Celebrate Sundance Institute: A Festival Gala

Event Details

This year, be part of a special evening honoring Sundance Institute’s Founder Robert Redford — his legacy, vision, and enduring mission to support independent storytellers. We’ll come together for food, music, and to honor his impact with special moments. We invite you, along with the many influential artists embodying his enduring vision, to raise a glass and connect with fellow members of the Sundance Institute community about how we carry on Redford’s mission for the next generation. 

From its start in the mountains of Utah and for over four decades, Sundance Institute — a nonprofit Mr. Redford founded in 1981 to develop and support groundbreaking independent artists and storytellers — has shaped independent film and shifted culture by introducing fresh perspectives and voices. That work has found audiences across the globe, including at the preeminent Sundance Film Festival, which has launched the careers of countless groundbreaking filmmakers.

This is more than an event — it’s a once-in-a-lifetime gathering to celebrate the visionary founder who established Sundance Institute and redefined independent film. 

Your support will directly contribute to Sundance Institute’s vital year-round work, providing grants, mentorships, and critical resources that enable artists across the globe to bring their stories to life.

We hope to see you at Celebrating Sundance Institute: A Tribute to Founder Robert Redford at Grand Hyatt Deer Valley in Park City, Utah, starting at 6:30 p.m. MT.

Join us!

If you’re unable to join us, please consider making a general contribution to Sundance Institute, which directly supports independent artists through resources such as labs, grants, and fellowships. Reach out to benefitevent@sundance.org with any questions.

Honorees

Nonfiction Vanguard: Geeta Gandbir

James Mangold

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Fiction Vanguard: Nia DaCosta

Cynthia Erivo

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Trailblazer Award: Chloe Zhao

Michelle Satter

Photo Credit: The Academy / Robert Trachtenberg

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Robert Redford Luminary Award: Ed Harris and Gyula Gazdag

Ed Harris
Gyula Gazdag

We’re thrilled to announce two of our esteemed honorees for Celebrating Sundance Institute: A Tribute to Founder Robert Redford. This year, the inaugural Robert Redford Luminary Award will be presented to Ed Harris and Gyula Gazdag, two artists deeply dedicated to the Sundance Institute Labs and committed to supporting bold storytellers.

The Robert Redford Luminary Award recognizes and celebrates individuals who have, in an insightful way, used their resources, knowledge, and reach to create possibility where there wasn’t, thus doing their part to make the world a better place. Harris and Gazdag will be acknowledged for their decades-long contributions as creative advisors for the Sundance Institute Directors Lab, where they offer guidance to artists as they develop and refine their projects and skills as writers and directors in a nurturing, immersive environment. They will be honored for their dedication to Robert Redford’s vision of elevating new voices, championing independent storytelling, and upholding that artistic endeavor for years to come.

Additional award honorees as well as special guests and presenters will be announced soon — stay tuned for more exciting updates!

Tickets

Please note: other package tiers will be available for purchase beginning Wednesday, Nov 19 at 10:00MT.

Golden Reel: $50,000 (SOLD OUT)

($47,600  is a charitable contribution)

  • One table for 10 guests with preferred placement for dinner and program
  • Prominent logo or line listing recognition across all tribute event materials

Silver Screen: $25,000 (SOLD OUT)

($23,200 is a charitable contribution)

  • One table for 10 guests for dinner and program
  • Logo or line listing recognition across all tribute event materials

Luminous Lens: $10,000

($8,800 is a charitable contribution)

  • Reserved seating for four guests for dinner and program

available to purchase starting November 19

Patron Partner Package: $5,000

($4,400 is a charitable contribution)

DETAILS

  • Reserved seating for two guests for dinner and program
  • Underwriting attendance for one emerging artist or featured honoree

available to purchase starting November 19

Individual Celebration Ticket: $2,000

($1,700 is a charitable contribution)

DETAILS

  • Reserved seating for one guest for dinner and program

available to purchase starting November 19

Thank you for your interest in attending Celebrating Sundance Institute: A Tribute to Founder Robert Redford.

