Preston Randolph, a Cody-based filmmaker, always told himself he’d never attend the prestigious Sundance Film Festival unless one of his films was being screened there.
Now, he will attend a premiere that couldn’t be more personally or professionally significant to him.
“Free Leonard Peltier,” a documentary directed by Jesse Short Bull and David France, premieres at Sundance on Jan. 27. Randolph is a co-producer of the film, but he has a much deeper reason to be invested in its success.
“I’ve been close to Leonard for 15 years,” he told Cowboy State Daily. “We’re family to each other. I was willing to do whatever necessary to make the film happen and free Leonard Peltier.”
Peltier has been in federal prison since 1976 after being convicted for the 1975 deaths of two FBI agents in a shootout on a reservation in South Dakota. Randolph and many others believe Peltier was wrongfully imprisoned and have spent decades passionately advocating for his clemency.
Details on “Free Leonard Peltier” are being kept secret before the premiere.
Randolph described the documentary as an evocative review of Peltier’s life, trial and imprisonment, and how the federal government did everything it could to put him in prison, and keep him there.
Even one of the lawyers involved in prosecuting Peltier is advocating for his release, saying the evidence didn’t prove their case.
“Their arguments have been debunked over and over and over again, and it doesn't matter,” he said. “It's sad that someone's constitutional rights can be stripped from them. This is personal for me and many others, and ‘Free Leonard Peltier’ can hopefully make some changes and build further awareness about injustices in this country toward its Indigenous people.”
Sundance Selection
The Sundance Film Festival is one of the highest aspirations for any modern filmmaker. As a professional, Randolph has always wanted to go, but avoided the temptation until the time was right.
“I never wanted to go just to walk around and fanboy out.,” he said. “That's just not who I am. I always told myself I’d only go because a film I'm a part of will be shown there.”
David France called Randolph to share the incredible news that the documentary was among the 87 films and six episodic projects selected for the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Thousands are submitted annually, but less than 2% of those submissions might be accepted.
This will be the first project Randolph’s been involved with that will premiere at Sundance, which he called “a career achievement.” He’s excited to attend the Jan. 27 premiere, but he’s hoping that the man who inspired the documentary will be there too.
“The film premieres seven days after we’ll know if Leonard gets out,” he said. “So, we might have a special guest at the premiere, or we’ll have more purpose.”
Railroaded
Leonard Peltier was an activist involved with the American Indian Movement when two FBI agents, Ronald Williams and Jack Coler, were killed in a shootout on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota on June 26, 1975
Peltier was arrested and convicted of two counts of first-degree murder in 1976 and has been incarcerated ever since. Peltier has admitted he was involved in the shootout but denied killing the agents.
Randolph said Peltier was “railroaded in the government’s pursuit of justice.” He noted that several reviews of the evidence and trial revealed that the FBI was determined to convict Peltier by any means necessary.
“The FBI went judge shopping and put their full weight into the prosecution,” he said. “His extradition from Canada was based on false testimony. Witnesses were intimidated. Documents were withheld from the defense. This is all proven and highly documented. The government was allowed to do whatever they wanted to do.”
Randolph has good company in his firm belief in Peltier’s innocence. Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, Pope Francis, Oprah Winfrey, the 14th Dalai Lama, and hundreds of others have advocated for Peltier’s clemency.
James Reynolds, the former US Attorney who supervised Peltier's prosecution during one of his appeals, has also advocated for his innocence and clemency. Randolph produced a video interviewing Reynolds, who acknowledged how far the federal government was willing to go to get a conviction.
“He's advocating for Leonard to get out because they weren't able to prove Leonard did anything,” he said. “Evidence presented to the jury was fabricated, and they withheld documents that proved Leonard didn't do it.”
Peltier, now 80, had his last application for clemency rejected by President Barack Obama in 2017.
Not A Career Move
Randolph sat in on one of Peltier’s parole hearings while attending high school in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. He’s been advocating for Peltier ever since.
Leveraging his filmmaking skills, Randolph produced several short films about Peltier and the trial, and has been “making a difference behind closed doors” to obtain his clemency.
“After 15 years of involvement, you get to know key players, how they act and respond to things, and what they are and aren’t willing to talk about,” he said. “I think it's an extremely appalling part of American history, and I’ve been extremely passionate about it.”
That’s why Randolph was initially skeptical when Short Bull and France approached him about making a documentary about Peltier. It wasn’t the first time.
“There were rumors of different films over the years, and people would reach out to me to get stuff I shot years ago,” he said. “I felt like they were in it for all the wrong reasons, glorifying their efforts or trying to build their careers. That has never been my intention.”
This approach was different. France is an award-winning investigative reporter, author, and filmmaker, and Short Bull co-directed Lakota Nation vs. United States, which won Best Documentary and Outstanding Direction for a Documentary at the 2024 Emmys.
Randolph was “blunt” with France and Short Bull when they asked if he wanted to be involved in their documentary about Peltier. After a few minutes of discussion, he knew this was the one.
