The nonprofit Sundance Institute has announced the 2024 grant recipients for the Sundance Institute Documentary Fund, supporting the work of nonfiction filmmakers globally. This year, 28 projects have been selected to receive an unrestricted grant, with the total granting pool standing at $1,450,000 — almost half a million dollars more than last year’s fund thanks to increased support for our granting. This granting cycle’s recipients represent all stages of the process, with five projects in development, 15 in production, seven in post-production, and one completed project in its impact campaign. The Documentary Fund seeks to serve as a stable source of support for inventive nonfiction works that create cultural and social impact by tackling a variety of timely and pressing issues. Grants are made possible by Open Society Foundations, John Templeton Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and Sony Music Entertainment thanks to Sony Music’s Global Justice Fund.

In 2024, thanks to new support from the John Templeton Foundation, the Institute is able to increase the size of the Documentary Fund’s granting pool by $500,000 per year. Through this new generous support the Fund is providing grants that support innovative and daring nonfiction storytelling projects aligned with Templeton’s mission of supporting interdisciplinary research and catalyzing conversations that inspire awe and wonder.

The Fund includes the first grantees selected by the Sundance Institute | Sony Music Vision Initiative, a new partnership between the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program and Sony Music Entertainment, funded by Sony Music’s Global Social Justice Fund. Through granting and engagement opportunities, including educational sessions on music in film, this initiative is aimed at elevating documentary film projects by BIPOC filmmakers that demonstrate a significant music component or innovative approach to audio and sound.

“It has always been critical to the Sundance’s mission to uplift talented and underrepresented voices seeking to create thoughtful and thought-provoking work that elevates and advances cultural dialogue, and we are thrilled to celebrate the variety of perspectives and approaches this year’s grantees bring to the table with their projects,” said Paola Mottura, Documentary Film Fund director and Kristin Feeley, director, Documentary Film & Artist programs. “During this challenging time for our industry, we are grateful to be able to deepen our support for the global documentary community. This work is urgent and it is an honor to be a part of these talented artists’ journeys and help them get closer to connecting with their audiences. We’re appreciative of our partners in making this support possible and we look forward to experiencing these risk-taking works.”

The Documentary Fund prioritizes the support of artists from historically marginalized communities and seeks to amplify global voices telling crucial stories. More than half of the grant proposals came from outside the U.S., with the final group of grantees representing 25 countries. The majority of projects (92%) receiving grants are directed by artists from communities that have been traditionally marginalized and 60% are from first-time feature directors.

Through careful craft and fearless vision, projects in this year’s slate have the power to instill resilience through family and community legacies, transcend new frontiers in ritual and belief, spotlight the impact of grassroots activism, explore tender reconnections with loved ones through the arts, and empower personal expression in the face of oppressive policies and governments.

While many of the projects supported this year are from early-career filmmakers, this cycle of granting also supports projects from mid-career storytellers, including: Hawa, produced by Christian Popp, who also produced Becoming Cary Grant (2017); House of Earth directed by Ljubomir Stefanov (Honeyland, 2019); Leap of Faith directed by Nicholas Ma, who produced Won’t You Be My Neighbor? (2018); Stallions directed by Rita Baghdadi (Sirens, 2022); Untitled Philippines Project, the fifth feature from filmmaker PJ Raval (Call Her Ganda, 2018); and The First Plantation, directed by Jason Fitzroy Jeffers, who produced T, the 2020 winner of the Golden Bear for Best Short Film at Berlinale.

Previously supported projects have included: All That Breathes; American Factory; The Battle for Laikipia; Collective; Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution; Hale County This Morning, This Evening; Mija; Minding the Gap; The Mole Agent; No Other Land; Nocturnes; Strong Island; Sugarcane; The Territory; Time; and Union.

2024 Documentary Fund Grantees:

DEVELOPMENT

Basketball Heaven (U.S.A.)

Director/Producer: Resita Cox

A poetic portrait of the historic Black community in Kinston, North Carolina. From surviving catastrophic floods to a poorly funded education system, Kinston remains the single greatest producer of NBA talent in the world.

Knocking on Heaven’s Door (Canada, U.S.A., New Zealand, U.K., Argentina)

Directors: Jonathan Qu, Kevin Feiyang Li

Producers: Jonathan Qu, Kevin Feiyang Li, Nicholas de Pencier

Following a battle with cancer, a Christian astrophysicist races to build his last great balloon telescope to unravel the mysteries of dark matter and the artistry of God. If ignorance is truly bliss, then why do we explore the unknown?

Stallions (Morocco)

Director: Rita Baghdadi

Producers: Rita Baghdadi, Sahar Yousefi

A crew of stallion riders make dreams come true on the coast of Morocco.

Strange Sea (Azerbaijan)

Director: Lala Aliyeva

Producer: Aysel Akhundova

In the depths of the Caspian Sea, the whispers of its dark past intertwine with the tales of ordinary life. Strange Sea paints an impressionistic portrait of Azerbaijan mirrored in the disappearing Caspian Sea, which has defined its identity for decades.

The Blue Sweater with a Yellow Hole (Ukraine, France, Czech Republic)

Director: Tetiana Khodakivska

Producers: Elena Saulich, Tetiana Khodakivska, Maxim Asadchiy

Questioning the propaganda in the modern world, the documentary follows Ukrainian children Kira, Taisa, and Artem, as they paint their memories about time in Russian ‘re-education’ camps. The animated scenes immerse the viewers into the children’s shifting identity experiences.

PRODUCTION

#WhileBlack (U.S.A., Canada)

Directors: Sidney Fussell, Jennifer Holness

Producers: Ann Shin, Geeta Gandbhir

Witnesses who filmed viral videos of injustice reveal the true cost of going viral while Black, as social platforms turn their pain into profit.

Afromystic (U.S.A., Nigeria, Brazil)

Director: Seyi Adebanjo

Producers: Seyi Adebanjo, Nala Simone Toussaint, Bryan E. Glover, Felix Endara, Zackary Drucker

Afromystic is a lyrical documentary that follows LGBTQ+ Yorùbá practitioners across the waters of Nigeria, Brazil, and the United States in a quest for post-colonial liberation — by way of Indigenous religion.

Untitled Africa Project

Director/Producer: withheld

Coach Emily (U.S.A.)

Director: Pallavi Somusetty

Producers: Debra Wilson Cary, Jen Gilomen, Pallavi Somusetty

As rock climbing coach Emily Taylor fearlessly trains a group of BIPOC kids to conquer the pervasive discrimination they face in the outdoors, she embarks on a profound journey of self-care, while working to dismantle an industry rife with systemic racism.

Conscious (U.K.)

Director: Suki Chan

Producers: Aimara Reques, Teresa Grimes

Conscious is an optimistic, cinematic experience, taking us closer to understanding the strength and frailty of the human mind. What can a neuroscientist and three people living with dementia tell us about the nature of consciousness in a technological age?

Dreams of a Dark Sky (India)

Director: Anmol Tikoo

Producers: Mikaela Beardsley, Raghu Karnad

As Ladakh is flooded with light, engineers in Hanle work with astronomers and nomadic communities to create a sanctuary for darkness and starlight. But the dark sky holds a different dream for each of them. What will they discover about themselves, others, and the cosmos as they embrace the dark?

