Sterlin Harjo

Sterlin Harjo (born November 14, 1979) is an American filmmaker. He has directed three feature films, a feature documentary, and the FX comedy drama series Reservation Dogs, all of them set in his home state of Oklahoma and concerned primarily with Native American people and content. Early life and education Harjo, a citizen of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma who also has Muscogee heritage, was born and raised in Holdenville, Oklahoma. He attended the University of Oklahoma, where he studied art and film. Career In 2004, he received a fellowship from the Sundance Institute. His short film "Goodnight, Irene" premiered at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival and received a special jury award at the Aspen Shortsfest. In 2006, he received a fellowship from the newly formed organization United States Artists. Harjo's first feature film, Four Sheets to the Wind, tells the story of a young Seminole man who travels from his small home town to Tulsa to visit his sister after the death of their father. The film premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, where it was nominated for the grand jury prize. Harjo was named best director at the 2007 American Indian Film Festival. The film's co-star Tamara Podemski won a Sundance special jury prize for her performance in the picture, and she was later nominated for best supporting actress at the 2007 Independent Spirit Awards.