Apple Original Films has secured the worldwide distribution rights for Fancy Dance, a poignant, culturally relevant drama that premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Headlined by Lily Gladstone, the feature marks Erica Tremblay’s debut as a feature director who co-wrote and produced the picture.
Scheduled for release in theaters and on Apple TV+ this year, Fancy Dance joins Apple’s roster following Gladstone’s recent Oscar nomination for her role in Killers of the Flower Moon, another Apple-backed project.
Tremblay stated, “Our film ‘Fancy Dance’ has found the perfect home with Apple, and I am thrilled to share this beautiful story of two Seneca-Cayuga women with a global audience.” Tremblay, a Native American filmmaker, cherishes the opportunity to showcase her community in mainstream cinema.
The storyline, penned by Tremblay and Miciana Alise, revolves around Jax (played by Gladstone) on the Seneca-Cayuga Reservation in Oklahoma, caring for her niece Roki (Isabel Deroy-Olson) after her sister’s disappearance. Their journey to find Roki’s missing mother unveils profound truths about the plight of Indigenous women in a colonized society. The ensemble cast includes Ryan Begay, Shea Whigham, Crystle Lightning, and Audrey Wasilewski.
Details of the deal, facilitated by WME Independent, remain undisclosed. Cercamon, a sales agency based in Dubai, acquired international distribution rights for the film in February 2023, shortly after Sundance.
Produced by Confluential Films and Significant Productions/AUM Group, Fancy Dance boasts a team of producers like Tremblay, Deidre Backs, Heather Rae, Nina Yang Bongiovi, and Tommy Oliver. Executive producers include Gladstone, Bird Runningwater, Charlotte Koh, and Forest Whitaker.
Tremblay is represented by WME, Ragna Nervik Management, and Frankfurt, Kurnit Klein. Gladstone partners with Independent Artist Group, McKuin Frankel Whitehead, and Authentic Talent and Literary Management; the latter also represents Deroy-Olson with Red Management.
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