The First Plantation (Barbados, U.S.A.)

Director: Jason Fitzroy Jeffers

Producer: Darcy McKinnon

A documentary on reparations becomes unexpectedly personal when a filmmaker returns home to Barbados to tell the story of Drax Hall, the oldest continuously operated sugar plantation in the Americas, recently inherited by a wealthy British politician descended from the slave master who founded it.

Good Fire (U.S.A., Greece)

Directors: Roni Jo Draper, Marissa Lila

Producers: Jenn Lee Smith, Nicole Docta

Since time immemorial, Yurok people have placed fire on the land to maintain a healthy and balanced ecosystem. Over the past 100 years, settlers banned that fire, and the environment and the people have suffered. Now, Yurok people are returning fire medicine to the land in order to heal the world.

House of Earth (North Macedonia, U.S.A.)

Director: Ljubomir Stefanov

Producer: Maya E. Rudolph

Pinky returns to Shutka, the Roma community she’s been running from for years, and navigates her biological family and queer kin’s visions of home and belonging. A transgender woman nearing the end of her sex work career, Pinky radically reimagines her future as a matriarch and community leader.

Jaripeo (Mexico, U.S.A.)

Directors: Efraín Mojica, Rebecca Zweig

Producers: Efraín Mojica, Rebecca Zweig, Sarah Strunin

At the rural rodeos in Michoacán, México, a hypermasculine tradition is rife with hidden queer encounters. Guided by director Efraín, Jaripeo follows two rancheros as they navigate desire, machismo, and mass migration from one rodeo season to the next.

Supported by the Sundance Institute | Sony Music Vision Initiative

Life in the Shadows (Afghanistan, Belgium, Germany)

Director: K.D.

Producer: Ilyas Yourish

Years after K’s classmates were massacred in his school, he records the lives of Machid, who attends the same school, and Khatima, who works in the cemetery where the dead students are buried.

Mother Wit (U.S.A.)

Directors/Producers: Rajvi Desai, Te Shima Brennen

Three Black trans women grieve the death of their matriarch and mentor who had fought all her life to set them on a path of education, excellence and liberation, as they fight to fulfill the promises they made to her.

Timepass (India, U.S.A.)

Director: Roopa Gogineni

Producer: Trevor Snapp

Following the death of her grandfather, a radical humanist and longtime village doctor, a filmmaker returns to her ancestral South Indian home to confront the gilded statue built in his honor.

Untitled Philippines Project (Philippines, U.S.A.)

Director: PJ Raval

Producers: Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, Annie Small

A new feature documentary by PJ Raval.

Walker (U.S.A.)

Director: Amy Bench

Producers: Amy Bench, Mei Kennedy, Monique Walton

Walker is a verité portrait of a deaf advocate and father from Baton Rouge, Louisiana — who is driven by his family’s experiences of incarceration and deafness to help others in his community affected by the prison system. Walker is an intimate exploration into family, activism, and personal healing.

POST-PRODUCTION

Art After-Life (U.S.A., Argentina)

Director: David Romberg

Producers: David Romberg, Rachel Dengiz, Adrian Elzy

Osvaldo Romberg was a Latin American artist who pushed the limits of the avant-garde. Years later, his son employs generative AI technology to converse with him, after his death.

Backside (U.S.A.)

Director: Raúl Paz Pastrana

Producers: Gabriella García Pardo, Patricia Alvarez Astacio

Following a racing season from beginning to end, Backside captures the daily work, friendship, dreams, and expertise of the under-recognized migrant workers behind the Kentucky Derby.

Blacked Out Dreams (U.S.A.)

Director: Adeleke Omitowoju

Producer: Steven Pargett

Blacked Out Dreams is a film about how rapid school closures and a water crisis force three normal kids to live in very abnormal conditions. The film follows two siblings as they navigate towards graduating from the last remaining public high school in a city divided by race, and plagued by poverty.

Cais (Brazil)

Director: Safira Moreira

Producer: Flávia Santana

Two months after the passing of her mother Angélica, Safira travels to search for her mother in other landscapes. In a river route, the film travels through cities bathed by the Paraguaçu River (Bahia) and the Alegre River (Maranhão), to dive in new perspectives on memory, time, birth, life, and death.

Hawa (France, The Netherlands, Afghanistan, Qatar)

Directors: Najiba Noori, Ali Rasul Noori

Producers: Christian Popp, Hasse van Nunen

Forty years after her arranged marriage as a child, Hawa is eager to finally begin an independent life and to be literate. However, with the return of the Taliban to power, her dreams, and those of her daughter and granddaughter are shattered.

Leap of Faith (U.S.A.)

Director: Nicholas Ma

Producers: Nicholas Ma, Morgan Neville

Troubled by our fractured society, 12 midwestern Christian leaders tackle the most controversial questions of today to discover whether we can belong to each other in a challenging and divisive world.

Vestibule (U.S.A.)

Director: Riley Hooper

Producers: Caitlin Mae Burke, Bryn Silverman

Filmmaker Riley Hooper documents her decade-long journey with Vestibulodynia, a vulvar disorder. What begins as a singular mission to have pain-free sex becomes a multigenerational story about sexual health, pleasure, and agency, told through imaginative dance sequences and intimate voiceover.

IMPACT

Songs from the Hole (U.S.A.)

Director: Contessa Gayles

Producers: Contessa Gayles, Richie Reseda, David Felix Sutcliffe

An incarcerated musician struggles for healing and peace as he comes of age in this documentary visual album composed behind bars.

Supported by the Sundance Institute | Sony Music Vision Initiative

The Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program is made possible by founding support from the Open Society Foundations. Generous additional support is provided by John Templeton Foundation; John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; Sandbox Films; The Asian American Foundation (TAAF); The Charles Engelhard Foundation; Facet; Sony Music Group; Violet Spitzer-Lucas and the Spitzer Family Foundation; National Endowment for the Arts; Nion McEvoy & Leslie Berriman; EarthSense Foundation; and Adobe.

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Picturehouse and the nonprofit Sundance Institute announced the lineup of 11 feature fiction and documentary films, a specially curated program of UK short films and a strand of repertory titles to celebrate the 40th edition of the Sundance Film Festival in the U.S. for the 11th edition of Sundance Film Festival: London 2024, taking place from June 6-9 June at Picturehouse Central.

These 11 feature films premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival in Utah in January and were specially curated for London by the Sundance Film Festival programming team in collaboration with Picturehouse.

The Festival previously announced that it will open on 6 June with the UK premiere of writer and director Rich Peppiatt’s raucous and infectious Irish-language film, Kneecap and will close on 9 June with the UK premiere of “Dìdi” (弟弟) written and directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Sean Wang.

In addition to those award-winning opening and closing night films, the Festival presents a full program bursting with buzzy hits from established and first-time feature filmmakers, across narrative film and documentary.

