The Latest
The Sundance Institute Announces Joana Vicente as CEO
Dear Sundance community,
As you are all aware, the Sundance Institute’s valued friend and leader Keri Putnam stepped down as CEO earlier this year after a decade of leading the Institute. Since that day, the Board Search Committee, along with the expert team at leading search firm Spencer Stuart, has undertaken a comprehensive search to find Keri’s successor — someone who is able to maintain our commitment to discovering and developing independent artists, while being able to adapt to the changing world, providing space for storytellers to create and thrive in ways that open our eyes to new worlds, perspectives, and opportunities. We met with an exceptional group of candidates and were inspired and excited by the strength and diversity of their skills, passion, and expertise.
Merata Mita Fellow Marja Bål Nango on the Legacy of Sámi Representation On-Screen
For Indigenous artists, a component of the creative process is to commune with our ancestors as well as with descendants that are yet to come. Merata Mita understood this when she endeavored to realize her film, 1988’s Mauri. In seeing her work through, she became the first Indigenous woman — and the first Māori woman — to solely write and direct a dramatic feature film.
2022 Sundance Film Festival: Satellite Screens, Online Platform, Health Safety, & Ticketing Details Revealed
Park City, UT – The nonprofit Sundance Institute announced today several key aspects of how their 2022 Sundance Film Festival will take place in person and online January 20-30, 2022, including sharing this year’s Satellite Screen partners and locations, ticket package details and on-sale dates, and elaborating upon earlier health and safety guidelines.
“Our programming team, led by the fearless Kim Yutani, is deep into screening the mountain of submissions we have already received this year,” said Festival Director Tabitha Jackson, “As our press and industry offices open in preparation for the next edition of our festival we are excited to share what details we can today, anticipate sharing more as we know more, and can’t wait to meet audiences wherever they are, including in Utah, in January.”
PLATFORM NOW LIVEThe Festival platform is now live and gives a first glimpse at the 2022 look and feel, an expression of the concept of convergence that powers the Festival experience this year.
Sundance Institute Vanguard Award Celebration to Honor Siân Heder and Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson
Los Angeles, CAs — The nonprofit Sundance Institute announced today that it will present the 2021 Vanguard Award to filmmaker Siân Heder for her work on her feature film CODA, and filmmaker Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson for his work in documentary filmmaking on his directorial debut Summer Of Soul (…
A Fond Farewell from Bird Runningwater, Reflecting on 20 Years at the Sundance Institute
“This home has come to an end; it’s time to move to the next home.” — Mescalero Apache ceremonial song
During my 20 years at the Sundance Institute, I’ve tried to imbue my work with inflections of my own Cheyenne and Mescalero Apache cultures. I saw the work of supporting Indigenous artists as a ceremony of transitioning storytellers into their full potential, much like my Mescalero community does when we ritually sing our young women into womanhood and into our matriarchy.
Straight Out of Sundance: America Ferrera on Her Big-Screen Debut in ‘Real Women Have Curves’
Earlier this year, the Sundance Institute marked its 40th anniversary, and to commemorate the occasion, we caught up with dozens of Institute alumni to learn more about how they brought some of their very first projects from development to debut.
Eight Nonfiction Films Combine Art, Science, Storytelling
Park City, UT — The nonprofit Sundance Institute and Sandbox Films today announced the 12 filmmakers and eight projects selected as the next cohort for support by the Sundance Institute | Sandbox Fund. The fund aims to elevate the voices of independent artists working at the intersection of science and nonfiction storytelling as they produce and promote work and discourse that highlights the overlap of science and art.The eight selected project teams will receive unrestricted and non-recoupable grants totaling $255,000.
2021 Sundance Institute Film Music Intensive: Meet the Fellows
In spring of 2021, the Sundance Institute conducted an online Film Music Intensive, an all-too-infrequent chance to create and claim some free creative space and examine something that fascinates us all: What happens when you combine music and film to tell a story?
We welcomed extraordinary emerging composers Chanell Crichlow, Olivia Komahcheet, Kalaisan Kalaichelvan, Alexandra Kalinowski, Dana Lynn, and EmmoLei Sankofa as fellows. They worked with a stellar group of creative advisors from across the industry, including Kathryn Bostic, George S. Clinton, Mychael Danna, Laura Karpman, Heather McIntosh, Blake Neely, Jeff Rona, Adam Smalley, and Christopher Willis.
Straight Out of Sundance: “Reservation Dogs” Creator Sterlin Harjo on Making His First Feature, “Four Sheets to the Wind”
Earlier this summer, the Sundance Institute marked its 40th anniversary, and to commemorate the occasion, we caught up with dozens of Institute alumni to learn more about how they brought some of their very first projects from development to debut. In our Straight Out of Sundance series, we’ll be sharing more of their stories with you. Want to learn more about the nonprofit Institute’s year-round work supporting artists around the world — and how you can help? Visit our Membership page today.
Sundance Film Festival: Asia Is Set for 23–26 September; Program Announced, Will Take Place Virtually
JAKARTA — The Sundance Institute and XRM Media, with support from IDN Media, announced today the program of feature films and panel discussions for the 2021 Sundance Film Festival: Asia, taking place online 23–26 September 2021. The films will be available for viewing online in Indonesia, and digital screening passes for online screenings will be available beginning on Wednesday, 15 September; buy yours at sundancefilmfestivalasia.org.
16 Sundance Films to Watch Before Fall Movie Season, From ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’ to ‘Thank You for Smoking’
Just as nature brings out new and vivid colors in the fall, filmmakers step forward with their best and brightest as we head into the serious cinema season — not that some fun romps aren’t in store as well. In reviewing the fall movie season lineup, we started to notice some familiar faces from past labs and Festivals popping up behind the camera, from Daniel Deston Cretton to Chloé Zhao. Thus, we have another installment in our ongoing lesson: You find Sundance alums in some of the most exciting places.
Release Rundown: What to Watch in September, From ‘My Name Is Pauli Murray’ to ‘El Planeta’
Betsy West and Julie Cohen, the team behind the Oscar-nominated film about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, bring another trailblazing personality to light this fall.
My Name Is Pauli Murray, which premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, is one of eight Sundance-supported gems opening to wider audiences in the United States this September. The pair’s previous project, RBG, played the Festival in 2018.
6 Sundance Institute–Supported Projects to Catch at Venice, Telluride, TIFF, and NYFF
The arrival of September means the start of fall festival season, beginning with the Venice International Film Festival, which hosts its opening night tonight. We’re excited at the prospect of getting to see Sundance Institute–supported projects in person at events around the world, beginning tomorrow, September 2, with the world premiere of Diana El Jeiroudi’s Republic of Silence, which was made with support from our Documentary Film Fund.
In addition to El Jeiroudi’s film, we’ve rounded up four additional Sundance Institute–supported projects that appear on the lineups of Venice (September 1–11), Telluride (September 2–6), Toronto (September 9–18), and the New York Film Festival (September 24–October 10).
We the Animals is a Magical Fever Dream Tracking a Volatile Childhood
Through our #Sundance40th series, we’re offering a decade-by-decade look back at the Sundance Institute’s first 40 years, celebrating the artists and projects that have been such a vital part of our history. And our story doesn’t end here: We need your help in supporting the storytellers of tomorrow. Donate now.
Sundance Institute’s Native American and Indigenous Program Stands By Navajo Code Talkers and The Art of Native Storytelling
Through our #Sundance40th series, we’re offering a decade-by-decade look back at the Sundance Institute’s first 40 years, celebrating the artists and projects that have been such a vital part of our history. And our story doesn’t end here: We need your help in supporting the storytellers of tomorrow. Donate now.