and her journey of reconnecting with her Indigenous roots.

Reconnecting with Indigenous Roots

Tremblay's decision to quit her job at Bustle and dive into a language immersion program in Cayuga, her Indigenous language, on a small reservation in Canada, marked a pivotal turn in her life and career. This path led her towards rekindling her creative inspiration and set her on a course to write scripts, including one for her 2020 short film, Little Chief.

A Rising Star in Filmmaking

Today, Tremblay stands tall as a successful writer and director on FX's Reservation Dogs and has received critical acclaim for her directorial debut, Fancy Dance, at Sundance. The film, co-written with Miciana Alise, puts the spotlight on the pressing issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women. It weaves a poignant narrative about Jax (played by Lily Gladstone), who is embroiled in the search for her missing sister while nurturing her niece. The narrative deftly underlines themes of matriarchy, familial bonds, and deep connections to land.

Tremblay's Personal Journey

Erica Tremblay's career trajectory took a quantum leap after her immersion in the Cayuga language program. It instilled in her a newfound confidence and focus. As a queer Indigenous woman, Tremblay faced numerous rejections in the creative industry. However, the ripple effects of the Me Too movement taught her the importance of self-belief. Her passion for storytelling was shaped by community storytellers, family movie nights, and music videos, which she began replicating with a VHS recorder during her younger years.

With Fancy Dance set for a theatrical release followed by streaming on Apple TV+, the world will soon witness the powerful story of two Seneca-Cayuga women, narrated through Tremblay's unique lens. This is not just another film distribution; it's a victory for Indigenous storytelling and a testament to Tremblay's unwavering determination and talent.