These titles are: “Sasquatch Sunset” by acclaimed directors David and Nathan Zellner, starring Riley Keough (“Mad Max: Fury Road,” “American Honey”) and Academy Award nominee Jesse Eisenberg (“Zombieland,” “The Social Network”); “Rob Peace,” Chiwetel Ejiofor’s adaptation of Jeff Hobbs’ bestselling and critically acclaimed biography; monster rom-com “Your Monster,” Caroline Lindy’s wholly original debut; Megan Park’s fresh coming-of-age journey of self-discovery “My Old Ass,” starring Maisy Stella (“Nashville”) and Aubrey Plaza (“Emily The Criminal”); Jane Schoenbrun’s second feature, “I Saw The TV Glow;”  Shuchi Talati’s “Girls Will Be Girls,” winner of the 2024 Sundance Film Festival Audience Award: World Cinema Dramatic and World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting presented to Preeti Panigrahi earlier this year. 

The list is rounded off with Thea Hvistendahl’s chilly, disturbing “Handling The Undead” from Norway, winner of the 2024 Sundance Film Festival World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Original Music presented to Peter Raeburn at this year’s Festival, starring Renate Reinsve (“The Worst Person In The World”).

The documentaries include “Skywalkers: A Love Story” by multi-Emmy award winning filmmaker Jeff Zimbalist and “Never Look Away” by Lucy Lawless in her directorial debut.

Once again, the line-up includes a short film program that is dedicated to UK productions, highlighting some of the amazing talent in the Short Film art form, in films either produced with the UK or made by filmmakers based in the UK.

The program comprises seven titles: “Good Boy,” “Alo,” “(S),” “Essex Girls,” “Mamu,” “Salone Love” and “Shé” (Snake). 

This year’s program will also see the return of the ever-popular Surprise Film. Festival goers will have a special chance to catch an unannounced title not yet seen in the UK. The Surprise films in previous years included Bart Layton’s “American Animals,” Halina Reijn’s “Bodies Bodies Bodies” and Geremy Jasper’s “Patti Cake$.” 

In a year that celebrated the 40th edition of the Sundance Film Festival in the United States, Sundance Film Festival: London 2024 will also showcase highlights of Sundance features and shorts presented over the years in its repertory strand. Those exciting blasts from the past will be announced in coming weeks.

Eugene Hernandez, Director, Sundance Film Festival and Public Programming said: “We’re delighted to return to London to celebrate independent cinema with British audiences. Over the course of four incredible days at Picturehouse Central we’ll share an extraordinary array of discoveries from January’s Sundance Film Festival in Utah, showcasing the boundless creativity of visionary filmmakers, and featuring mesmerizing performances and compelling documentary subjects. We hope you’ll join us.”

Clare Binns, Managing Director, Picturehouse Cinemas added: “It’s one of the best line-ups we’ve assembled for Sundance Film Festival: London. I can’t wait to introduce audiences to these incredible films.  Join us and our wonderfully talented filmmakers at Picturehouse Central in June.”

FICTION FEATURE FILMS:

• “Dìdi” (弟弟) / United States

(Director: Sean Wang, Screenwriter: Sean Wang, Producers: Carlos López Estrada, Josh Peters, Valerie Bush, Sean Wang) “Dìdi” (弟弟) is written and directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Sean Wang. The film, set in 2008 in California’s Bay Area, is a funny, irreverent, and affecting ode to first-generation teenagers navigating the joy and chaos of adolescence as seen through the lens of a 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy, played by Izaac Wang (Good Boys, Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon). Cast: Izaac Wang, Joan Chen, Shirley Chen, Chang Li Hua

• “Girls Will Be Girls” / India, France, Norway

(Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Shuchi Talati, Producers: Richa Chadha, Claire Chassagne) In a strict boarding school nestled in the Himalayas, 16-year-old Mira discovers desire and romance. But her sexual, rebellious awakening is disrupted by her mother who never got to come of age herself. Cast: Preeti Panigrahi, Kani Kusruti, Kesav Binoy Kiron

• “Handling the Undead” / Norway 

(Director and Screenwriter: Thea Hvistendahl, Screenwriter: John Ajvide Lindqvist, Producers: Kristin Emblem, Guri Neby) On an abnormally hot summer day in Oslo, a strange electric field surrounds the city as a collective migraine spreads across town. TVs, lightbulbs, and electronics go haywire, the chaos reaching a debilitating crescendo when suddenly, it’s over. But the strange event has awoken the newly deceased from death. “Handling the Undead” weaves together three families through their loss: Mahler (72) and his daughter, Anna, mourn the too early passing of his grandson; Tora (86) says her final goodbye to her wife at the funeral home; and a family of four face a life without a wife and mother. Cast: Renate Reinsve, Bjørn Sundquist, Bente Børsum, Anders Danielsen Lie, Bahar Pars 

• “I Saw the TV Glow” / United States

(Director and Screenwriter: Jane Schoenbrun, Producers: Emma Stone, Dave McCary, Ali Herting, Sam Intili, Sarah Winshall) Teenager Owen is just trying to make it through life in the suburbs when his classmate introduces him to a mysterious late-night TV show — a vision of a supernatural world beneath their own. In the pale glow of the television, Owen’s view of reality begins to crack. Cast: Justice Smith, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Ian Foreman, Helena Howard, Fred Durst, Danielle Deadwyler

• “Kneecap” / Ireland

(Director: Rich Peppiatt, Screenwriter: Rich Peppiatt, Producers: Trevor Birney, Jack Tarling, Co-Producers: Patrick O’Neill) Of the 80,000 native Irish speakers, 6,000 live in the North of Ireland and three of them became a rap group called Kneecap. This is the real life story of how this anarchic Belfast trio became the unlikely figureheads of a civil rights movement to save and reinvigorate their mother tongue. Cast: Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, , Naoise Ó Cairealláin, JJ Ó Dochartaigh, Michael Fassbender, Josie Walker, Simone Kirby

• “My Old Ass” / United States

(Director: Megan Park, Screenwriter: Megan Park, Producers: Tom Ackerley, Margot Robbie, Josey McNamara, Steven Rales) In this fresh coming-of-age story, an 18th birthday mushroom trip brings free-spirited Elliott (Maisy Stella) face-to-face with her wisecracking 39-year-old self (Aubrey Plaza). But when Elliott’s “old ass” starts handing out warnings about what her younger self should and shouldn’t do, Elliott realizes she has to rethink everything about family, love, and what’s becoming a transformative summer. Cast: Maisy Stella, Percy Hynes White, Maddie Ziegler, Kerrice Brooks, Aubrey Plaza

• “Rob Peace” / United States

(Director and Screenwriter: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Producers: Andrea Calderwood, Antoine Fuqua, Kat Samick, Rebecca Hobbs, Jeffrey Soros, Alex Kurtzman) Based on Jeff Hobbs’ bestselling and critically acclaimed work of non-fiction — Robert Peace grew up in an impoverished section of Newark and later graduated from Yale on scholarship. Peace led a dual life in academia earning degrees in molecular biophysics and biochemistry while also selling marijuana to aid his father who he believed was unjustly imprisoned for murder. Cast: Jay Will, Mary J. Blige, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Camila Cabello, Michael Kelly, Mare Winningham

