Director Lyle Mitchell Corbine Jr.–whose feature film debut Wild Indian is slated to premiere in the U.S, Dramatic Competition at the upcoming Sundance Film Festival (1/28-2/3)–has secured his first U.S. and French commercial representation, joining the roster of Paris and Los Angeles-based production company Loveboat.
Corbine Jr.’s love of movies began while growing up on Native American reservations in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and expanded after he watched Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation, encouraging the start of his first projects. Corbine Jr. gained recognition for his short films Shinaab–which screened at Sundance and the Toronto International Film Festival in 2017–and then Shinaab, Part II, which made the cut at the same two fests, Toronto in 2018 and Sundance in 2019. The films earned him support from the Sundance Institute Screenwriters Lab and Directors Lab, along with aid from additional independent film nonprofits including McKnight Foundation and Cinereach.
With a natural ability to tell emotionally heavy and complex stories, Corbine Jr. explores human character, including the Native American identity, through elliptical storytelling and compelling visual style. Corbine Jr. wrote, directed and produced Wild Indian, which will premiere on January 30 at Sundance. Starring Michael Greyeyes, Chase Spencer, Jesse Eisenberg, and Kate Bosworth, the psychological thriller follows a young Anishinaabe boy and a murder that haunts him for years.
“Lyle’s ability to weave history, emotion, suspense, and his own personal story into his films is striking,” said Jeff Baron, Loveboat managing partner.
Corbine Jr. said he “felt a connection” to the recently launched Loveboat, the company’s “spirit of nurturing” creativity, and its “impressive roster of innovative directors and artists.”
