Indigenous film ‘Free Leonard Peltier’ makes powerful Sundance debut

Filmmaker fashion for the Sundance Film Festival documentary Free Leonard Peltier. Her dress is imprinted with phrases inckuding, Free Loenard Peltier, Lakota, and Wrongfully Imprisoned. Photo: TownLift // Michele Roepke

PARK CITY, Utah — Robert Redford’s name echoes throughout conversations with the team behind “Free Leonard Peltier” at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. The festival founder’s commitment to Indigenous inclusion and storytelling remains as prominent as it was decades ago.

Sundance Film Festival Director Eugene Hernandez introduced the world premiere screening Monday at the Ray Theater. Before the sold-out showing, a Ute tribal leader performed a traditional song for the audience, a rare occurrence at the festival.

The Festival Program Guide describes Peltier as one of the surviving leaders of the American Indian Movement who has been imprisoned for 50 years following a contested conviction. A new generation of Native activists seeks to secure his freedom.

The Sundance Institute Indigenous Program conducts a separate Indigenous films tour across various U.S. states throughout the year.

Director Jesse Short Bull collaborated with Co-Director and Producer David France on the documentary.

Below is a photo of the Tribal Leader from Utah who addressed the ticket-holders at “Free Leonard Peltier” walking the red carpet.

At Sundance’s Native Forum Celebration, Rhayne Vermette was named the 2025 Merata Mita Fellow, while Roni Jo Draper and Stefan Perez received 2025 Graton Fellowships. 

Among the aspiring filmmakers at the festival was Eden Deruse-Moore, a San Diego writer developing a project called “Deer Dancer.” Deruse-Moore, who traces her Indigenous roots to the Yome tribe of Sonoran Mexico, has submitted her work in hopes of becoming a 2026 Fellow.

She joins other selected artists who have submitted projects to Sundance Institute’s Native Labs. The group will travel to Santa Fe, New Mexico, this year to learn who receives funding opportunities for potential presentation at next year’s festival.

As venue volunteers guided attendees out of the theater to prepare for the next screening, one person associated with “Free Leonard Peltier” remarked, “Oh, throwing the natives out, nothing ever changes.” The comment drew sustained laughter from a crowd of people nearby, including the volunteer.