“Receiving the Tulsa Artist Fellowship marks a turning point in my journey to write my first feature and to root my work more deeply in the place that shaped me. This support affirms that artists no longer have to leave Tulsa to build meaningful, industry-recognized careers. At a moment when Indigenous stories are still too often sidelined, this project is urgent because it insists that our voices, our grief, our joy, and our futures belong at the center of this city’s creative legacy.”
SCREENWRITING, FILM
LOREN WATERS (CHEROKEE/KIOWA)
Loren Waters (Cherokee/Kiowa) is the founder of Waters Media, where her work spans writing, directing, producing, and casting. Growing up in Oklahoma has shaped her cross-cultural storytelling, which is rooted in Indigenous experiences and community collaboration. She has been recognized on prestigious lists, including Forbes 30 Under 30, and Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces, and she currently serves as the Executive Director of the Lindy Waters III Foundation, where she is dedicated to serving Native youth and Indigenous communities.
Her work has been showcased at esteemed festivals such as Sundance, SXSW, and Hot Docs. Her Academy Award–qualifying short documentary film, Tiger, was selected for the DOC NYC Short List and received the Short Film Special Jury Award for Directing at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
Loren’s debut narrative short film, A Map to the Next World, is currently in post-production. She has contributed to renowned films and television series, including The Lowdown, Reservation Dogs, and Fancy Dance, working as the youngest Indigenous casting director in the industry. Her achievements have been recognized with honors, including the 2026–2028 Tulsa Artist Fellowship, the Princess Grace Film Honoraria Award, the New York Foundation for the Arts – Anonymous Was a Woman Environmental Art Grant, and the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation LIFT Award.
