EFM - Fortissimo Selling Sundance Critical Hit SONGS MY BROTHERS TAUGHT ME

Feb 05, 2026 CFM Daily, Distribution, Festival 0

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BERLIN Feb 5, 2026 - Fortissimo represents the Sundance Critical Hit SONGS MY BROTHERS TAUGHT ME at the European Film Market during the 65th Berlin International Film Festival.

SONGS MY BROTHERS TAUGHT ME is a complex portrait of modern day life on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation that explores the bond between a brother (John Reddy) and his younger sister (Jashaun St. John), who go their separate ways to redefine “home”. Chloé Zhao captures an isolated Indian Country to offer a modern gaze of the promising wild of young generation Lakotas.

Written and directed by the Beijing-born, first time filmmaker, Zhao has made her mark as a new and striking voice in the independent film world. She studied Politics at Mount Holyoke College and then Film Production at NYU.

SONGS MY BROTHERS TAUGHT ME was produced by Significant Productions’ Forest Whitaker, Academy Award Winner for THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND and THE BUTLER; and Nina Yang Bongiovi (FRUITVALE STATION). Zhao, along with Mollye Asher (FORT TILDEN, SHE’S LOST CONTROL) and Angela C. Lee also served as producers for the feature. Significant Productions holds North American rights to the film.

The deal was negotiated by Fortissimo’s Senior VP of Acquisitions, Berenice Fugard and Producer Nina Yang Bongiovi. On finalizing, Berenice Fugard commented, “We were transported by the warmth and truthfulness of Chloé Zhao’s beautiful film. SONGS profoundly resonates by giving a voice to a universe that exists among us, yet is unknown to most. We are all so happy to be working with Significant Productions”.

At the 2015 EFM, Fortissimo Films also includes previously announced titles, BREATHE UMPHEFUMLO and SERGIO HERMAN: FUCKING PERFECT, both will premiere at the Berlin Film Festival in February.

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