Sundance Institute Indigenous Program

Overview

The Sundance Institute Indigenous Program is a multi-track development program for Native and Indigenous filmmakers. It operates within the Sundance Institute's broader ecosystem of labs and granting programs. The Indigenous Program offers three main fellowships and one lab, each with different eligibility requirements, award structures, and application timelines.

The program is directed by Adam Piron (Kiowa and Mohawk). Indigenous artists participated in the very first Sundance Institute lab in 1981, and the Indigenous Program was formalized in the mid-1990s to provide focused support for Native and Indigenous storytellers. The program's stated values are decolonizing the screen and uplifting Indigenous voices.

For 2026, the Native Lab took place April 6-11 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, at the Hotel Santa Fe. The lab supported 4 fellows and 2 artists-in-residence working on feature and episodic projects. The Merata Mita Fellowship application for the 2026 cycle opened October 13 and closed November 3, 2025. The Graton Fellowship application launches in fall.

Program Tracks

The Indigenous Program operates four distinct tracks. Each has different eligibility, award amounts, and timelines.

Native Lab

The Native Lab has been running since 2004. It is a five-day intensive workshop where fellows refine their screenplays for feature and episodic projects through one-on-one feedback sessions, script readings, and roundtable discussions with industry advisors. The lab takes place on Native land in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

• Award: Full lab participation including mentorship, travel, accommodation, and meals. No cash grant.
• Eligibility: Indigenous artists with a feature or episodic project in development. Both emerging and mid-career filmmakers are eligible.
• Capacity: 4 fellows and 2 artists-in-residence (2026 edition)
• Application: Opens in winter. No application fee.
• 2026 advisors: Patrick Brice, Bernardo Britto, Alex Lazarowich (Cree), and Graham Foy

Merata Mita Fellowship

Named after Merata Mita (Ngāi Te Rangi/Ngāti Pikiao), the first Māori woman to solely write and direct a dramatic feature film. Mita served as advisor and artistic director of the Sundance Native Lab from 2000 to 2009. The fellowship was created in 2016 to continue her legacy.

• Award: Cash grant (amount varies by year) plus year-long support including a trip to the Sundance Film Festival, access to Sundance Institute artist programs, and mentorship
• Eligibility: Open to US-based and international Indigenous artists who identify as women and are endeavoring to direct a feature film
• Capacity: 1 fellow per year
• Application: Opens in fall. The 2026 cycle application was open October 13 to November 3, 2025.
• 2026 Fellow: Masami Kawai (Ryukyuan)
• Past fellows: Rhayne Vermette (Métis, 2025), Ciara Leina'ala Lacy (Kānaka Maoli, inaugural recipient)

Graton Fellowship

Established in 2023 through an endowment from the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. Supports Indigenous artists from California-based tribes.

• Award: $25,000 cash grant each for 2 fellows, plus year-long mentorship, creative and professional development, and attendance at the Sundance Film Festival
• Eligibility: Indigenous artists from a California-based tribe (federally or non-federally recognized) who can provide proof of tribal affiliation or lineal descendancy
• Capacity: 2 fellows per year
• Application: Launches in fall
• 2026 Fellows: Isabella Madrigal (Cahuilla, Turtle Mountain Ojibwe) and Tsanavi Spoonhunter (Northern Arapaho and Northern Paiute)

Graton Collab Artist Opportunity

A separate, lower-barrier program providing access to Sundance Collab online courses for California-based Indigenous artists.

• Award: Curated courses from the Sundance Collab platform (no cash grant)
• Eligibility: Indigenous artists from California-based tribes
• Application: Open on a rolling basis

What It Covers Across All Tracks

• Cash grants: $25,000 for Graton fellows and a variable cash grant for the Merata Mita fellow. The Native Lab does not provide a cash grant.
• Full lab participation: Travel, accommodation, and meals during the Native Lab in Santa Fe
• Creative mentorship: One-on-one feedback sessions with established filmmakers and creative advisors
• Screenplay and project development: Intensive workshop sessions for feature and episodic projects
• Sundance Film Festival access: Fellows attend the festival and participate in the Native Forum Celebration
• Year-round support: Ongoing mentorship and access to Sundance Institute artist programs
• Industry networking: Access to the Sundance ecosystem of producers, financiers, and distributors
• Alumni community: Membership in a multi-generational network of Indigenous filmmakers

Eligibility

There are no restrictions on educational background for any track. Both emerging and mid-career filmmakers are eligible. The program is open to Indigenous peoples globally, not only US-based Native Americans. The 2026 Native Lab included a Canadian participant selected in partnership with the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO).