• “Sasquatch Sunset” / United States

(Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: David Zellner, Director and Producer: Nathan Zellner, Producers: Lars Knudsen, Tyler Campellone, George Rush, Jesse Eisenberg) In the misty forests of North America, a family of Sasquatches—possibly the last of their enigmatic kind— embark on an absurdist, epic, hilarious, and ultimately poignant journey over the course of one year. These shaggy and noble giants fight for survival as they find themselves on a collision course with the ever-changing world around them. Starring Riley Keough (“Mad Max: Fury Road,” “American Honey”) and Academy Award-Nominee Jesse Eisenberg (“Zombieland,” “The Social Network”), acclaimed directors David and Nathan Zellner (“Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter”) bring you the greatest Bigfoot story ever told. Cast: Riley Keough, Jesse Eisenberg, Christophe Zajac-Denek, Nathan Zellner

• “Your Monster “/ United States 

(Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Caroline Lindy, Producers: Kayla Foster, Shannon Reilly, Melanie Donkers, Kira Carstensen) After her life falls apart, soft-spoken actress Laura Franco finds her voice again when she meets a terrifying, yet weirdly charming, monster living in her closet. Cast: Melissa Barrera, Tommy Dewey, Meghann Fahy, Edmund Donovan, Kayla Foster

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILMS:

• “Skywalkers: A Love Story” / United States

(Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Jeff Zimbalist, Producers: Maria Bukhonina, Tamir Ardon, Chris Smith, Nick Spicer) To save their career and their relationship, a daredevil couple journey across the globe to illegally climb the world’s last super skyscraper and perform a life-or-death acrobatic stunt on the spire.

• “Never Look Away” / New Zealand

(Director: Lucy Lawless, Producers: Matthew Metcalfe, Tom Blackwell, Lucy Lawless) A swashbuckling CNN combat camerawoman and trailblazing female icon; the unbelievable, yet entirely true, story of award-winning journalist, Margaret Moth, is brought to vivid light by acclaimed actress and activist, Lucy Lawless, in her directorial debut.

An inspirational and unflinching biography, which includes both testimonials from the people who knew and worked with Moth, and dramatic footage from the war zones she covered, Never Look Away delves into the life and work of an incredible woman, a true pioneer known for her tireless work to capture catastrophic events and atrocities on film, no matter the risk.

UK SHORTS PROGRAM:

• “Alo” / United Kingdom

(Director: Xenia Glen, Producers: Amy George, Xenia Glen) “Alo,” an undocumented Filipino worker, lives in an overcrowded house share in London. When he is struck by an unexpected seizure, and becomes trapped internally in the throes of his symptoms, the residents feel pressured to call an ambulance, which catapults Alo into the UK health and immigration system. Cast: Iverson Yabut , Antosh Wojcik, Ericka Posadas 

• “Essex Girls” / United Kingdom

(Director: Yero Timi-Biu, Screenwriter: Busayo Ige, Producers: Angela Moneke, Simon Hatton) After an incident at her high school shunts her into the orbit of the only other Black girl in her year, “Essex Girl” Bisola is plunged into a journey of discovering a whole new side of herself. Cast: Busayo Ige, Corinna Brown, Maisie Smith, Adrianna Bertola, Krysstina Frempong, Rebecca Dike

• “Good Boy” / United Kingdom

(Director: Tom Stuart, Producers: Kay Loxley, Max Marlow, Elettra Pizzi, Tom Stuart) Danny attempts to rob a bank with his overbearing mum but is scuppered by the appearance of figures from his past. With his mum in the back of his van, and a dead pigeon on the passenger seat, Danny has a growing sense of desperation. Cast: Ben Whishaw, Marion Bailey, Dino Fetscher, Jocelyn Jee Esien, Paul Chahidi, Mark Monero, Wendy Nottingham, Bettrys Jones, Ephraim Sampson, Tommy Belshaw

• “Mamu” / United Kingdom, Taiwan

(Director and Screenwriter: Aephie Chen, Producers: Aephie Chen, Emily Beynon, Ingvar Haukur Guðmundsson, Ado Kaliting Pacidal) Indigenous Taiwanese Mayaw brought up his biracial British daughter Rina on his own in London. As Mayaw’s aging mind begins to fade, and he hears the call of his indigenous Taiwanese homeland and its magical guardians – very far from the gray London he now inhabits in which he and his daughter dream of each other in languages that they can’t understand anymore. They reconnect in their dreams and the lullaby leads the way. Cast: Aki Rupi, Suming Rupi, Kirsten Forster, Olivia Simmons, Osay Okesan Ciwidian

• “(S)” / United Kingdom, Poland, Bulgaria

(Director, Screenwriter, Producer: Mario Radev) “(S)” is an artwork that exposes the lifespan of infinity. The film delves into an immersive loop of organic forms, reflecting on the entangled nature of life and art. Cast: Mario Radev

• “Salone Love” / United Kingdom, USA

(Director: Tajana Tokyo, Producers: Tabs Breese, India Wadsworth) A scrapbook of opinions and advice about love in Sierra Leone.

• “Shé” (Snake) / United Kingdom, USA

(Director and Screenwriter: Renee Zhan, Producer: Jesse Romain) Fei is the top violinist in her elite youth orchestra. When another Chinese violinist arrives to challenge her place, Fei’s internalized racism grows to take monstrous physical form. They whisper to her, urging her to be the best, no matter the cost. Cast: Xiaonan Wang, Alina Lew, Simon Paisley Day, Elizabeth Chan, Leslie Ching, Grace Fan

Sundance Film Festival: London Ticket Passes are on sale now, with priority booking for Picturehouse Members and Sundance Film Festival Ticket Passholders on sale on 23 April.  Ticket sales to the general public will open on 30 April. Tickets can be purchased today with a Sundance Film Festival ticket pass at picturehouses.com/sundance. Become a Picturehouse Member now at picturehouses.com/membership. More information will be available at picturehouses.com/sundance.

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Save the date to be the first to see next year’s independent films and projects that entertain, spark cultural conversation, and make cinematic history, because the nonprofit Sundance Institute has revealed the dates for the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

The event will take place on Jan. 23-Feb. 2, 2025 in Park City and Salt Lake City.

“While the next Sundance Film Festival is still 10 months away, we’re already laying the foundation for the 2025 edition, looking ahead to sharing a new group of artists’ work with audiences at the start of next year,” said Eugene Hernandez, Sundance Film Festival and public programming director. “My first Festival as Director was filled with so many moving, inspiring stories of discovery with emerging and established artists from around the world connecting with festivalgoers. Today I invite you to circle our upcoming 2025 dates on your calendar, Jan. 23 to Feb. 2… Stay tuned for more and filmmakers look out for our call for submissions later this spring. See you there.”

Further details about the upcoming 2025 Sundance Film Festival will be shared over the coming months.

The Sundance Film Festival is an artist program of the nonprofit Sundance Institute, which works to uplift and develop emerging artists on a year-round basis through focused labs, direct grants, fellowships, residencies, and more. 

