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Channing Godfrey Peoples on a Bittersweet ‘Miss Juneteenth’ Release and the Urgency of Portraying Black Humanity on Screen
After premiering at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, Channing Godfrey Peoples’s debut feature is hitting digital platforms this Juneteenth—the day for which the film is named and which is very close to the director’s heart. “I feel like I’ve been living Miss Juneteenth my whole life,” she says.
The June 19 holiday—which commemorates the day slavery was finally abolished in Texas (more than two years after the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation was issued)—is celebrated in her hometown of Fort Worth with a deep sense of reverence and community, with barbecues, a parade, and a scholarship pageant for young Black women.
The Fight for Trans Rights Is Highlighted in “Heightened Scrutiny”
Sam Feder at “Heightened Scrutiny” premiere (photo by Robin Marshall / Shutterstock for Sundance Film Festival) By Bailey Pennick Editor’s note: Since the publishing of
Kasi Lemmons on the Enduring Originality of the Sundance Institute Labs
Kasi Lemmons with fellow Daniel Kaluuya at Sundance Institute’s 2016 January Screenwriters Lab. Photo by Brandon Cruz for Sundance Institute By Lucy Spicer Writer-director, actor,
The Intersex Protagonist in “Ponyboi” Is a Revelation
PARK CITY, UTAH – JANUARY 20: River Gallo attends the 2024 Sundance Film Festival “Ponyboi” premiere at the Library Center Theatre on January 20, 2024,
2025 Sundance Film Festival: Local Lens
Top L–R: The Dating Game, All That’s Left of You (اللي باقي منك) Center L–R: Come See Me in the Good Light, Omaha, Rebuilding Bottom
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Carmen Emmi, the Writer-Director of “Plainclothes”
By Bailey Pennick One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival is having a front-row seat for the bright future of independent
The Latest
Channing Godfrey Peoples on a Bittersweet ‘Miss Juneteenth’ Release and the Urgency of Portraying Black Humanity on Screen
After premiering at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, Channing Godfrey Peoples’s debut feature is hitting digital platforms this Juneteenth—the day for which the film is named and which is very close to the director’s heart. “I feel like I’ve been living Miss Juneteenth my whole life,” she says.
The June 19 holiday—which commemorates the day slavery was finally abolished in Texas (more than two years after the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation was issued)—is celebrated in her hometown of Fort Worth with a deep sense of reverence and community, with barbecues, a parade, and a scholarship pageant for young Black women.
The Fight for Trans Rights Is Highlighted in “Heightened Scrutiny”
Sam Feder at “Heightened Scrutiny” premiere (photo by Robin Marshall / Shutterstock for Sundance Film Festival) By Bailey Pennick Editor’s note: Since the publishing of
Kasi Lemmons on the Enduring Originality of the Sundance Institute Labs
Kasi Lemmons with fellow Daniel Kaluuya at Sundance Institute’s 2016 January Screenwriters Lab. Photo by Brandon Cruz for Sundance Institute By Lucy Spicer Writer-director, actor,
Festival
Channing Godfrey Peoples on a Bittersweet ‘Miss Juneteenth’ Release and the Urgency of Portraying Black Humanity on Screen
After premiering at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, Channing Godfrey Peoples’s debut feature is hitting digital platforms this Juneteenth—the day for which the film is named and which is very close to the director’s heart. “I feel like I’ve been living Miss Juneteenth my whole life,” she says.
The June 19 holiday—which commemorates the day slavery was finally abolished in Texas (more than two years after the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation was issued)—is celebrated in her hometown of Fort Worth with a deep sense of reverence and community, with barbecues, a parade, and a scholarship pageant for young Black women.
The Fight for Trans Rights Is Highlighted in “Heightened Scrutiny”
Sam Feder at “Heightened Scrutiny” premiere (photo by Robin Marshall / Shutterstock for Sundance Film Festival) By Bailey Pennick Editor’s note: Since the publishing of
The Intersex Protagonist in “Ponyboi” Is a Revelation
PARK CITY, UTAH – JANUARY 20: River Gallo attends the 2024 Sundance Film Festival “Ponyboi” premiere at the Library Center Theatre on January 20, 2024,
Festival Highlights
News
Channing Godfrey Peoples on a Bittersweet ‘Miss Juneteenth’ Release and the Urgency of Portraying Black Humanity on Screen
After premiering at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, Channing Godfrey Peoples’s debut feature is hitting digital platforms this Juneteenth—the day for which the film is named and which is very close to the director’s heart. “I feel like I’ve been living Miss Juneteenth my whole life,” she says.
The June 19 holiday—which commemorates the day slavery was finally abolished in Texas (more than two years after the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation was issued)—is celebrated in her hometown of Fort Worth with a deep sense of reverence and community, with barbecues, a parade, and a scholarship pageant for young Black women.
