‘True Detective’ Breakout Kali Reis Heads to Sundance With ‘Rebuilding’

Name: Kali Reis

Sundance project: “Rebuilding,” a drama set in the aftermath of a devastating fire in Colorado. Josh O’Connor and Meghann Fahy costar.

Notable past credits: Reis, a former world champion boxer, has quickly made her mark as an actress with Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for her supporting role in last year’s series “True Detective: Night Country.” She also earned an Independent Spirit Award for her debut 2021 film “Catch the Fair One.”

 ”Shooting it was such a beautiful experience,” says Reis, describing the stunning rural Colorado setting of her new film “Rebuilding.” Written and directed by Max Walker-Silverman, inspired by personal events, the film is set in the aftermath of a fire that has destroyed homes and land.

 ”First and foremost, Max has a beautiful way of articulating this world,” Reis says. “It was a beautiful way of exploring not the tragedy that happens in a natural disaster or a wildfire, but actually what happens after. And how beautiful it is to see the community have to come together,” she continues. “Coming together as a community, they can rebuild going forward.”

The film is led by a stoic Josh O’Connor, who moves into an intimate community living in FEMA-supplied RVs, and reconnects with his young daughter. One of his temporary neighbors is young mother Mila, portrayed by Reis, who lost her home and husband in the fire.

“Everything about the story was very different from what I was coming from, which was ‘True Detective,’” says Reis of the “Rebuilding” script. “So I was really intrigued to do something on a totally different side of the spectrum, and really challenge myself.”

Reis is relatively new to the film industry, but was well familiar with the “myth, the legend” that is the Sundance Film Festival. “I was really excited for Max and the film to be here because it’s such a big and important film festival,” she says the day before the world premiere.

Among Reis’ next projects is “Mercy,” a film directed by Timur Bekmambetov, who’s known for screen-life films like “Unfriended.” “It’s a little sci-fi and it’s futuristic-ish too,” Reis says. “It’s like ‘Minority Report’ meets ‘Speed,’ in the future.”

She also stars in a sequel of 2017 Sundance film “Wind River,” which was set on a Native American reservation, as an FBI agent who investigates the murder of a young Native woman. Reis shot “Wind River: The Next Chapter” just a week after finishing production for “True Detective.”

“I really loved the script and what direction they went into with this one. It’s authentically told,” Reis says of the sequel. “I was really intrigued to see how much thought they put into exploring different parts of the Indigenous community, and looking at issues in a different lens.”

Reis identifies as a mixed Indigenous Cape Verdean two-spirit woman, and nods to the fact that she’s entering the industry at a moment when Indigenous stories and talent are becoming more prominent.

“There’s so many different looks. We come from different backgrounds. We come from different tribes, different nations, different issues, different places of Turtle Island,” she says. “So to be able to have that representation inside the representation is beautiful.”

While Reis describes action films as her go-to, given her background as an athlete, she’s excited to explore other genres — and comedy in particular.

“To keep homing in on my craft,” she says. “I compare it to boxing a lot, where there’s no ceiling. I learn something from everybody that I’m around and every project I’ve been blessed to have thus far. So whatever project is meant for me at the time, I just want to take it for what it is and do the best I can.”

While Reis hasn’t fought in several years — she took a break due to health issues — she hasn’t officially retired from the sport yet.

“It just so happened that these acting projects have come in at the right time for me to do that as well,” she says. “It’s a nice feeling to know that I don’t have to fight anymore, because I’ve accomplished so much and I have the blessing of having another career that is seeming to be very successful thus far,” she adds.

“I’m just very ambitious, and I see the opportunities, so why not take them?”