Category: News

NAIROBI, KENYA (July 6, 2011) — Film Forward: Advancing Cultural Dialogue, a Sundance Institute initiative created in partnership with U.S. federal cultural agencies, will be presented in Kenya July 15-25, in conjunction with FilmAid and supported in part by the Embassy of the United States, Nairobi, Kenya, it was announced today by Keri Putnam, Executive Director of Sundance Institute.

Writer/director Carlo Mirabella-Davis participated at the Directors Lab with his project The Storm King. Each fellow had the opportunity to rehearse, shoot, and edit selected scenes from his or her screenplay in a workshop environment, where the focus was completely on creative exploration and discovery. Below, Carlo chronicles his experience at Sundance and discusses the magic of this storytellers community.

Writer/director Keith Davis was recently at the Sundance Resort in Utah, developing his screenplay The American People as one of eight fellows at this year’s Directors Lab. Each Fellow has the opportunity to rehearse, shoot and edit selected scenes from his or her screenplay in a workshop environment, where the focus is completely on creative exploration and discovery. We’ve asked Keith to share a glimpse into his process at the Lab in a couple of blog pieces, the second of which is below.

Los Angeles, CA — Sundance Institute today announced the 29 feature-length documentary films selected to receive a total of $575,000 in Documentary Film Program (DFP) grants for the Spring 2011 round. The DFP received applications for grants from 650 filmmakers in 80 countries, and submissions were judged on their approach to storytelling, artistic treatment and innovation, subject relevance and potential for social engagement.
Filmmakers selected are working in 9 countries and represent a broad range of experience, including Academy Award-winning documentarians Roger Ross Williams and Frieda Lee Mock as well as first-time feature documentary filmmakers.

Los Angeles, CA — Sundance Institute today announced the selection of 18 Documentary Film Fellows representing nine film projects to participate in the eighth Documentary Edit and Story Lab (June 24 – July 2) and ninth Composers + Documentary Lab (July 6-12) at Sundance Resort in Sundance, Utah. The Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program (DFP) provides a  global resource for contemporary independent documentary film, including  the Sundance Documentary Fund, Labs/Workshops and other support opportunities. The DFP advances innovative nonfiction storytelling about a broad range of contemporary social issues, and promotes the exhibition of documentary films to audiences.

Puerto Rico has a unique cultural richness that is recognized worldwide. However, the availability of independent films and foreign films was lacking on the Island until recently. The Puerto Rico Film Society, a not-for-profit organization dedicated establishing and educating audiences, has developed a plan to extend the dialogue about films outside of the metropolitan area of Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico was ripe for Film Forward! Sundance Institute Director of Programming Trevor Groth and I landed on Tuesday, June 21, and went straight from the airport to the opening remarks for Film Forward Puerto Rico and introduction of Last Train Home. We arrived at the beautiful Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico and literally had to fight our way through the crowds, who had gathered earlier for the opening reception, into the theatre. As we made our way upstream, I was thrilled to see so many people doing exactly what we were: fighting their way to get into a 400-seat theatre, but without any idea of just how many of us there were.

Filmmaker Kasi Lemmons participated as a Creative Advisor for the first time at this year’s Directors Lab. A seasoned advisor at other Sundance Institute Labs, she describes her experience working with the eight directing fellows in the mountains this June.I’ve been back in Manhattan for a few days, but my head is still on the mountain.

Daniel Edward Hyde is a 2011 Native Lab Fellow of Navajo and Belizean descent. He recently participated in the five-day Lab in Mescalero, New Mexico, with his project The Way Things Are.
Leading up to our week in Mescalero, a terrible fear began to grow inside me.

LOS ANGELES, CA — Sundance Institute today announced the Vanguard Award, honoring Michelle Satter, Founding Director of the Institute’s Feature Film Program, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Robert Redford, Sundance Institute Founder and President, announced the new award at a benefit for Sundance Institute held at Franklin Canyon Ranch in Los Angeles.
The Vanguard Award celebrates the innovation, originality, and independent spirit that the Feature Film Program, under the leadership of Michelle Satter, has fostered in artists over its 30-year history.

Filmmaker Kasi Lemmons is participating as a Creative Advisor for the first time at this year’s Directors Lab.  A seasoned Advisor at other Sundance Institute Labs, she describes her experience working with the eight directing Fellows in the mountains this June.
It’s challenging to put into words an almost magical experience, but I’ll try.

Writer/director Carlo Mirabella-Davis participated in our 2011 Directors Lab with his project The Storm King. Each fellow has the opportunity to rehearse, shoot and edit selected scenes from his or her screenplay in a workshop environment, where the focus is completely on creative exploration and discovery. Below, Carlo chronicles his experience at Sundance and discusses the magic of this storytellers community.