The Fight for Trans Rights Is Highlighted in “Heightened Scrutiny”
Sam Feder at “Heightened Scrutiny” premiere (photo by Robin Marshall / Shutterstock for Sundance Film Festival) By Bailey Pennick Editor’s note: Since the publishing of
Kasi Lemmons on the Enduring Originality of the Sundance Institute Labs
Kasi Lemmons with fellow Daniel Kaluuya at Sundance Institute’s 2016 January Screenwriters Lab. Photo by Brandon Cruz for Sundance Institute By Lucy Spicer Writer-director, actor,
Artist Spotlight
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Mathias Broe, the Director Behind “Sauna”
By Jessica Herndon One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival is having a front-row seat for the bright future of independent
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Shoshannah Stern, the Director of “Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore”
By Jessica Herndon One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival is having a front-row seat for the bright future of independent
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez, the Co-Directors of “Sujo”
By Jessica Herndon One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival is having a front-row seat for the bright future of independent
From the Labs
Kasi Lemmons on the Enduring Originality of the Sundance Institute Labs
Kasi Lemmons with fellow Daniel Kaluuya at Sundance Institute’s 2016 January Screenwriters Lab. Photo by Brandon Cruz for Sundance Institute By Lucy Spicer Writer-director, actor,
From Fellow to Advisor: Erica Tremblay at Sundance Institute’s Native Lab
Director Erica Tremblay on the set of “Little Chief’” during the 2018 Native Filmmakers Lab. Photo by Tytianna Harris for Sundance Institute By Lucy Spicer
Inside the Archives: Directors Lab Creative Advisors Nurture Filmmaking Talent Over the Years
Creative advisor Joan Darling and artistic director Gyula Gazdag chat with fellow advisor Peter Medak at the 1998 Directors Lab. Photo by Sandria Miller By
Now Playing
Channing Godfrey Peoples on a Bittersweet ‘Miss Juneteenth’ Release and the Urgency of Portraying Black Humanity on Screen
After premiering at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, Channing Godfrey Peoples’s debut feature is hitting digital platforms this Juneteenth—the day for which the film is named and which is very close to the director’s heart. “I feel like I’ve been living Miss Juneteenth my whole life,” she says.
The June 19 holiday—which commemorates the day slavery was finally abolished in Texas (more than two years after the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation was issued)—is celebrated in her hometown of Fort Worth with a deep sense of reverence and community, with barbecues, a parade, and a scholarship pageant for young Black women.
Release Rundown: What to Watch in June, From “SALLY” to “Sorry, Baby”
Sally Ride appears in “SALLY” by Cristina Costantini, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by NASA.
Release Rundown: What to Watch in May, From “The Moogai” to “Pee-wee as Himself”
Paul Reubens appears in “Pee-wee as Himself,” an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Michael Ochs
Collab
Writer Veronica Reyes-How on Her Journey from the Sundance Institute to Premiering Her Series “Mother, May I Have a Kidney?” at Tribeca
By Jessica Herndon Veronica Reyes-How’s journey from stage to screen is a testament to the power of pivoting. A seasoned actor with Broadway credits, including
How “Hacks” Writers Jen Statsky and Lucia Aniello Shape the Show’s Iconic Characters
By Jessica Herndon Hacks is more than just a show — it’s a masterclass in creative collaboration, both in front of and behind the camera.
“Boxcutter” Director Reza Dahya on His Path From the Sundance Institute to SXSW
By Jessica Herndon In 2022, Reza Dahya took a pivotal step in shaping his debut feature, Boxcutter, by enrolling in the Sundance Institute Collab’s “Directing:
Creative Distribution
From the Archives: The 3 Things It Takes to Be an Independent Producer
As the spiritual closing of Sundance Institute’s Creative Producing Summit, Sundance Film Festival director John Cooper wrapped up the weekend with the “One Word Challenge.”Cooper’s challenge to his three keynote guests was simple: “It is 2011, and the most important thing a producer needs to survive is …” Panelists were given this one-word task by email before arriving in Utah and told to bring their best thinking to the audience of creative fellows and advisors. The experiment is both simple and profound, and audience members were invited to play along with cards of their own.
‘I Knew People Wanted to See It’: The ‘In Reality’ Team on Why and How They Self-Distributed
In part one of this interview, In Reality writer/director/star Ann Lupo and producer Holly Meehl shared how they got their anti-romantic comedy feature off the ground. In this second and final part, we explore how they navigated self-distribution.
Were you building an audience along the way? How did you keep people engaged?
AL: During post-production I took on a side project editing a short for Casey Neistat called “Filmmaking is a Sport,” and it completely changed my perspective on YouTube.
From Short Film to Unexpected Feature: How ‘In Reality’ Came to Life
Liz Manashil is a filmmaker and former manager of Sundance Institute’s Creative Distribution Initiative.
A few months ago, before I had a baby, I encountered the anti-romantic comedy feature film In Reality, which I immediately fell for. As I told the filmmakers later, it was the movie I needed when I was in my early 20s.
From the Archives
Channing Godfrey Peoples on a Bittersweet ‘Miss Juneteenth’ Release and the Urgency of Portraying Black Humanity on Screen
After premiering at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, Channing Godfrey Peoples’s debut feature is hitting digital platforms this Juneteenth—the day for which the film is named and which is very close to the director’s heart. “I feel like I’ve been living Miss Juneteenth my whole life,” she says.
The June 19 holiday—which commemorates the day slavery was finally abolished in Texas (more than two years after the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation was issued)—is celebrated in her hometown of Fort Worth with a deep sense of reverence and community, with barbecues, a parade, and a scholarship pageant for young Black women.
The Fight for Trans Rights Is Highlighted in “Heightened Scrutiny”
Sam Feder at “Heightened Scrutiny” premiere (photo by Robin Marshall / Shutterstock for Sundance Film Festival) By Bailey Pennick Editor’s note: Since the publishing of
Kasi Lemmons on the Enduring Originality of the Sundance Institute Labs
Kasi Lemmons with fellow Daniel Kaluuya at Sundance Institute’s 2016 January Screenwriters Lab. Photo by Brandon Cruz for Sundance Institute By Lucy Spicer Writer-director, actor,
The Intersex Protagonist in “Ponyboi” Is a Revelation
PARK CITY, UTAH – JANUARY 20: River Gallo attends the 2024 Sundance Film Festival “Ponyboi” premiere at the Library Center Theatre on January 20, 2024,