Apple Lands Lily Gladstone-Led Sundance Drama ‘Fancy Dance’

Apple Original Films has landed the global rights to “Fancy Dance,” which made its debut at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. The drama, starring Lily Gladstone, marks the feature directorial debut for Erica Tremblay, who also co-wrote and produced the film.

“Fancy Dance” will debut in theaters and on Apple TV+ this year. The announcement comes on the heels of Gladstone’s Oscar nomination for her performance as Mollie Burkhart in Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” also from Apple.

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“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 said in a statement. “As a Native American filmmaker, seeing my community included in the rich tapestry of cinema is a dream come true.”

The story, written by Tremblay and Miciana Alise, follows Jax (Gladstone) on the Seneca-Cayuga Reservation in Oklahoma as she cares for her niece Roki (Isabel Deroy-Olson) in the wake of her sister’s disappearance. The pair hit the road together in search Roki’s missing mother, and unearth deep truths around the treatment of Indigenous women in a colonized world. Ryan Begay, Shea Whigham, Crystle Lightning and Audrey Wasilewski also star.

Financial terms of the deal, which was brokered by WME Independent on behalf of the filmmakers, were not disclosed. Dubai-based sales agency Cercamon acquired international sales rights to the film in Feb. 2023, following its Sundance premiere.

“Fancy Dance,” a Confluential Films and Significant Productions/AUM Group production, is produced by Tremblay, Deidre Backs, Heather Rae, Nina Yang Bongiovi, and Tommy Oliver. Gladstone, Bird Runningwater, Charlotte Koh and Forest Whitaker are executive producers.

Tremblay is represented by WME, Ragna Nervik Management and Frankfurt, Kurnit Klein. Gladstone is repped by Independent Artist Group, McKuin Frankel Whitehead and Authentic Talent and Literary Management, the latter of which also reps Deroy-Olson, along with Red Management.

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