On the set of Leslie McCleave’s “The Shamrocks” with Mount Timpanogos as a backdrop during the 1999 Directors Lab. Photo by Sandria Miller
By Archives team
Digitization is a powerful tool in providing wider access to our collective history, memories, and stories. Without it, access would be limited to those of us lucky enough to be charged with safekeeping our historic treasures and individuals able to access the physical items. That’s why we at the Sundance Institute are grateful for the support of the Utah State Historical Records Advisory Board (USHRAB) and National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) for giving us the opportunity to digitize over 3,000 of our photos, contact sheets, slides, and negatives from the late 1990s and early 2000s. With the help of these organizations and the University of Utah Marriott Library (the latter of which took on the scanning work), we are able to share a glimpse of the artists and stories that could originally only be found in photo albums and binders in our physical archives.
We kicked off the digitization project in July 2024 and discussed our progress in our October blog post. We’re thrilled to announce that the project is now wrapped! With the 2025 lab season fully underway, we wanted to show off a few standouts from the most recent batch of digitized photography.
Join us in taking a look back at some of the artists who honed their craft at the labs in the summer of 1999.
1999 Directors Lab fellow John Cameron Mitchell (center) on the “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” set with the cast and crew. Photo by Sandria Miller
Creative advisors Michael Caton-Jones and Delroy Lindo meet with fellow Tanya Hamilton to talk about her project “Night Catches Us” during the 1999 Directors Lab. Photo by Dan Campbell
1999 June Screenwriters Lab fellow Perry Lin (right) workshops the script of his project “Hell” with a creative advisor. Photo by Sandria Miller
Fellow Princess Peter-Raboff on the set of “The Silent Raven” during the 1999 Directors Lab. Photo by Dan Campbell
1999 Directors Lab fellow Leslie McCleave meets with actors Martha Plimpton and Jacqueline McKenzie to discuss her project “The Shamrocks.” Photo by Dan Campbell
Feature Film Program Director Michelle Satter (front, left), Doreen Ringer Ross, actors Mary Alice and Tembi Locke, and fellow Attica Locke meet on the lawn during lunch at the 1999 Directors Lab. Photo by Sandria Miller
Creative advisor P.J. Hogan and fellow Debra Granik workshop her project “Down to the Bone” during the 1999 Directors Lab. Photo by Angelou
1999 June Screenwriters Lab fellow Patrick Stettner reviews the script for his project “The Business of Strangers” with creative advisor Frank Pierson. Photo by Sandria Miller
While digitization projects are often time intensive — from properly scanning each item to reviewing, researching, and identifying the individuals captured in the materials — there’s so much value added, which allows us to make impactful connections, share context, and shine a light on a moment in an artist’s creative journey, as well as the Institute’s history.
For more in-depth coverage of the Sundance Institute labs, check out the editorial team’s From the Labs blogs.
