The Oklahoma Film and Music Office (OF+MO) is proud to join The Cherokee Nation Film Office in sponsoring the inaugural Indigenous Filmmakers Lounge presented by Gateway Entertainment and IllumiNative at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. An official Sundance film festival partner, the Indigenous Lounge will contribute to the Sundance Institute’s rich legacy of support for Indigenous voices. The Lounge will feature panel discussions as well as live performances throughout the festival’s opening weekend, which will focus on narrative change and creating opportunities for Native peoples to build sustainable careers in the film and entertainment industry.
As part of its sponsorship of the Indigenous Lounge, OF+MO will join The Cherokee Nation Film Office in hosting the opening reception, conversation and screening for the two-day event on Friday, January 24.
“We’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity to sponsor the Indigenous Filmmakers Lounge at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, an opportunity that came to us through the incredibly hard work of our partners at the Cherokee Nation Film Office,” said OF+MO Director Tava Maloy Sofsky. “Representation and authenticity are paramount to the success of a diverse, robust film industry, and we’re grateful for the platform the Indigenous Lounge will provide for this important dialogue while showcasing Oklahoma’s rich Native American history and skilled talent.”
Acclaimed Indigenous filmmakers, performers and artists confirmed to participate at the Lounge include writer/director and Tulsa’s own Sterlin Harjo (“Reservation Dogs”, “Mekko”), writer/director Michelle Latimer (“Trickster, Rise”), actress Julie Jones (“Goliath”, “Wind River”), actor Martin Sensmeier (“Magnificent Seven”, “Yellowstone”), actor Zahn McClarnon (“Westworld”, “Fargo”), Pawhuska writer/director Ryan RedCorn (“Take Action” Protect Our Land”, “1491s”), writer/director Danis Goulet (“Knight Raiders”), Oklahoman and Kiowa/Choctaw artist Steven Paul Judd and director/producer Jennifer Loren, (“Osiyo: Voices of the Cherokee People”) who also serves as Director of the Cherokee Nation Film Office and Original Content, headquartered in Oklahoma.
“One of the discussions we’re participating in is focused on filming in Indian Country and developing Native crew,” said Loren. “We can’t wait to share with everyone what we’ve been working on and introduce the first-ever Native talent, crew and business/support services databases, which will live on the Cherokee Film website. We want to see more Natives in front of the camera, behind the camera, writing the scripts and even in the boardrooms.” She continues, “We’re also showcasing the unique eco-scapes and diverse locations within northeastern Oklahoma to help bring the economic benefits of film production to the 14 counties of the Cherokee Nation.”
The Lounge will take place at Park City Live on Friday and Saturday, January 24 and 25, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with an Indigenous Filmmakers Reception and live entertainment at The Cabin on Saturday, January 25, beginning at 7:00 p.m. All events are free, but registration and tickets are required. A Sundance badge is not required. More information, including ticketing, can be found at this link or following the Indigenous Filmmakers Lounge on Instagram at @IndigenousLoungeSFF.
In addition to the Indigenous Filmmakers Lounge, Oklahoma will also be represented at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival by organizations such as the Tulsa Office of Film, Music, Arts and Culture (TFMAC), Circle Cinema and the deadCenter Film Festival as well as on-screen recognition with the world-premieres of the feature film “Minari”, which was produced in the Tulsa region last year utilizing the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program, and the short film “Little Chief” from Indigenous filmmaker and Oklahoman Erica Tremblay.
For more information on the festival, visit sundance.org.
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About Oklahoma Film + Music Office
Created in 1979, the Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO) strives to share all that Oklahoma has to offer by welcoming filmmakers and music professionals to the state and by creating a network of support to develop Oklahoma’s film and music industries. For more information about the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program or the Oklahoma Film + Music Office please visit okfilmmusic.orglink.