“I realized this team had all the right reasons,” he said. “As soon as I understood their intentions, I wanted to do whatever I could.”
Leonard Peltier, American Indian Movement leader, is led across Okalla prison exercise yard to a waiting helicopter. After a prolonged legal battle, Peltier was ordered deported by Canadian Justice Minister Ron Basford to face charges of murdering two FBI agents. (Getty Images) 
"Free Leonard Peltier" premieres at the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 27. Preston Randolph, a Wyoming filmmaker, is a coproducer on the documentary reviewing the conviction of the American Indian activist convicted of killing two FBI agents in 1975. (From "Free Leonard Pelitier") 
"Free Leonard Peltier" premieres at the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 27. Preston Randolph, a Wyoming filmmaker, is a coproducer on the documentary reviewing the conviction of the American Indian activist convicted of killing two FBI agents in 1975. (From "Free Leonard Pelitier") 
Activists participate in a protest to urge U.S. President Joe Biden to grant Native American activist Leonard Peltier clemency outside of the White House on Sept. 12, 2023, in Washington, D.C. Activists, who cite anti-Indigenous bias surrounding Peltier’s trial, want the President to give leniency to Peltier who is serving two life sentences for the murder of two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota in 1975. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker, Getty Images) 
Activists participate in a protest to urge U.S. President Joe Biden to grant Native American activist Leonard Peltier clemency outside of the White House on Sept. 12, 2023, in Washington, D.C. Activists, who cite anti-Indigenous bias surrounding Peltier’s trial, want the President to give leniency to Peltier who is serving two life sentences for the murder of two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota in 1975. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker, Getty Images) 
Activists participate in a protest to urge U.S. President Joe Biden to grant Native American activist Leonard Peltier clemency outside of the White House on Sept. 12, 2023, in Washington, D.C. Activists, who cite anti-Indigenous bias surrounding Peltier’s trial, want the President to give leniency to Peltier who is serving two life sentences for the murder of two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota in 1975. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker, Getty Images) 
Chief Billy Tayac of the Piscataway Indian Nation displays a letter from the imprisoned American Indian Movement leader Leonard Peltier at a press conference. In the letter, Peltier appeals to the Soviet Union to grant him "political asylum." Peltier, 42, is serving two consecutive life terms in a federal prison for the shooting deaths of two FBI agents on the pine Ridge Indian reservation in South Dakota in 1975. (Getty Images)
Providing Perspective
Randolph is an award-winning director but has played a more supportive role as co-producer of “Free Leonard Peltier.” He gave France and Short Bull full access to his extensive archive of documents, footage, and interviews related to Peltier’s case, along with a network of crucial people interviewed for the documentary.
“Hopefully, I’ve helped open some doors and made life a little easier for them,” he said. “They have an amazing team that’s been working extremely hard over the last six months.”
As co-producer, Randolph has screened segments of the documentary and offered his insight while observing how France and Short Bull work. It’s been a valuable learning experience for him and his company, Cactus Pro Productions.
“It’s been great watching top-tier directors with good quality teams operate and get stuff done,” he said. “I’ve tried to make a documentary on the case before, but I wasn't at a point in my career required to make a film of that caliber. It’s been inspiring for us and quite an honor just to be involved in this project.”
For Randolph, the most important thing he can provide is his connection to Peltier. Hundreds of people have advocated for his clemency, but Randolph’s been involved longer and more intimately than anyone else.
“I’ve tried to bring that unique perspective to the documentary,” he said. “These guys are great storytellers. They know what they're doing, so they're not coming to me for advice. I hope I’ve brought a unique perspective, a wealth of knowledge and archival materials, and anything else I can to make this successful.”
Bring Him Home
Randolph said the artistic quality and compelling storytelling of “Free Leonard Peltier” must have resonated with the Sundance Film Festival’s selection committee. It probably didn’t hurt that Robert Redford, the festival’s founder, is another advocate for Peltier’s clemency.
With the premiere less than two weeks away, Randolph is eyeing the more crucial deadline of Jan. 20. By then, President Joe Biden will have decided whether to release Peltier from prison.
Peltier’s clemency request is one of many pardon requests President Biden has received. Randolph, the documentary team, and dozens of others have been working hard to ensure the latest effort is successful.
“Leonard’s approaching 50 years in prison,” he said. “He’s 80, and his health is declining. Whether you agree with him or the American Indian Movement or not, you can look at this man's trial and realize he was railroaded. It’s time for him to come home.”
There’s more anxiety with each passing day, but Randolph said he’s “more optimistic now than (he’s) ever been” that true justice will prevail for Peltier. But if he’s released, there won’t be a hastily added ending to “Free Leonard Peltier” because the scope of the documentary is broader than Peltier’s story.
“Having the documentary premiere at Sundance is a huge accomplishment,” Randolph said. “People who see it will realize that Leonard needs to be freed immediately., but that we need to take a step back and look at our judicial system. It might be the best in the world, but it's definitely not perfect, and we can improve.”
Contact Andrew Rossi at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com
Andrew Rossi can be reached at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.
