The 2026 Sundance Institute Directors Lab fellows in Estes Park, Colorado (Photo by Gabe Rovick)
Dear Friends,
This has been an extraordinary year for our artist programs and a powerful reminder of the lasting impact we have supporting artists and bringing the community together.
We celebrated the remarkable achievements of filmmakers whose creative journeys were launched through the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program Labs, including Academy Award winners Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another), Chloé Zhao (Hamnet), Ryan Coogler (Sinners), and Guillermo del Toro (Frankenstein). Watching these visionary writer-directors continue to push the boundaries of storytelling and connect with audiences around the world has been incredibly inspiring and deeply gratifying.
In addition, this was a truly remarkable year for our Documentary Film Program, with all five documentary feature Academy Award nominees having their films premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, including Sara Khaki’s Cutting Through Rocks (اوزاک یوللار), supported by our Documentary Film Fund. Institute artist program support also had a presence among the Cannes Film Festival’s awards this year: Abinash Bikram Shah’s Elephants in the Fog, developed at the 2023 January and June Screenwriters Labs, won the Jury Prize in the festival’s Un Certain Regard section.
And at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival awards ceremony, Institute-supported projects took home both audience awards and jury prizes alike, including the U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic (Josephine, supported by the Feature Film Program), the U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Impact for Change (The Lake, supported by the Documentary Film Program), the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting Ensemble (LADY, supported by the Feature Film Program), the U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Journalistic Excellence (Who Killed Alex Odeh?, supported by the Documentary Film Program), and the NEXT Special Jury Award for Creative Expression (TheyDream, supported by the Artist Accelerator Program).
This was also a year of profound loss as we honored our visionary founder, Robert Redford. He started the Institute in 1981 with our June Directors Lab, a changemaking experience for me and so many others coming together in a deeply creative community of artists. Bob’s profound vision will continue to guide us, his values will remain at the heart of everything we do, and his belief in the transformative power of storytelling will always light our path forward.
As we are now at the completion of our summer lab season, I want to take a moment to reflect and express my deepest gratitude for all that our artist programs teams have accomplished over the past four months. Their continuing dedication, creativity, and unwavering commitment to the Institute’s work have made it possible for independent storytellers from around the world to focus on their biggest creative challenges, amplify their unique voices, and move their bold and visionary projects forward. Together, we have created a community where artists can grow and where remarkable stories can begin their creative journey. And the labs are just the first step in what becomes an enduring relationship between the fellows and the Institute — one that grows and evolves throughout their creative journey and career.
All of our labs are made possible by the unwavering dedication of our exemplary staff and the remarkable generosity of our creative advisors, actors, crew, and essential funders who all bring their time, insight, and inspiration to help our artists thrive.
We’ve included links to all of the press releases for the labs, which will give you information about the exceptional artists that were supported. Please read and connect to their stories!
Feature Film Program Directors and Screenwriters Labs
Our Directors Lab took place June 9–24 at the iconic Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. It was a beautiful space for our lab before we move back next year to our legendary home, the Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah.
Each of our eight selected fellows brought their first feature projects that were completely unique in voice and storytelling, ranging in style, genre, and tone.
We were excited to include artists who arrived at filmmaking through other mediums, supporting rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, poet, author, and illustrator George Watsky on his first feature project, yellowwood. Additionally, Philip Thompson joined our lab with a background in comedy and had the opportunity to work closely with comedian and actor Derek Gaines to develop the protagonist in his mockumentary-style Dance Monkey Dance. Taylor Sanghyun Lee (Rounds) brought his first feature project to the lab after his participation in our Ignite program. We also included projects and artists from all over the world and this year had the privilege of welcoming actor Ali Suliman who traveled from Palestine to uplift the vision of director Said Zagha for his project Black Harvest.
Fellows Renee Zhan (BAOBAO), Bec Pecaut (The Terrible Child), and Roberto Fatal (Electric Homies) had previously premiered their short films at the Festival, while Joanna Rothkopf, a senior writer on HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver was directing her first feature script, Attachment, aka Bluey is the Warmest Color. It was beautiful to experience again that everyone had something unique to contribute to the lab, and everyone had something unique to take away from it.
