Following her sister's disappearance, a Native American hustler kidnaps her niece from the child's white grandparents and sets out for the state powwow in the hopes of keeping what’s left of her family intact. Following her sister's disappearance, Jax (Lily Gladstone) has taken on the responsibility of caring for her niece, Roki (Isabel Deroy-Olson), while trying to make ends meet on the Seneca-Cayuga Reservation in Oklahoma. Every spare moment is dedicated to the relentless search for her missing sister, all the while helping Roki prepare for an upcoming powwow. Faced with the looming threat of losing custody to Jax's father, Frank (Shea Whigham), they embark on a journey through the remote countryside to locate Roki's mother in time for the powwow. What initially begins as a quest evolves into a profound exploration of the intricate challenges faced by Indigenous women navigating a colonized world, often at the mercy of a flawed justice system. Arriving in Australia direct from Sundance Film Festival 2023, Fancy Dance introduces us to a promising new director, Erica Tremblay, whose film skillfully explores the complex issues surrounding settler violence and the resilience of Indigenous communities. Through her work, Tremblay provides a thoughtful examination of the profound impacts of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women epidemic and the potential paths towards healing for its survivors. Programmer's note: Full of grit and determination, the film shows the de-valuing of Indigenous women, and how resilient our women are. —Pauline Clague Fancy Dance screens as part of Winda, First Nations programming. Australian Premiere

Following her sister's disappearance, a Native American hustler kidnaps her niece from the child's white grandparents and sets out for the state powwow in the hopes of keeping what’s left of her family intact. Following her sister's disappearance, Jax (Lily Gladstone) has taken on the responsibility of caring for her niece, Roki (Isabel Deroy-Olson), while trying to make ends meet on the Seneca-Cayuga Reservation in Oklahoma. Every spare moment is dedicated to the relentless search for her missing sister, all the while helping Roki prepare for an upcoming powwow. Faced with the looming threat of losing custody to Jax's father, Frank (Shea Whigham), they embark on a journey through the remote countryside to locate Roki's mother in time for the powwow. What initially begins as a quest evolves into a profound exploration of the intricate challenges faced by Indigenous women navigating a colonized world, often at the mercy of a flawed justice system. Arriving in Australia direct from Sundance Film Festival 2023, Fancy Dance introduces us to a promising new director, Erica Tremblay, whose film skillfully explores the complex issues surrounding settler violence and the resilience of Indigenous communities. Through her work, Tremblay provides a thoughtful examination of the profound impacts of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women epidemic and the potential paths towards healing for its survivors. Programmer's note: Full of grit and determination, the film shows the de-valuing of Indigenous women, and how resilient our women are. —Pauline Clague Fancy Dance screens as part of Winda, First Nations programming. Australian Premiere