About Women At Sundance
At a time when women make up 50.8% of the U.S. population, just 4.2% of the 100 top-grossing American films are made by female directors; and that statistic hasn’t changed over the last decade. Sundance Institute has provided unprecedented opportunities for thousands of unique voices to flourish for 35 years. Each year between 2002 and 2013, 25% of American directors at the Sundance Film Festival have been female. While markedly ahead of the mainstream industry, our commitment to achieving diversity among our filmmakers is still a work in progress.
In our digital age, society is increasingly shaped by stories told with moving images. Diversity in media is critically important to the health of our culture because it is through media that we understand ourselves and each other. The stories that frame our lives must be inclusive of the full range of storytelling voices. As a proven artist pipeline, the American independent film sector is one place where opportunities exist to create change. Sundance Institute, whose mission is to discover, develop, and champion independent storytellers, is thus in a strategic position to make significant impact.
Our ground breaking research over the last three years revealed key barriers and opportunities for women filmmakers. These form the core of Women at Sundance programs:
- Direct Artist Support - Fellowships, Career Sustainability, Resource Map
- Education, Networking, and Community - Sundance Film Festival, Public Programs
- Financing and Negotiation - Catalyst Women, Financing and Strategy Intensive
- Field-wide Leadership & Systemic Change - Groundbreaking Research, ReFrame, Allied Organizations
Education, Networking, and Community
Financing and Negotiation
Field-Wide Leadership and Systemic Change
Support
Women at Sundance is made possible by leadership support from The Harnisch Foundation and Refinery29.
Additional support is provided by Zions Bank, Adobe, Anonymous, Paul and Katy Drake Bettner, Barbara Bridges, Abigail Disney and Pierre Hauser, Kering, Cristina Ljungberg, Susan Bay Nimoy, Brenda Robinson, Kimberly Steward, Lynda Weinman and Bruce Heavin, Jenifer and Jeffrey Westphal, The Jacquelyn & Gregory Zehner Foundation, Ann Lovell, MAJORITY, Visionary Women, Gruber Family Foundation, and Women In Film Los Angeles.
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