Our group of creative advisors brought invaluable creative and industry experience to share with each of the fellows. Ed Harris and Colman Domingo helped to demystify the process of working with actors, an essential focus of our support. The advisors Gyula Gazdag (Artistic Director), Nisha Ganatra, Catherine Hardwicke, Lesli Linka Glatter, Christopher McQuarrie, Ken Kwapis, Keith Gordon, Ellen Kuras, and Affonso Gonçalves each had unique perspectives to share with the filmmakers, incredibly insightful and applicable in very special ways. We also had the great privilege of screening films by advisors Dean Parisot (Director: Galaxy Quest), Amy Vincent (Cinematographer: Song Sung Blue), and Terilyn A. Shropshire (Editor: The Woman King) and had remarkably personal and relevant conversations to inspire the work ahead.
The Directors Lab fellows were then joined by Bess Wohl, the Tony and Pulitzer Prize–winning writer of Liberation, and Himesh Patel, Nikesh Shukla, and Smriti Mundhra, the team behind Brown Baby, for an online Screenwriters Lab from June 29–July 2. Everyone brought their curiosity and surrendered their egos to continue refining their scripts toward their best possible versions. They were supported by Howard Rodman as the artistic director along with a dedicated group of advisors including Robin Swicord, John August, Tyger Williams, Reggie Bythewood, and Jenny Lumet, and several this year who were former lab fellows including Rodrigo García, Attica Locke, Haifaa Al Mansour, Bill Wheeler, and Darnell Martin. It was also fantastic to screen Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden’s film Half Nelson and have a conversation about their experience at the lab and the development and making of their first feature.
Native Lab
Our very special Native Lab took place from April 6–11 at the Hotel Santa Fe in New Mexico. Since 2009, the lab has offered Indigenous filmmakers a nurturing, immersive environment to develop their projects and refine their artistic voice under the guidance of accomplished creative advisors. This April, the lab supported four fellows and two artists in residence, artists of Native and Indigenous backgrounds centering Indigeneity in their work.
Over five days, fellows refined their screenplays for feature and episodic projects in one-on-one feedback sessions, script readings, and roundtable discussions with industry advisors while forming connections on Native land in Santa Fe. This year’s Native Lab creative advisors were Patrick Brice, Bernardo Britto, Alex Lazarowich (Cree), and Graham Foy.
Episodic Lab
Our Episodic Lab was beautifully hosted from May 15–20 by our new partners led by Tena Clark at Dunaway Gardens, Georgia, supporting emerging writers with original series IP. Under the guidance of established showrunners and development executive producers, 10 artists examined their pilot drafts, developed series pitches, and participated in craft workshops, one-on-one story meetings, case studies, panels, and writers rooms focused on advancing writing craft as well as their viability across the current landscape.
The dedicated creative advisors joining the lab included Jason Katims, Nick Jones Jr., James Wong, Dara Resnik, Graham Yost, Liz Flahive, Mike Flynn, and Vera Santamaria. An exceptional group of industry mentors who brought their expertise to the lab included Dante Di Loreto, Sarah Timberman, Noel Manzano, David Katsman, Andrew McQuinn, Jasmyn Lawson, Ashley Strumwasser, and Jermaine Johnson.
Ignite
Our Ignite program marked a vibrant new chapter as we welcomed our 12th cohort of Ignite x Adobe fellows during our successful Ignite Lab, which took place June 14–19. Gathered at the inspiring MASSMoCA in North Adams, Massachusetts, we introduced 10 burgeoning storytellers — all between the ages of 18 and 25 — to our fellowship community. These fellows were chosen from a competitive pool of more than 1,000 global applicants, bringing together unique perspectives from the United States, Poland, the United Kingdom, India, and Brazil.
Throughout the intensive weeklong lab, the fellows engaged in mentorship sessions and creative workshops guided by esteemed Institute alumni, including Bernardo Britto, Lauren Domino, Ekwa Msangi, Enrique Pedráza-Botero, and Keith Wilson. This experience served as the foundation for their yearlong journey, which will continue with virtual collaborations and grants, culminating in a return to our community at the Sundance Film Festival this coming January.
