The fellowship is a two-stage development programme that provides support to Native American, Native Hawaiian and Alaskan film artists.

The first stage is a five-day workshop set to take place from May 22-27 on the Mescalero Apache Tribe homeland. Fenton Bailey, Adam Bala Lough, Billy Luther and Zach Sklar will provide guidance for the fellows.

The second stage brings the fellows to the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and provides them with opportunities to network with the industry.

“Across many of our programmes, we continue to be committed to supporting emerging Native American artists and helping their voice and vision be shared with the world,” Sundance Institute executive director Keri Putnam said. “The artists and projects announced today hold great promise for continuing a rich legacy of Native American storytelling.”

The 2012 projects and participants of the NativeLab Fellowship are:

I Am Thy Weapon by Razelle Benally (Oglala Lakota/Navajo);

Out Of Stateby Ciara Leina’Ala Lacy (Hawaiian);

Honor Beats: Singers Of The Four Directions by Jeffrey Patrick Palmer (Kiowa); and

Circleby Brooke Swaney (Blackfeet/Salish).