Being a director at the Sundance Film Festival is a daunting and strange experience. Strange in a good way, of course, but out-of-body nonetheless. The moment to pause, exhale, and reflect comes in the form of a restorative brunch, exclusively made up of your fellow artists. After that first jam-packed weekend, riding in a big bus with other directors up to the Sundance Mountain Resort is a welcomed and impactful break from the churn.

In rows of two, the bus full of excited chatter sees House Party’s Reginald Hudlin talking about old times with the director of Joybubbles, Rachael J. Morrison. All About the Money’s Sinéad O’Shea talking doc shop with some short film directors a few rows up. By the time the bus winds up at Redford’s original inspiration for Sundance Institute, new friendships are formed and all awkwardness for table seating goes out the window.

Laughter fills the rehearsal space in the resort where the brunch is being held. After grabbing food and finding new community, the room settled to hear remarks from Amanda Kelso, Eugene Hernandez, Kim Yutani, and Amy Redford. As Redford spoke about her father and the history of this event at the resort, you could feel the emotion in the space. She spoke confidently and kindly about how all of these storytellers already made it because they are creating art and sharing their voices. Tears were flowing from alums like Barbara Kopple and Rory Kennedy, as well as first-timers like Everybody to Kenmure Street’s Felipe Bustos Sierra.

Below see some snapshots of the peaceful and restorative brunch below. All photos are by Stephanie Dunn for the Sundance Institute.