Documentary Edit Intensive
The first expanded edition of the Documentary Edit Intensive took place from June 21–26 at Francis Ford Coppola’s All-Movie Hotel in Peachtree City, Georgia. This state-of-the-art post-production facility was the home for two documentary feature films in the late stages of post-production. Teams worked closely with alumni advisors Andrea Chignoli (The House of the Spirits), Terra Long (Light of the Setting Sun), and Blair McClendon (Clarissa) to screen their films in progress and experiment with structure, tone, and character, discovering new possibilities in their work.
Producers Labs
The third edition of the Producers Labs at the bucolic Ucross Foundation in Wyoming took place in consecutive weeks from July 13–25. Six fiction and five nonfiction producer fellows worked closely with 10 award-winning industry advisors to sharpen producers’ creative instincts through workshops, case studies, and one-on-one meetings focusing on the nuanced realities of storytelling, budgeting, financing, and creative leadership. This year, we introduced a session dedicated to New Models, where advisors and fellows shared real-world experiments and innovative tactics for financing, distribution, and audience engagement. Together, they interrogated pressing industry challenges, identified new resources, and sparked actionable ideas to advance their projects.
Advisors for the Feature Film Producers Lab were Allison Rose Carter (I Love Boosters), Deniese Davis (One of Them Days), Eugene Pikulin (Bruns Brennan Berry Pikulin & Jacobs PC), Lucas Joaquin (Death of a Unicorn), and Peter Saraf (The Farewell). The Documentary Producers Lab advisors were Andrea Meditch (Grizzly Man), Gema Juárez Allen (The Castle), Rémi Grellety (Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat), Darcy McKinnon (Natchez), and Lance Kramer (Holding Liat).
Trans Possibilities Intensive
Our Trans Possibilities Intensive celebrated its fifth year supporting transgender artists of color. Over three days, July 27–29, and under the guidance of their creative advisors Ash Cook (Video Store.Age), Nava Mau (All The Words But The One), Amrou Al-Kadhi (Layla), and Vuk Lungulov-Klotz (Mutt), six talented fellows were brought together to sharpen their skills, develop relationships, and challenge the obstacles that continue to exclude transgender artists.
The trans-centered and trans-led intensive culminated with an exclusive conversation with acclaimed auteur Isabel Sandoval (Lingua Franca) on Wednesday, July 29. The conversation, which took place on Sundance Collab, reflected on the proliferation, possibilities, and power of trans storytelling.
In Closing …
I hope that through these reflections, you’ve come to experience some of the magic of our summer labs and the extraordinary community of artists who bring them to life.
As the labs have come to a close, the next part of their journey has just begun. Our fellows have returned home to continue shaping their screenplays, building creative teams, finding partners who believe in their vision, and ultimately bringing their stories to audiences around the world. The labs are never an ending; they are the beginning of a lifelong relationship with Sundance Institute.
Through our year-round continuum of creative, strategic, and professional support, including Sundance Collab, ELEVATE, grants, mentorship, and connection to our global artistic community, we are fully committed to helping artists build sustainable careers and realize their fullest creative potential. Just as importantly, they become part of a community of storytellers who continue to learn from, champion, and inspire one another.
As we look ahead, we’re filled with excitement for the next Sundance Film Festival and our future in Boulder, Colorado, a new chapter that will continue our tradition of bringing together artists, audiences, and supporters who believe in the transformative power of storytelling. While our location will evolve, our purpose remains unchanged.
Finally, we’re eternally grateful to our staff, creative advisors, alumni, supporters, donors, partners, and friends. Your generosity, belief in artists, and unwavering commitment have created a lifelong community. Together, we’re not simply supporting films; we’re investing in artists whose stories have the power to spark conversation, build empathy, and shape culture for generations to come.
Thanks so much for being on this journey with us.
With enormous gratitude,
Michelle Satter and our Sundance Institute Artist Programs Team
Led by Ilyse McKimmie (Feature Film Program), Adam Piron (Indigenous Program), Jandiz Cardoso (Episodic Program), Toby Brooks (Ignite), Shira Rockowitz (FFP Producers Program) Kristin Feeley (Documentary Film Program Editing Intensive and Producers Program), Moi Santos (Trans Possibilities Intensive) — along with their amazing staff and our Operations Team led by Michaela Buccola and Alyssa Ludwig