Due to an outpouring of support, all tables and tickets have been officially SOLD OUT.

If you would like to be placed on our waitlist in case of cancellations, please email benefitevent@sundance.org with the number of tickets you are interested in reserving.

Thank you!

If you are unable to attend the event, please consider making a general contribution to Sundance Institute, which directly supports independent artists through resources such as labs, grants, and fellowships. Please reach out to benefitevent@sundance.org with any questions.

Presenting Sponsor

Vanguard Awards Sponsored By

Trailblazer Award Sponsored By

Google

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Event Chairs:

TBD

Thank you to our Host Committee,

Ebs Burnough Event Co-Chair 

Pat  Mitchell Event Co-Chair

Andrew Ahn

Paul Thomas Anderson

Darren Aronofsky

Miguel Arteta

Ritesh Batra

Radha Blank

Anna Boden

Patricia Cardoso

Lisa Cholodenko

Ryan Coogler

Cherien Dabis

Nia DaCosta

Mark Duplass

Sean Durkin

Ava DuVernay

Robert Eggers

Chris Eyre

Rick Famuyiwa

Ryan Fleck

Scott Frank

Sydney Freeland

Rashad  Frett

Cary Fukunaga

Rodrigo Garcia

Debra Granik

Reinaldo Marcus Green

Maggie Gyllenhaal

Sterlin Harjo

Ed Harris

Sian Heder

Marielle Heller

Nicole Holofcener

Tamara Jenkins

Eliza  Hittman

Miranda  July

Nikyatu Jusu

Nicole Kassel

Rory Kennedy

Braden King

Daniel Kwan

Kasi Lemmons

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

David Lowery

Joshua Marston

Christopher McQuarrie

John Cameron Mitchell

Gregory Nava

Jessie Nelson

Pete Nicks

Kimberly Peirce

Gina Prince-Bythewood

Dee  Rees

A.V. Rockwell

Howard Rodman

Ira Sachs

Walter Salles

Daniel Scheinert

Tessa Thompson

Charlotte Wells

Roger Ross Williams

Benh Zeitlin

Chloe Zhao

Golden Reel Tickets

Acton Family Giving

All That’s Left of You 

Ebs Burnough and Pierre Lagrange

Nina and David Fialkow

Luisa and Chris Law

Stephen and Sharmaine Hillard

Jeanne Donovan Fisher

Melony and Adam Lewis

Madison Wells

Stanley Hotel 

Susan and Jim Swartz

Official Providers

The Dufour Collaborative

Grand Hyatt Deer Valley

About Your Contribution

Your ticket purchase to the Festival’s Celebrating Sundance Institute: A Tribute to Founder Robert Redford is a contribution to Sundance Institute and directly supports independent artists through resources such as labs, grants, and fellowships. Dedicated to the nurturing and development of independent storytellers, the Institute seeks to discover, support, and inspire independent film and media artists from the United States and around the world. Through all of its activities, the Institute fosters originality, authenticity, and diversity in storytelling.

Your contribution to Sundance Institute is tax-deductible, subtracting the value of any benefits (goods or services) you receive. Consult your tax advisor for details.

Contact Information

For questions about ticket packages or making a general contribution, connect with us at benefitevent@sundance.org.

Accessibility and Community Agreement

Sundance Institute is committed to ensuring our events are as accessible as possible for everyone who attends. If any accommodation would support your full participation in this event, please contact accessibility@sundance.org to describe your specific request. Every effort will be made to accommodate advance requests; requests made within seven days of the event may not be guaranteed.

 In alignment with our Community Agreement, we ask you to be intentional with your words (hateful speech or actions will not be tolerated) and be respectful of moderators, artists, and other attendees. See our full Community Agreement to read more or to learn how to report violations. We sincerely thank you for helping us create an inclusive, welcoming environment for all.