The Latest

How Tom Rothman and 20th Century Fox Nearly Sank Titanic

On Monday, January 20, with #FreeFail, the Sundance Film Festival will dedicate a day to exploring a vital aspect of the creative process: Failure. To lead off the festivities, Sundance alum and film executive Tom Rothman divulges the early failings of “Titanic” at 20th Century Fox.
“Success has many parents, but failure is always an orphan.

FreeFail: How Tom Rothman and 20th Century Fox Nearly Drowned On Titanic

On Monday, January 20, with #FreeFail, the Sundance Film Festival will dedicate a day to exploring a vital aspect of the creative process: Failure. To lead off the festivities, Sundance alum and film executive Tom Rothman divulges the early failings of “Titanic” at 20th Century Fox.
“Success has many parents, but failure is always an orphan.

How to Fest: Dinner and Drinks

Cheers, we’re a week out from Day One of the 2014 Sundance Film Festival! As we round out our annual ‘How to Fest’ series, we’ve once again tapped into the acumen of Sundance alumni to impart their knowledge. Looking for the best options for dinner and drinks in Park City? Below we serve up some Festival favorites for those seeking nourishment. 
David Lowery (Ain’t Them Bodies Saints)“If you are vegan or vegetarian, one of the best places to eat is Squatters, which is across from the Yarrow and which has a good vegan breakfast, among other meat-free options.

How to Fest: Scoring Sundance Tickets

The mad dash for tickets commenced more than three weeks ago with the Sundance Film Festival program announcement, but that doesn’t mean seats aren’t still up for grabs. We’ve once again called upon Sundance ticketing luminary Linda Pfafflin (or more officially, Associate Director of Ticketing and Customer Service), to dish out some shrewd ticketing tips—while also pointing out some common misperceptions. If you’re planning to attend the Festival in Park City, Utah, this month, and whether you’re an uninitiated Sundancer or a seasoned Festivalgoer, check out our tips below to start gearing up for the 2014 Festival.

Previewing the Native Film Presence at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival

This year marks 20 years of the formal existence of the Sundance Institute Native American and Indigenous Program and the Native Forum at Sundance Film Festival. Throughout 2014 the Native Program will celebrate this milestone with partnerships and screenings across the country including Park City, New York, Los Angeles and Santa Fe.
At the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, Native American and Indigenous artists will be represented in several program categories including Documentary Premieres, NEXT >=>, Park City at Midnight, and  the Shorts Competition.

FreeFail: Stacy Peralta On the Z-Boys and Embracing Failure

On Monday, January 20, with #FreeFail, the Sundance Film Festival will dedicate a day of panels, workshops, and special events to exploring a vital aspect of the creative process: Failure. To lead off the festivities, Sundance alumn, entrepreneur, and former professional skateboarder Stacy Peralta recalls some of his most illuminating bouts with failure.
 I’m a Venice, California native.

5 New Year’s Themed Films to Ring In 2014

It’s officially 2014, which renders the lofty resolutions of last night effective today. And while we suspect that you’re tied up at the gym this morning, perhaps you’ll find time to treat yourself to these five New Year’s themed Sundance films. Cheers to 2014, and happy new year!
Gridlock’d
On New Year’s Eve, Spoon (Tupac Shakur) and Stretch (Tim Roth) find their dawn of a new age sent into early night by numerous obstacles.

Ted Dintersmith

Ted Dintersmith’s 25-year career in the venture capital world has enabled him to focus his passion for storytelling to effect change and promote good through an intersection of innovation and education. He believes in the role of film to inspire social change and has connected with the Sundance Institute to see his vision through. Ted is a founding partner and generous supporter of our Catalyst Initiative, Sundance Institute’s initiative that connects forward thinking financiers with the world of independent film.

5 New Year’s–Themed Sundance Films to Watch on January 1

We’ve officially reached the end of the year, which renders the lofty resolutions of last night effective today. And while we suspect that you’re tied up at the gym this morning (if you’re not watching the Rose Parade, that is), perhaps you’ll find time to treat yourself to these five New Year’s–themed Sundance films. Happy New Year!Gridlock’d (1997)“On New Year’s Eve, Spoon (Tupac Shakur) and Stretch (Tim Roth) find their dawn of a new age sent into early night by numerous obstacles.

How to Fest: Taxis, Shuttles, and Parking Taboos

There is a method to the madness when it comes to galavanting around Park City. In fact, it may be the one facet that belies the heady chaos of the town during the Sundance Film Festival. Take Sundance alumnus Katie Aselton’s advice as law, and trust the tried-and-true free shuttle bus system.

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Observing the Future of Storytelling at the New Frontier Story Lab

As Sundance Institute invests in the advancement of story by supporting artists in the New Frontier program, we realized we should also create space for “the observer,” a critical role in innovation. The observer helps to contextualize new things, create language, identify what’s not working, and amplify what resonates.
We invited filmmaker Samah Tokmachi to come to the 2013 New Frontier Story Lab in the role of Creative Observer.

January Now Playing: The Truth About Emanuel, 12 O’Clock Boys, and more

As we gear up to premiere more than 200 films at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, audiences are ready to be replenished with new indie films for the new year. But there are still some titles harvested from the 2013 Sundance Film Festival making the theatrical rounds, along with a number of films coming to DVD and Blu-Ray this month. In Theaters Friday, January 10The Truth About Emanuel, directed by Francesca GregoriniSaturday, January 19Life Itself, directed by Steve James.

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How to Fest: Getting to (and Staying) in Park City

We’ll just go ahead and say it—traveling to the Sundance Film Festival is not for the faint of heart. The good news is that Festival alumni Katie Aselton and David Lowery are agents of prudence when it comes to Park City travels. On one instance, Aselton recalls an absence of chivalry that led to a late Festival arrival and a lesson learned.

Justin Simien’s 5 Sundance iTunes Picks

In the spirit of Sundance Film Festival’s upcoming 30th Anniversary, Sundance Institute’s #ArtistServices program partnered with iTunes to promote classics from the past 30 years. New alum Justin Simien, whose debut feature film “Dear White People” is premiering in the U.S.