The public can support Sundance Institute’s mission by joining its Membership or Sundance Circle communities. 

Members have access to an elevated Festival experience with pass and package presales, premium passes, early access to individual ticket selection, merchandise discounts, invitations to special events and screenings throughout the year, and more.

To join, visit sundance.org/membership or sundance.org/sundance-circle.

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Sundance Institute, the nonprofit film organization behind the Sundance Film Festival and labs, and The Walt Disney Company, announced the first cohort of the Sundance Institute | The Walt Disney Company Muslim Artist Fellowship. 

This fellowship program aims to provide four Muslim artists with comprehensive creative and tactical support, enabling them to cultivate their skills and empowering them to advance within the industry. The Fellowship offers an immersive, year-round professional development experience, fostering a positive impact on film and television.

“We are honored to join forces with the Sundance Institute to launch the Muslim Artist Fellowship – an initiative that reflects our shared dedication to fostering the next generation of filmmakers,” expressed Mahin Ibrahim, director of creative talent pathways, representation & inclusion strategies. “Through this collaborative effort, we aim to amplify the diverse perspectives of these artists while empowering them to propel their careers and craft compelling narratives that resonate with audiences worldwide.”

Disney’s support of the Muslim Artist Fellowship is part of Disney Future Storytellers, an initiative to deliver on the Company’s commitment to empower the next generation of storytellers.

Each selected artist is granted an unrestricted grant of $15,000, facilitating the advancement of their individual projects. Additionally, the fellowship offers personalized support from the Institute, tailored to the unique goals of each artist.

In addition, the fellowship extends exclusive opportunities for networking and community-building events, allowing artists to connect with fellow creatives and industry professionals.

“Our partnership with The Walt Disney Company will help further opportunities to uplift Muslim artists and their narratives. Supporting these artists through a bespoke fellowship will not only elevate Muslim representation but also bring more visibility to their stories,” said Hajnal Molnar-Szakacs, Sundance Institute’s director of artist accelerator and women at sundance programs. “We’re thrilled to launch this new initiative to provide support to these four talented artists—Kamau Bilal, Razi Jafri, Sarah Mokh, and Jumai Yusuf—through this fellowship.”

The fellows selected for the Sundance Institute | The Walt Disney Company Muslim Artist Fellowship are:

Kamau Bilal

• About the Artist: Kamau Bilal is a Black American filmmaker based in the Midwest. His short film Baby Brother premiered at Sundance in 2018 and lives on the website of The New York Times. In 2018 he was named one of Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of Film. “Brick Thieves” is his first feature.
• Project: “Brick Thieves” is a feature film. When William’s only son and business partner decide to leave their antiquated demolition business, William finds himself knee-deep in the black market brick theft world to keep his family together.

Razi Jafri

• About the Artist: Razi Jafri is a documentary filmmaker. His film, “Hamtramck,” USA, premiered at SXSW and aired on PBS. Recently, Razi produced “Three Chaplains,” which aired on PBS in Fall 2023. He is an alumnus of the Sundance Producing Fellowship and holds an MFA from the University of Michigan.
• Project: “Sanctuary, Purgatory” is a documentary feature film that follows a refugee living in South Korea after fleeing the Yemeni civil war as he struggles to reunite with his family in the US, who are living in Michigan.
  

Sarah Mokh

• About the Artist: Sarah Mokh is a writer and director interested in what our stories reveal about our deepest beliefs. She is a graduate of Harvard College and currently a graduate student at NYU. Her screenplays have been supported or recognized by the Sundance Institute, Film Independent, the Academy Nicholl Fellowship, and others.
• Project: “Diary of a Muslim Cynic” tells the story of a woman desperate to escape her Midwest small-town life after a tragedy; a depressed teen’s pursuits of love and big-city dreams are upended by the ghosts of her past and mystical encounters.

Jumai Yusuf

• About the Artist: Jumai Yusuf is a director, writer, producer, and a Muslim, Nigerian immigrant who is passionate about telling BIPOC genre stories. Her screenwriting has been supported by MPAC Hollywood and the Black List. She has a B.A. in Neurobiology from Harvard and an MFA from USC.

Project: “Layla and the Starship Afrotopia” follows Layla, a shy Black Muslim girl who discovers the power to create wormholes; she’s whisked away from her small town to Afrotopia, a spaceship searching for a home planet. This is an afrofuturist coming-of-age animated series. The target audience is Family & Older Children (like “She-Ra and the Princesses of Power”).

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“The Masterpiece,” directed and written by Alex Lora Cercos, won the Sundance Film Festival’s Short Film Grand Jury Prize on Thursday night.

The winner was one of 53 shorts selected from 12,098 submissions. This year’s Short Film jurors are Christina Oh, Danny Pudi and Charlotte Regan — all festival alumni in honor of the festival’s 40th Edition.

“This has been another amazing year for shorts — most of the filmmakers in the program are coming to Sundance for the first time ever, and we are excited to get their films to audiences and the film industry.” said Mike Plante, senior programmer of Short Films. “The award winners are a great reflection of the vibrant ideas and styles that filmmakers are inventing in these times within the short form.” 

Short Film awards winners in previous years include “When You Left Me On That Boulevard” by Kayla Abuda Galang, “The Headhunter’s Daughter” by Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan, “Lizard” by Akinola Davies Jr., “So What If the Goats Die” by Sofia Alaoui, “Aziza” by Saudade Kaadan, “Matria” by Álvaro Gago, “And so we put goldfish in the pool.” by Makoto Nagahisa, “Thunder Road” by Jim Cummings, “World of Tomorrow” by Don Hertzfeldt and “Of Gods and Dogs” by Abounaddara Collective.

Driven by innovation and experimentation, the Short Film program seeks out filmmaking’s most original voices, exhibiting shorts across fiction, nonfiction and animation, globally, according to the institute.

From the start, the institute has supported short filmmaking in all forms and styles, with alumni of the program including Andrea Arnold, Lake Bell, Damien Chazelle, Destin Daniel Cretton, Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass, Debra Granik, Rashaad Ernesto Green, Reinaldo Marcus Green, Sterlin Harjo, Todd Haynes, Nikyatu Jusu, Shaka King, Lynne Ramsay, Dee Rees, Charlotte Regan, A.V. Rockwell, Joey Soloway, Taika Waititi and many others. 

Of the seven short films selected for awards this year, three projects (43% percent) were directed by women, four (57%) were directed by people who identify as LGBTQ and three (43%) were directed by people of color.

2024 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Jury Awards:

The Short Film Grand Jury Prize was awarded to: Alex Lora Cercos, for “The Masterpiece” / Spain (Director and Producer: Alex Lora Cercos, Screenwriter and Producer: Lluis Quilez, Screenwriter: Alfonso Amador, Producers: Sandra Travé, Josemari Martínez, Néstor López) — Leo and Diana, a wealthy couple, meet Salif and Yousef, two scrap dealers, at a recycle center. Offering them more junk, Diana invites them to their mansion, but the immigrants actually might be the ones with something she wants. Cast: Daniel Grao, Babou Cham, Melina Matthews, Adam Nourou, Guido Grao. World Premiere. Available to view online.

