LOS ANGELES, CA – The non-profit Sundance Institute today announced it has been selected as a candidate charity in Members Project®, a partnership between American Express and TakePart, a community website focused on socially conscious media and issues. Supporters of Sundance Institute can now go online to vote for the organization to share a total of $1,000,000 in funding from American Express. A total of five organizations will share the monetary award.

“We have Viagra, estrogen, and vodka. Also, a lawyer, but that might not help you,” quipped Sundance Film Festival director John Cooper on closing night of Sundance Institute’s Creative Producing Summit. Earlier in the evening, Cooper asked the audience the following question: “Besides money, in a single word what does it take to produce a film?” All of the participants—from career producers to first-time filmmakers—attempted to find that golden nugget that makes a successful producer, a role that Michael Barker, co-president and co-founder of Sony Pictures Classics, claims can’t be pinned to one thing because a producer is a renaissance man.

Last night a group of independent producers and directors gathered in the mountains of Utah to kick-off Sundance Institute’s second annual Creative Producing Summit. ‘Creative’ immediately earned its keep as Reed Hastings, CEO and co-founder of Netflix, gave his keynote address crediting Netflix’s success to its creative entrepreneurial nature. Along with Sundance Institute Executive Director Keri Putnam and Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos, a conversation ignited about how independent film distribution continues to evolve with new possibilities and challenges looming around the corner.

There is a visceral element involved in recognizing a great film score. Too often, as moviegoers, we fail to identify music as the component responsible for striking a chord within us. It’s these “textures and emotional qualities,” as Film Music Program director Peter Golub describes it, which elevate a film to a level that moves us.

LOS ANGELES, CA – The nonprofit Sundance Institute today announced the appointment of Jennifer Arceneaux to the newly created position of Director, External Relations. In this role, Arceneaux will oversee the Institute’s fundraising, marketing and communications efforts, supervising a staff of 25. Based in Los Angeles, she will begin September 17, reporting directly to Executive Director Keri Putnam and working closely with the Institute’s Leadership and Board of Trustees.

Look what we found…

But each festival gives us a chance to watch the watchers—to see how audiences get to watch the movies. And every festival has its own vibe. In Park City, people line up in the cold—sometimes for hours.

Look what we found…

LOS ANGELES, CA – Sundance Institute today announced a series of initiatives designed to support independent producers in feature film and documentary. Activities include  the Creative Producing Labs, Fellowships and the annual Creative Producing Summit all combining to help emerging independent filmmakers navigate the newest trends in the business of creating and distributing independent film.  
Nine projects have been selected to participate in the Sundance Institute Creative Producing Labs and Fellowships (August 16-20).

This month we check in with the Native Program. In May of this year, Bird Runningwater, director of Sundance Institute’s Native and Indigenous Program, gathered a group of four fellows and three advisors in the beautiful lands of the Mescalero-Apache people in New Mexico.Bird explains the lab in this way: “In Apache, we refer to life’s journey as ‘Nda’i bijuuÅ‚ sia,’ which speaks to ‘life’s living circle.

Los Angeles – Six composers have been selected as Fellows to the Sundance Institute Film Composers Lab taking place at the Sundance Resort in Utah from August 11-26, 2010. This year’s Composers Lab Fellows are Sherri Chung, John Hancock, Mark Orton, Arturo Rodriguez, Kareen Roustom, and Rani Sharom. During the two-week Lab, Fellows participate in workshops and creative exercises under the guidance of the industry’s leading film composers and film music professionals.

We gather for the last time here on Manda at the Akili Dance Studio to say goodbye. I ask one question: What will you take away from your time at the Sundance Institute East Africa Theatre Lab? Here are some of the replies:
I am richer as a person and as an artist.It has really touched my heart.

So, George Seremba, Christopher, and I are sitting at breakfast at Baobab House and George suddenly has a look of horror creep into his face. I turn to see what he is seeing, and there is a HUGE  crocodile looking thing nonchalantly crossing our lawn. My heart leaps to my mouth, and I yell for Bernard, our houseman, who comes running.

LOS ANGELES, CA – Sundance Institute and Cinereach announced today the 2010 projects awarded grants for development, production, or post-production as part of a $1.5 million, three-year initiative, The Cinereach Project at Sundance Institute. The initiative is designed to support documentary and narrative feature film projects with themes that evoke global cultural exchange and social impact, and projects representing emerging and innovative voices selected for their distinctive and personal storytelling.

It was almost three months ago that I first stepped into the Sundance Institute offices. At that time, I knew and respected the Institute’s work and had attended the Sundance Film Festival for many years as part of my work for HBO and Miramax. I was keenly aware that the Institute had supported some of the most ground-breaking work and artists in film and theatre of the last 30 years.