LOS ANGELES, CA, July 30, 2026 — The nonprofit Sundance Institute today announced the promotion of Trista Schroeder to General Counsel & Chief Operating Officer (GC/COO). Schroeder’s expanded role is effective immediately.

As GC/COO, Schroeder will provide executive leadership across legal affairs, governance, organizational risk management, labor relations, compliance, and organizational administration, serving as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team and strategic partner to Chief Executive Officer David Linde. Continuing to report directly to Linde, she will work closely with executive leadership and the Board of Directors to strengthen organizational effectiveness, support institutional growth and sustainability, and advance the Institute’s mission — enabling Linde to focus more fully on external leadership, fundraising, strategic partnerships, and organizational vision.

“Trista has been an indispensable partner to this organization and to me. Her judgment, integrity, and command of the complex and inspirational landscape we navigate have made her a trusted voice in every major decision we’ve made. Expanding her mandate to General Counsel & Chief Operating Officer reflects the full scope of what she does for this Institute — and it allows me to spend more of my time where I’m needed most: with our artists, our partners, and the broader creative community. I couldn’t be more confident in her ability to help lead us through this pivotal chapter, including our transition to Boulder,” said David Linde, Sundance Institute CEO.

“The Board has come to rely on Trista’s counsel not only on legal matters but on the full range of governance and operational questions that come before us. Simply put, Sundance Film Festival’s new home in Boulder would not have been possible without her — her leadership in negotiating the agreements that brought us there was extraordinary, and the Board is deeply grateful for the discipline and judgment she brought to securing this new chapter. This expanded role formalizes a partnership that has already proven essential to the Institute’s stability and growth,” said Ebs Burnough, Sundance Institute Board Chair.

Schroeder has served as Sundance Institute’s General Counsel since September 2020, providing legal and operational counsel through a period of significant institutional change. Most recently, she led the negotiations underpinning the Institute’s RFP process that culminated in the selection of Boulder, Colorado, as the new home of the Sundance Film Festival beginning in 2027, work that has been central to securing the agreements carrying the Festival into its next chapter.

Prior to joining Sundance Institute, Schroeder served as founding Executive Director of the Hollywood Commission, working alongside Anita Hill and Kathleen Kennedy to address sexual harassment in Hollywood and advance industry-wide inclusivity and equity. She guided the Commission through its start-up phase, set its strategic five-year plan, and executive produced its inaugural Hollywood Commission: Ideas Summit. Earlier in her career, Schroeder served as General Counsel to The Team (formerly Wasserman) in Los Angeles, where she helped steer the company’s M&A strategy through the acquisition and integration of more than twelve companies over a five-year window, working with top athletes across the NBA, NFL, MLB, MLS, FIFA, golf, and action sports. She also served as Wasserman’s Chief Administrative Officer, establishing and leading the company’s legal department while driving corporate operations across human resources, crisis management, corporate communications, IT, and real estate.

Schroeder earned her J.D. at Georgetown University Law Center and served as a law clerk to the Honorable George H. King of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. She began her legal career as an associate at Proskauer Rose, where she advised entertainment industry clients on corporate and litigation matters including copyright and trademark enforcement, employment disputes, government investigations, and licensing. Prior to law school, Schroeder was a research producer for Charlie Rose on PBS, and began her career at Morgan Stanley.

A longtime advocate for women and girls, Schroeder has provided pro bono services to Miriam’s House, a residential recovery facility for women and their children in Los Angeles, and previously served on the board of the California Women’s Law Center. She currently sits on the advisory board of PACT, a direct-service organization for adopted and foster youth. She lives in Los Angeles with her daughter.

Sundance Institute

As a champion and curator of independent stories, the nonprofit Sundance Institute provides and preserves the space for artists across storytelling media to create and thrive. Founded in 1981 by Robert Redford, the Institute’s signature labs, granting, and mentorship programs, dedicated to developing new work, take place throughout the year in the U.S. and internationally. Sundance Collab, a digital community platform, brings a global cohort of working artists together to learn from Sundance Institute advisors and connect with each other in a creative space, developing and sharing works in progress. The Sundance Film Festival and other public programs connect audiences and artists to ignite new ideas, discover original voices, and build a community dedicated to independent storytelling. Support Sundance Institute in our commitment to uplifting bold artists and powerful storytelling globally by making a donation at sundance.org/donate.  Join Sundance Institute on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X, and Bluesky.

MEDIA CONTACT: Laura Kim, 213-280-2273