Jury citation: “Being able to craft and express nuance in a 90+ minute feature is quite a feat, but to be able to do that in 20 minutes or less is a wildly impressive task. This short kept us on the edge of our seats, but also left us thinking about it and its commentary long after we left the theatre. From its writing, to its direction and performances, this film felt as if it was crafted by a team that’s been making stories together for a lifetime. The winner of the Short Film Grand Jury Prize is ‘The Masterpiece,’ directed by Alex Lora Cercos.”

The Short Film Jury Award: U.S. Fiction was presented to: Kate Jean Hollowell, for “Say Hi After You Die” / U.S.A. (Director: Kate Jean Hollowell, Screenwriters: Kate Jean Hollowell, Ruby Caster, Producer: Miranda Kahn) — A grieving woman believes her deceased best friend has come back to visit her… as a port-a-potty. Cast: Kate Jean Hollowell, Ruby Caster, George Basil. World Premiere. Available to view online.

Jury citation: “This film took us on an unexpected journey of grief, skillfully blending heartfelt moments with humor and a dash of the absurd. It made us appreciate true friendship and see porta potty’s in a new way. The winner of the Short Film Jury Award for US Fiction is ‘Say Hi After You Die,’ directed by Kate Jean Hollowell.”

The Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction was presented to: An Chu, for “The Stag” / Taiwan (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: An Chu, Producer: Tzu-Yuan Wang) — At a deer farm in Changhua County, a middle-aged man is asked to cut off a stag’s antlers in front of his two kids. Cast: Yung-He Chen, Wei-Jen Chen, Si-Kai Chen. International Premiere. Available to view online.

Jury citation: “This quietly powerful film held on to our attention from the opening shot and it gave us a peek into a world we haven’t seen. The film is striking with beautifully composed scenes and at its center is a deeply moving story about a father trying to do the right thing for his kids. The winner of the Short Film Jury Award for International Fiction is ‘The Stag,’ directed by An Chu.”

The Short Film Jury Award: Nonfiction was presented to: Jack Dunphy, for “Bob’s Funeral” / U.S.A (Director, Screenwriter, Animator, and Producer: Jack Dunphy) — Searching for the root of generational trauma, the director sneaks a camera into his estranged grandfather’s funeral. World Premiere. Available to view online. 

Jury citation: “This film balances different tones and styles with the confidence of someone who has incredible control of storytelling. The vulnerability offered up by the family makes us, the audience, feel like they’re a part of the emotional journey in such a short space of time. The winner of the Short Film Jury Award for Nonfiction is ‘Bob’s Funeral,’ directed by Jack Dunphy.”

The Short Film Jury Award: Animation was presented to: Phoebe Jane Hart, for “Bug Diner” / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Phoebe Jane Hart) — A dissatisfied marriage, a secret crush, and workplace fantasies come to a head in a diner run by a mole with a hot ass. Cast: Jacob Levy, Phoebe Hart. World Premiere. Available to view online.

Jury citation: “We didn’t stop laughing at this from start to finish. It has that magical effect of making you walk around all day with a smile on your face. The dialogue was incredibly written and the animation style was amazing…there’s also never been a better bug’s voice done on film. The winner of the Short Film Jury Award for Animation is ‘Bug Diner,’ directed by Phoebe Jane Hart.”

A Short Film Special Jury Prize for Directing was presented to: Masha Ko, for “The Looming” / U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Masha Ko, Producers: Caroline Gluck, Andrey Nikolaev, Kolten Horner) — When a virtual home assistant speaker, Luna, picks up the strange noise Chester has heard in his house, he realizes that it may not be a symptom of dementia. Cast: Joseph Lopez, Kolten Horner, Brianne Buishas, Alyssa Nicole. Available to view online.

For information and ticket options, visit festival.sundance.org.

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Sundance Institute announced the 16 jurors who will grant awards for artistic and cinematic excellence at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival that will run Jan. 18-28 in person in Park City and Salt Lake City, along with a selection of films available online across the country from Jan. 25-28.

This year marks the 40th edition of the festival, bringing together audiences in Utah and beyond to celebrate Sundance’s rich history of supporting engaging new stories and groundbreaking independent artists. 

Sundance also announced the five jury members who will present the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize. 

The 16-member jury is composed of a diverse range of critical voices across film, art and culture, and in honor of the festival’s 40th edition, all are festival alumni, who are returning not only to serve on the jury but also to partake in celebratory programming that will range from talks and panels, to a special 40th edition trivia night and party for artist alumni.

“For our 40th Festival, the jury members this year are all artists who have had films at prior Festivals,” said Kim Yutani, director of programming. “They know what it is to introduce new work to the Sundance community and we are so pleased to be able to welcome them back to Sundance to take in the films our programming team has curated. We can’t wait to see what resonates with them.”

The jury will announce the awards for feature films — across five competition sections — at an intimate award ceremony held at The Ray Theatre in Park City on Friday, Jan. 26, and the short film jury winners will be announced at the Shorts Awards & Party presented by Argo and WeShort on Tuesday, Jan. 23. 

Films in competition categories awarded by the jury will be screened in person and via the online festival platform from Jan. 27-28. 

Both online and in-person Award Winners Packages, which include eight tickets for award-winner screenings, are on sale through Jan. 5. Single film ticket sales begin at 10 a.m. on Jan. 11.

“The Sundance Film Festival is known for discovering and platforming visionary emerging artists,” said Eugene Hernandez, Festival Director. “We cannot do this without our jury, who so thoughtfully help us recognize and amplify the next generation of independent storytellers. We are thrilled to announce the talented, accomplished artists who comprise this year’s jury.”

The 2024 Sundance Film Festival jury includes: Debra Granik, Adrian Tomine and Lena Waithe for U.S. Dramatic Competition; Shane Boris, Nicole Newnham and Rudy Valdez for U.S. Documentary Competition; Jennifer Kent, Mira Nair and Rui Poças for World Cinema Dramatic Competition; Mandy Chang, Monica Hellström and Shaunak Sen for World Cinema Documentary Competition; Christina Oh, Danny Pudi and Charlotte Regan for Short Film Program Competition; and Zal Batmanglij for the NEXT competition section.

Following are the 2024 Sundance Film Festival Jury members and their respective sections:

U.S. DRAMATIC COMPETITION JURY

Debra Granik is the director and co-writer of Winter’s Bone, which was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay.

She also directed “Down To The Bone,” “Stray Dog” and “Leave No Trace.” Her new six-part limited series documentary, “Conbody VS Everybody,” spanning eight years, follows the experiences of people reentering New York City after incarceration.

Adrian Tomine is the writer-illustrator of the graphic novels “Shortcomings,” “The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist” and “Killing and Dying.” 

Since 1999, his illustrations have appeared on the cover and in the pages of The New Yorker. Tomine wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation of “Shortcomings,” which premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, and three other of his stories were the basis for the 2022 film “Paris, 13th District.”

Lena Waithe is an Emmy-winning writer, producer, actor and founder of Hillman Grad, a media company providing opportunities for marginalized storytellers to access the industry.

