Category: News

In celebration and observance of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re working on a number of short essays, anecdotes, and free-form editorials that speak to the unique experiences, often untold, that artists and creatives of Latinx descent have gone through. We hope that these pieces offer you a new insight into the world that most people whose ethnic and cultural heritage is nuanced and complex live in. Our second piece comes from director Barbara Cigarroa, a Mexican American filmmaker from South Texas.

September 30 is National Podcast Day—and we’re celebrating with all-new episodes of ShortsCast, our audio series spotlighting short films that have stayed with us long after playing at the Sundance Film Festival. Senior Programmer Mike Plante caught up with the teams behind a few such films, many of which are playing in cities around the U.S.

In celebration and observance of National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15–October 15), we’re publishing a number of short essays, anecdotes, and free-form editorials that speak to the unique experiences, often untold, that artists and creatives of Latinx descent have gone through. We hope that these pieces offer you a new insight into the world that most people whose ethnic and cultural heritage is nuanced and complex live in.Our first piece comes from Arturo Perez Jr.

Toronto — A new collaboration between Sundance Institute’s Indigenous Program and Art House Convergence (AHC), a North American coalition of community-based, mission-driven movie theaters, was announced last night by Sundance Institute’s Indigenous Program Director N. Bird Runningwater (Cheyenne/Mescalero Apache) at the Toronto International Film Festival. The collaboration will bring six Indigenous short films from Sundance Institute Fellows to select AHC theaters in North America during November’s annual celebration of National Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month.

Creative Exchange, Unstructured Work Time for International Stage & Film Directors
Los Angeles, CA — Six directors have convened in Arles, France for the sixth annual Sundance Institute | Luma Foundation Directors Retreat in Arles, France, from August 1-12, 2019. Founded in 2013 as a creative collaboration between Sundance Institute’s Theatre Program and Luma Foundation, the Retreat is an opportunity for directors to meet, share best and emerging practices, and work self-directed on their upcoming projects.
“At this Retreat, we ask only for a spirit of inquiry from our participants,” said Christopher Hibma, Director of the Institute’s Theatre Program.

Sundance Institute and Science Sandbox Celebrate
Innovative Nonfiction Storytelling With Expanded Tailored, Multifaceted Support

Park City, UT — Sundance Institute, in collaboration with Science Sandbox, an initiative of Simons Foundation, announced the expansion of the Science Sandbox Nonfiction Initiative, alongside the initial nine science-focused independent projects selected for support this year. The initiative, first introduced in 2018, aims to elevate the voices of independent artists working at the intersection of science and nonfiction storytelling, as well as to encourage critical thinking, promote educated discourse and highlight the overlap of science and art.
Following the initiative’s successful inaugural year, nine projects have been thus far selected for support in 2019, a cohort co-curated by the Institute and Science Sandbox.

Los Angeles — Sundance Institute today announced Fellows and Advisors for the five-day 2019 Creative Producing Labs, as well as the three-day Creative Producing Summit which immediately follows; both take place at Utah’s Sundance Mountain Resort. The Labs begins July 29, and the Summit August 2. These are the flagship convenings for the Institute’s Creative Producing Program, which champions and develops current and rising generations of producers across fiction and nonfiction film.

Jesse Alick, Rachel Hauck, Lisa Kron, Amauta Marston-Firmino & Others Join Creative Team
Acting Company to Include Cherise Boothe, Elise Kibler, Tony Plana, Ari’el Stachel & Others
New York — Sundance Institute’s 2019 Theatre Lab convenes Monday, July 8; the Institute announced
this year’s participating acting company and creative advisors today. The Lab, which runs through July 28 at Utah’s
Sundance Resort, will be led by the program’s Director,
Christopher Hibma in collaboration with
Manager
Ana Verde; the
eight projects were selected by Hibma and former Theatre Program Artistic Director
Philip Himberg,
with support of a
six-member Advisory Committee. At the 2019 Lab, Hibma will collaborate with director and Theatre Lab alumna
Lisa
Peterson
, who will serve as Guest Artistic Director and Jumana Al-Yasiri will join in her
capacity as Manager for the
Program’s Middle East / North Africa year-round initiatives.

Storytellers came together at the 2019 Skoll World Forum to discuss how their work can have a tangible impact on the greater culture.
Artists hope that their work causes meaningful change in individuals and societies—but can art truly catalyze positive social change, or is it simply a reflection of the culture? This question was posed to artists and attendees at a town hall event sponsored in part by Sundance Institute at this year’s Skoll World Forum, which brings together social entrepreneurs and thought leaders to work towards solving global challenges.
The town hall was put on in partnership with For Freedoms, an organization that aims to use art to drive creative civic engagement, discourse, and direct action.

The Theatre at Ace Hotel was buzzing last night as the independent film community came together to celebrate breakout writer/director Lulu Wang at Sundance Institute’s LA premiere screening of The Farewell hosted by Acura.

Sundance Film Festival Programming Director Kim Yutani; writer/director Lulu Wang; and actors Diana Lin, Aoi Mizuhara, and Tzi Ma at The Theatre at Ace Hotel. © 2019 Aaron Farley for Sundance Institute
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Wang was honored with the Sundance Institute Vanguard Award presented by Acura, which showcases artists whose work and vision represent the highest level of breakthrough innovation, originality, and independent spirit.

Will Assume Newly-Created Emeritus Director Role Following 2020 Festival,
After 30 Years on Staff, 11 as Director

Legacies Include Short Film Category & Competition, New Frontier, Festivals in London & Hong Kong
Los Angeles — Sundance Institute announced today that John Cooper, Director of the Sundance Film Festival, will move into a newly-created Emeritus Director role following the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. 2020 will mark his 30th Sundance Film Festival, and his 11th year as Festival Director.
The new role will focus on special projects and overseeing the 40th anniversary of the Sundance Institute to be celebrated in 2021.

Los Angeles and Marin, CA — Sundance Institute and Skywalker Sound today announced the composers and directors selected for the Sundance Institute Film Music and Sound Design Lab, which returns to the legendary Skywalker Sound Facilities for the seventh year.
At the Lab, composers, directors and sound designers will collaborate to develop music and sound for fiction and nonfiction film projects. Workshops and creative exercises, guided by leading film composers and sound designers acting as Creative Advisors, will mentor Fellows to explore sound and music’s crucial role in storytelling.