The Latest
2012 Sundance Film Festival Announces Films in Competition
Park City, UT – Sundance Institute announced today the films selected for the U.S. and World Cinema Dramatic and Documentary Competitions of the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.
Placebo to Play Sundance London
London, Monday 28 November 2011, The O2 — Sundance Institute and The O2 today announced that musical act Placebo, who have released six studio albums and sold more than 10 million records worldwide, will perform at the first-ever Sundance London as part of the four-day festival’s music programme.
Sundance London takes place 26 – 29 April, 2012, and will feature the UK premieres of films fresh from the 2012 Sundance Film Festival which takes place in January 2012 in Park City, Utah. Daily live music performances, discussions, panels and other public events will round out the four-day festival.
Sundance Institute Announces Artists for 2012 Playwrights Retreat at Ucross Foundation
New York, NY — The Sundance Institute Theatre Program today announced the seven artists selected for its 2012 Playwrights Retreat at Ucross Foundation which takes place from February 6 through 24, 2012. The annual writing colony at the 20,000-acre working cattle ranch outside of Sheridan, Wyo. provides a supportive environment for artists to create new work and receive guidance and reactions to it at an early stage.
First-Ever Sundance London Kicks Off At The O2 With An Evening With Robert Redford And T Bone Burnet
London, Wednesday 23 November 2011, The O2 — Sundance founder Robert Redford and 12-time Grammy Award winner T Bone Burnett will open the first-ever Sundance London music and film festival on 26 April. Redford and Burnett in their first joint public appearance will explore the relationship between film and music. This event kicks off the new four-day, multi-disciplinary arts festival at The O2 which is a partnership between Robert Redford, Sundance Institute and AEG Europe.
29 Documentaries Receive $582,000 In Grants From Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program
Los Angeles, CA — Sundance Institute today announced the 29 feature-length documentary films that will receive $582,000 in grants from the Documentary Film Program, including two films selected to receive grants from the Cinereach Project at Sundance Institute and one Time Warner Foundation Fellow. The DFP celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2012 and since its inception has awarded grants to more than 300 documentary filmmakers in 61 countries.
“For many of these filmmakers, receiving a grant will be just the beginning of our relationship with them,” said Cara Mertes, Director of the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program.
Kick It: “ToasT” Takes The Leap of Faith
Lemon Andersen’s play “ToasT” is being presented in collaboration with Under The Radar Festival at the famed Public Theater in New York City. Elise Thoron (who helped to develop and directed County of Kings and Washi Tales) and street artists will be collaborating with set designers to help him bring it to life. “ToasT” is raising production funding on Kickstarter and was recently supported with a development grant from the Sundance Institute Theatre Lab.
Dispatches from the Indigenous Film Conference
In October, I journeyed far above the Arctic Circle to the Sápmi Region in Norway and was hosted by the Sami People. Their traditional territory runs across the northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia, and they’ve recently established the International Sámi Film Center, which hosted the Indigenous Film Conference. The conference had 125 participants from across Sápmi and around the world.
Kickstart When the Drum is Beating
Whitney Dow is an award-winning filmmaker whose directing credits include the 2002 Sundance Film Festival documentary Two Towns of Jasper and the Documentary Film Grant recipient When the Drum is Beating, among others. He is using Kickstarter to help fund global distribution of When the Drum is Beating. Click here to help the film reach its goal.
Tip of the Week: Festival from Home
Whether you’re Park City bound this January or stranded in a dark corner of the globe, we’ve got your back (though we can’t guarantee a Wi-Fi connection). Sundance Institute brings the Festival to you online each January with engaging content, from blogs to live streams, at www.sundance.
Kickstart Everybody Street
Cheryl Dunn is a New York-based filmmaker and photographer whose films have screemed at numerous festivals including Tribeca, Edinburgh, Rotterdam, Los Angeles, and on PBS. She is collaborating with producer and Sundance alum Lucy Cooper (Hesher) on the feature documentary Everybody Street. Click here to visit their Kickstarter page and help fund the final stages of production.
Sundance Institute Announces Renewal of Film Forward: Advancing Cultural Dialogue
Los Angeles, CA — Following the success of last year’s inaugural Film Forward: Advancing Cultural Dialogue initiative, Sundance Institute and the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities announced today the renewal of the program. The slate of 10 new Film Forward films was also revealed along with the eight domestic and international locations in addition to a special presentation at UNESCO.
Film Forward is an initiative of Sundance Institute and the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Expert Tips and Tricks: Extracurricular Activities at the Sundance Film Festival
Even the most die-hard film lovers need a little daylight, and there are plenty of local attractions to complement your movie-going at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Whether it’s dinner and movie, a trip to the outlets, or a day on the slopes, we’ve got you covered. Good EatsThis modest mountain town may surprise you with its array of dining scenes, from the extravagant to the casual.
Sundance Institute Announces Creative Advisors and Acting Company for 2012 Theatre Lab at White Oak
New York, NY – The Sundance Institute Theatre Program today announced the creative advisors and acting company for the three projects being developed at its 2012 Theatre Lab at White Oak in Yulee, Florida. The Lab provides creative support and direction for innovative musical theatre projects and ensemble-generated projects, which have unique needs for collaboration and rehearsal time. Under the supervision of Philip Himberg, Producing Artistic Director of the Theatre Program, and Associate Director Christopher Hibma, the two week Lab (October 30 – November 13, 2011) is produced in partnership with the Howard Gilman Foundation.
Locals Options for Sundance Film Festival Individual Tickets
Park City, UT — Locals planning to attend the 2012 Sundance Film Festival that have not yet purchased passes or ticket packages should consider individual ticketing options. The 2012 Sundance Film Festival will be January 19-29, 2012.
Park City and Salt Lake City Screening Venues:
Beginning today, locals may register online to purchase individual tickets for the Festival.
Kickstart Cesar’s Last Fast
Richard Ray Perez is a documentary filmmaker and director of Cesar’s Last Fast, a Sundance Institute Documentary Film Grant recipient. Perez and his team are using Kickstarter to fund the final stages of production on their project. Click here to contribute.