Known for “Master of None,” “The Chi” and “Queen & Slim,” Waithe’s latest credits include the Emmy-nominated “Being Mary Tyler Moore,” “A Thousand and One,” “Kokomo City” and the Tony-nominated “Ain’t No Mo’.”

U.S. DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION JURY

Shane Boris is an Academy Award-winning and two-time Academy Award-nominated producer and writer, working on films that push the boundaries of conventional form in order to tell timeless stories.

His films have premiered at festivals like Sundance and Venice, screened in museums including the Louvre and MoMA, and have won BAFTA and Peabody Awards.

Recent films include “Hollywoodgate,” “King Coal,” “Navalny,” “Fire of Love,” “Stray,” “The Edge of Democracy” and “The Seer and the Unseen.”  

Nicole Newnham is an Academy Award-nominated, Emmy-winning documentary producer and director, five-time Sundance Film Festival alum, and six-time Emmy nominee.

She directed the critically acclaimed 2023 film “The Disappearance of Shere Hite” and also co-directed and produced the 2021 Academy Award-nominated, Sundance Audience Award-winning documentary “Crip Camp” with Jim LeBrecht. Her other acclaimed documentaries include the Emmy-nominated films, “The Revolutionary Optimists,” “Sentenced Home” and “The Rape of Europa.”

Rudy Valdez is a two-time Emmy Award-winning filmmaker. His directorial debut, “The Sentence” (HBO, 2018), premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, winning the U.S. Documentary Audience award, and going on to win the primetime Emmy for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking.

His most recent projects include “We Are: The Brooklyn Saints” (Netflix, 2021), “Breakaway” (ESPN, 2021), “Reopening Night” (HBO, 2022), “Carlos” (Sony Picture Classics, 2023) and the upcoming six-part series, “Choir” (Disney+ 2024).

WORLD CINEMA DRAMATIC COMPETITION JURY

Jennifer Kent graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (alums include Cate Blanchett and Mel Gibson) and has worked extensively as an actor in Australia.

Her first film, “The Babadook,” premiered at Sundance in 2014 and received over 100 nominations and awards internationally.

Kent’s second film, “The Nightingale,” won the Jury Prize and the Marcello Mastroianni award at the Venice Film Festival in 2018. Recently, she wrote and directed an episode of “Cabinet of Curiosities” for Netflix, and her third feature, “Alice + Freda Forever,” is slated to shoot in 2024.  

Mira Nair is an Academy Award-nominated director best known for her visually dense films that pulsate with life: “Salaam Bombay!” (1988), “Monsoon Wedding” (2001), “The Namesake “(2006), “Mississippi Masala” (1991) and “A Suitable Boy” (2020).

Her most recent endeavor was “Monsoon Wedding: The Musical,” which opened in New York City in spring 2023 and is bound for Broadway. And her next film will be “AMRI,” an experimental portrait of Amrita Sher-Gil.

An activist by nature, Nair founded the Salaam Baalak Trust in 1988 and the Maisha Film Lab in 2004. In 2012, she was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honor.

Rui Poças is a Portuguese award-winning cinematographer who earned an international reputation for his breathtaking images and fluid storytelling in a versatile range of genres. Poças’ work is behind several groundbreaking films such as “O Fantasma” and “The Ornithologist” by Joao Pedro Rodrigues, “Tabu” by Miguel Gomes, “Zama” by Lucrecia Martel, “The Good Manners” by Marco Dutra and Juliana Rojas, and “Frankie” by Ira Sachs. He is also teaching and mentoring at several international film universities and film labs.

WORLD CINEMA DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION JURY

Mandy Chang is the creative director of Fremantle’s premium documentary strand, Undeniable. Previously an award-winning documentary producer-director, Chang was commissioning editor at ABC TV and head of BBC Storyville — the BBC’s legendary international documentary strand. 

At Storyville, she created a slate of much-talked-about documentaries, among them “Collective,” “Welcome to Chechnya,” “The Mole: Infiltrating North Korea” and “Writing with Fire,” while extending Storyville’s breadth and diversity and guiding new talent into the field. 

Monica Hellström is a three-time Academy Award-nominee for producing “Flee,” nominated for Best Documentary Feature and Best Animated Feature in 2022, and “A House Made of Splinters,” which was nominated for Best Documentary Feature in 2023.

She’s a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and was selected for Producer on “The Move” (Cannes 2020). She started her company Ström Pictures in May 2022 and before that had been a producer at Final Cut for Real for 12 years.

Shaunak Sen is a filmmaker and scholar from Delhi. His film All That Breathes earned Academy Award, BAFTA and Directors Guild of America nominations and won over 25 awards, including the Grand Jury Prize in the World Cinema Documentary competition at the Sundance Film Festival and the Golden Eye at Cannes.

His first documentary, “Cities of Sleep,” was shown at various festivals and won six international awards. Sen is the recipient of grants from Sundance, Catapult, Tribeca and IDFA.

SHORT FILM PROGRAM COMPETITION JURY

Christina Oh is an Academy Award-nominated producer, who worked on Bong Joon Ho’s Okja and Joe Talbot’s feature film debut, “The Last Black Man in San Francisco.”

Most recently, she produced “Minari,” written and directed by Lee Isaac Chung, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and went on to receive six Academy Award nominations, and one of the film’s cast members, Youn Yuh-jung, won Korea’s first-ever Best Supporting Actress Oscar. Oh’s past television credits include “LEGO Masters” and “Paper Girls.”

In late 2023, she partnered with Academy Award-nominated Steven Yeun to head his production company, Celadon Pictures.

Danny Pudi is an actor, writer and director currently starring in AppleTV+’s “Mythic Quest.” Pudi’s breakout role was on “Community,” which earned him a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the Critic’s Choice Awards.

Other notable credits include “Somebody I Used to Know” (Amazon), “The Tiger Hunter” (Netflix), “Strange Planet” (Apple TV+) and Netflix’s upcoming “Avatar: The Last Airbender.”

Pudi recently directed an episode of “Mythic Quest” and his ESPN 30 for 30 short, “Untucked,” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

Charlotte Regan is a British film director. She started her career directing rap music videos and short films. Her first short, “Standby,” nominated for a BAFTA, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, and was part of Sundance Ignite.

In 2023, her debut feature film, “Scrapper,” won the Grand Jury Prize for the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at the Sundance Film Festival. 

NEXT JUROR

Zal Batmanglij is a writer, director, and showrunner. He made his debut at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival with the micro-budget “Sound of My Voice,” co-written by and starring Brit Marling, which was picked up by Searchlight Pictures.

The two went on to collaborate on “The East,” about climate activists and starring Marling, Elliot Page and Alexander Skarsgård, and to create “The OA,” a long-form odyssey about near-death experiences that debuted on Netflix during the streamer’s pioneering phase.

Batmanglij and Marling’s most recent collaboration, FX’s “A Murder at the End of the World,” is a reimagining of the whodunit genre starring Emma Corrin, Marling, Harris Dickinson and Clive Owen.

