Sterlin Harjo

Sterlin Harjo, a Seminole filmmaker, has made a significant impact in the film industry with a focus on Native American people and content. Harjo's work primarily revolves around his home state of Oklahoma. He has directed three feature films, a feature documentary, and the FX comedy-drama series "Reservation Dogs." His dedication to his craft led to him receiving a fellowship from the Sundance Institute in 2004 and another from United States Artists in 2006.

Harjo's first feature film, Four Sheets to the Wind, premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, earning a nomination for the grand jury prize. His second feature, Barking Water, not only premiered at the 2009 Sundance Festival but also received the accolade of best drama film at the 2009 American Indian Film Festival. In 2014, Harjo directed a feature documentary titled This May Be the Last Time, which also premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

Not only is Harjo a talented filmmaker, but he is also a founding member of the Native American comedy group, the 1491s, and one of the directors of the Cherokee Nation's monthly television news magazine, Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People. In 2021, he released the first season of the Indigenous comedy series "Reservation Dogs," which he executive produced, directed, and co-wrote. This series was recognized at the 37th Annual Film Independent Spirit Awards as Best New Scripted Series and Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series and garnered him a 2021 Peabody Award. Harjo's work has been acknowledged with the 2011 Tilghman Award from the Oklahoma Film Critics Circle and the Tulsa Library Trust's 2013 American Indian Writers Award.