Sterlin Harjo belongs to the Creek and Seminole Nations and is a native of Holdenville, Oklahoma. He studied painting and screenwriting at the University of Oklahoma when he began making shortfilms that launched his filmmaking career. Harjo's short films include THEY'RE PLAYING HIS SONG and his second film GOODNIGHT IRENE premiered at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival and has played around the world including Berlin Film Festival, LAFF, CineVegas, Seattle International, Tribeca Film Festival, Messagesticks-Sydney, and Aspen Shorts Festival where it received a special jury prize. Harjo was selected to participate in the Sundance Institute's 2004 Filmmakers Lab with his feature script, Four Sheets to the Wind, which premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival in Dramatic Competition where it was the recipient of a Special Jury Prize. Harjo has been honored with Sundance Annenberg Film Fellowship, the United States Artists Fellowship and the Re:New Media - Media Arts Fellowship. His second feature BARKING WATER was recently selected to world premiere at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. He is developing his third feature BEFORE THE BEAST RETURNS, which received the top narrative prize at the Tribeca Film Festival's All-Access Connects.