Contact the program directly at indigenous_program@sundance.org with eligibility questions.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the Sundance Institute application portal. Each track has its own application:

• Native Lab: Application opens in winter. Requires project description, screenplay or treatment, director's statement, and filmmaker bio. No application fee.
• Merata Mita Fellowship: Application opens in fall (October 13 to November 3, 2025 for the 2026 cycle). Requires project materials and proof of Indigenous identity.
• Graton Fellowship: Application launches in fall. Requires proof of California-based tribal membership or agreement to work with a Graton Tribal Representative to gather documentation.
• Graton Collab Artist Opportunity: Open on a rolling basis through the Sundance application portal.

Notable Alumni

Native Lab and Indigenous Program alumni have had significant impact across film and television:

• Taika Waititi: Academy Award nominee. Feature debut Eagle vs Shark and follow-up Boy developed through Sundance.
• Sterlin Harjo: Creator of the FX series Reservation Dogs. His film Four Sheets to the Wind was an Independent Spirit Award nominee.
• Sydney Freeland: Director whose work includes episodes of Reservation Dogs and Echo.
• Erica Tremblay: Writer-director whose work has screened at Sundance.
• Sky Hopinka: Filmmaker whose work has been recognized at major festivals.
• Shaandiin Tome: Filmmaker supported through the Native Lab.

Alumni projects have premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, Cannes, Berlin, Venice, and Toronto. Alumni have won Independent Spirit Awards and received Academy Award nominations.

Indigenous Film Tour

The program also runs the annual Indigenous Film Tour, a theatrical program of short films by Indigenous filmmakers. The 2025 tour is a 98-minute program featuring 7 short films from the 2024 and 2025 Sundance Film Festivals. The tour screens at museums, Native cultural centers, and arthouse cinemas across the US. The 2025 tour is available to rent from July 2025 through March 2026. Screenings are supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria.

Who Should Apply

Native and Indigenous filmmakers with a feature or episodic project in development: The Native Lab is the primary entry point. It provides intensive screenplay development in a community of Indigenous artists on Native land. Apply in winter.

Indigenous women-identified filmmakers directing a feature film: The Merata Mita Fellowship provides a cash grant plus year-round support and Sundance Film Festival access. Apply in fall.

Indigenous artists from California-based tribes: The Graton Fellowship provides $25,000 plus mentorship. Apply in fall. The Graton Collab Artist Opportunity provides Sundance Collab access on a rolling basis.

Filmmakers who need production funding rather than development support: The Indigenous Program focuses on creative development, not production financing. If you need production funds, look at the Sundance Documentary Fund or Cinereach instead.

Common Confusions

The Indigenous Program is not a single fellowship. It is an umbrella program with multiple tracks. Each track has different eligibility, award amounts, and application timelines. Read the requirements for each track carefully before applying.

The Native Lab does not provide a cash grant. The lab provides full participation costs (travel, accommodation, meals, mentorship) but no direct cash payment. If you need cash funding, apply for the Merata Mita or Graton Fellowships instead.

The program is open to Indigenous filmmakers globally, not only US-based Native Americans. The Merata Mita Fellowship explicitly states it is open to international Indigenous artists. The 2026 Native Lab included a Canadian participant. However, the Graton Fellowship is restricted to California-based tribes.

The Indigenous Program is separate from the Sundance Documentary Fund. The Indigenous Program focuses on creative development through labs and fellowships. The Sundance Documentary Fund provides production and post-production grants. Documentary filmmakers may apply to both programs simultaneously if they meet eligibility requirements.

See Also

For independent filmmaking strategies, see Independent Filmmaking. To plan your feature film development, use the Production Budget Calculator. For other fellowship and lab opportunities, browse the full Film Scholarships Directory. For another Sundance Institute program, see the Sundance Ignite Fellowship.