Support for Indigenous filmmakers has been a foundational part of the Sundance Institute since its founding. Over the years, that commitment has elevated the work of filmmakers, whose work reflects the diversity of Indigenous realities, shaped by specific communities, histories, and creative and narrative storytelling. Sydney Freeland, Sterlin Harjo, Taika Waititi, alongside newer voices including Erica Tremblay, Taietsarón:sere “Tai” Leclaire, and Fox Maxy are just a few of the Indigenous filmmakers the Sundance Institute has supported.
The continued support for Indigenous cinema is already evident at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, which will showcase four new films by Indigenous filmmakers. According to Indigenous Program Director and short film programmer Adam Piron, the strength of the slate lies in both its thematic range and its willingness to take creative risks.
The Festival also highlights work that is still unfolding. Native Lab Fellows supported through the Sundance Institute Indigenous Program will be in attendance, representing projects developed through sustained mentorship and long-term investment. Additional announcements, including the 2026 Merata Mita Fellow and the 2026 Graton Fellows, will be made during the Festival.
Here’s a list of the Indigenous films being showcased at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.
FEATURES
Co-Director: Andrew H. Brown (Huron-Wendat Nation) & Bea Wangondu (Kikuyu)
Section: WORLD CINEMA DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION
As a Nairobi journalist probes a land battle entangling the local government and a powerful multinational corporation, covered wounds are revealed and family secrets are exposed.
Directors: Adam Khalil (Ojibway) & Zack Khalil (Ojibway)
Section: NEXT
Trapped in museum archives, Ancestors bend time and space to find their way home. History, spirituality, and the law collide as tribal repatriation specialists fight to return and rebury Indigenous human remains, offering a revealing look at the still-pervasive worldviews that justified collecting them in the first place.
SHORTS
Mangittatuarjuk (The Gnawer of Rocks)
Director, Co-Screenwriter, Producer: Louise Flaherty (Inuit)
Section: ANIMATION SHORT FILM PROGRAM
Two young women are trapped in the lair of the Mangittatuarjuk, the Gnawer of Rocks. The young women and their village use the teachings of the elders to try to defeat the monster. Cast: Nellie Enuaraq, Joan Joanas, Andrea Flaherty.
Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Lindsay Aksarniq McIntyre (Inuit/settler)
Section: DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM PROGRAM
An exploration of the close and enduring connections between Inuit, caribou, lichens, and land use. A handmade caribou gelatin emulsion reveals the land where caribou struggle to survive burn events and habitat disruption. Available online for public.
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