ALFRED P. SLOAN FEATURE FILM PRIZE JURY

The jury for the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize deliberated ahead of the Festival and awarded the prize to “Love Me,” directed by Sam and Andy Zuchero.

The jury, which includes both film and science professionals, presents the award to an outstanding feature film focusing on science or technology as a theme, or depicting a scientist, engineer or mathematician as a major character. 

This jury includes: Dr. Mandë Holford, Dr. Nia Imara, Matt Johnson, Theresa Park and Courtney Stephens. 

Dr. Mandë Holford is marine chemical biologist at Hunter College and The CUNY Graduate Center, with scientific appointments at the American Museum of Natural History and Weill Cornell Medicine.

Her mollusks-to-medicine research uses venoms and venomous marine animals to study rapidly evolving genes and cellular communication in pain and cancer. She co-founded Killer Snails, LLC, a learning games company, and her honors include a Distinguished Investigator Award from Allen Institute, an E.E. Just Fellow by the Marine Biological Laboratory and a Sustainability Pioneer by the World Economic Forum.

Dr. Nia Imara is an astrophysicist and artist whose body of work reflects her love for vibrant color, people and their stories.

Imara is a professor of astronomy at U.C. Santa Cruz, where she explores how stars are born in the Milky Way and galaxies throughout the universe. Imara is the founding director of Onaketa, a nonprofit that provides free STEM tutoring and other educational resources for BIPOC children.

Matt Johnson was born in Toronto and directed “The Dirties” (2013), “Operation Avalanche” (2016) and “BlackBerry” (2023).

He is also co-creator of the cult comedy series “Nirvanna the Band the Show” (2017-2019), and as an actor he has appeared in “Anne at 1,300 Feet” (2020) and “Matt and Mara” (2023).

Johnson also teaches in the film department at York University alongside his producing partner, Matthew Miller.

Theresa Park is the founder and president of Per Capita Productions, developing TV shows at Apple and Amazon Studios, as well as feature films with A24, Universal and other producing partners.

Park was a producer on the feature films “The Best of Me,” “The Longest Ride,” “Bones and All” and “After Yang,” which had its U.S. debut at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize.

Courtney Stephens is a writer/director of nonfiction and experimental films, and is the recipient of a 2022 Guggenheim Fellowship and a Fulbright Scholarship to India.

“The American Sector,” her documentary about fragments of the Berlin Wall, was named one of the best films of 2021 in The New Yorker. Her essay film, “Terra Femme,” comprised of amateur travel footage shot by women in the early 20th century, was a New York Times critic’s pick. 

In addition to these jurors, Sundance Film Festival audiences attending in person will also have a role in voting for the 2024 Audience Awards.

Their votes will be open to films in the U.S. Competition, World Competition and NEXT categories. Attendees are also able to vote for the Festival Favorite, which is selected across all in-person eligible feature film screenings. For information, visit sundance.org/?s=jury.

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The Sundance Institute announced Thursday that Academy Award–nominated actress Kristen Stewart will be honored with the Visionary Award at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival’s opening night gala Jan. 24 at the DeJoria Center.

The annual gala enables the nonprofit to raise funds to support independent artists year-round through labs, grants and public programming. The upcoming Sundance Film Festival will take place Jan. 18-28, in Park City and Salt Lake City, as well as online Jan. 25–28.

Stewart will receive the Visionary Award in recognition of her work as an uncompromising artist and contributions to the field of independent film, Sundance officials said. She was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance as Princess Diana in Spencer and was the first American actress to receive a César Award for her role in Clouds of Sils Maria. 

Stewart’s work as an actor has exemplified the bold, risk-taking storytelling that Sundance has championed for many years, officials said.

Throughout her career, she has had 10 films screen at the festival, including The Runaways, Adventureland, and Lizzie. She made her directorial debut with Come Swim at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. For the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, Stewart will be returning with Love Me, premiering in the U.S. Dramatic Competition section and the recipient of the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize, and Love Lies Bleeding, premiering in the Midnight section. 

“We are thrilled to honor the immensely talented Kristen Stewart at our opening night gala,” said Joana Vicente, Sundance Institute CEO. “Kristen’s captivating performances across a wide, diverse body of work make her a truly unique talent. With over 10 Sundance films under her belt, she has always remained committed to the art of independent cinema. We are excited to welcome her back to the Festival and can’t wait to see what she has in store for our 40th year.”

“Sundance’s purity, lack of fussy pretension, and its commitment to supporting independence in an industry that doesn’t always value the radical or the sidelined is what makes it by far the homiest place for me to go see, discuss and present films,” said Stewart. “Truly honored to be acknowledged by this beloved institution.”

As previously announced, Christopher Nolan will be honored with the inaugural Sundance Institute Trailblazer Award, recognizing an artist’s dedication and contributions to independent film. The annual Vanguard Awards honor artists whose work highlights the art of storytelling and creative independence in nonfiction and fiction.

The Vanguard Award for Fiction will be presented to Celine Song, director and writer of Past Lives, and the Vanguard Award for Nonfiction will go to Maite Alberdi, director of The Eternal Memory. Journalist and producer Pat Mitchell will receive the Vanguard Award for Philanthropy in recognition of her commitment to the institute’s support and to philanthropy for social impact.

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The Sundance Institute has announced the Short Films and 40th Edition Celebration screenings and events that will be a part of the 2024 Sundance Film Festival programming. 

The festival is scheduled to take place Jan. 18–28 in person in Park City and Salt Lake City, with a selection of titles available online nationwide from Jan, 25–28.

The Festival will introduce new short films for 2024 across eight curated programs. Special 40th Edition Celebration screenings and events are set for the second half of the festival and kick off on Jan. 23, with a slate of retrospective programming that will bring alumni artists together for conversations and gatherings.

Festivalgoers will also be able to revisit iconic films from Sundance history through archive screenings followed by Q&As with members of the films.

In-Person Ticket Packages and Passes and Online Ticket Packages and Passes, including a special short films online pass, are currently on sale and single film tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Jan. 11.

The 40th Edition Celebration screenings and events will run from Tuesday, Jan. 23 through Friday, Jan. 26. 

The Festival will debut brand-new 4K restorations of “Napoleon Dynamite” (20th anniversary) “Go Fish” (30th anniversary), “Three Seasons” (25th anniversary) and an extended version of “DIG!” (20th anniversary), featuring over 30 minutes of additional footage, titled “DIG! XX.”

Also showing will be “The Babadook and Pariah,” and restorations of “Mississippi Masala” and “The Times of Harvey Milk.” 

The upcoming festival will also see the return of acclaimed artist alumni. 

Talks with notable alumni will take place, including a panel titled “Power of Story: Four Decades of Taking Chances” about the legacy of independent storytelling featuring Miguel Arteta, Richard Linklater, Dawn Porter and Christine Vachon; a screening of seminal short films from Sundance’s history hosted by Jay Duplass and Mark Duplass; and a workshop for emerging creators with Carlos López Estrada and others.

Other special events include alumni social gatherings and a 40th Edition trivia night.

“As the 2024 Sundance Film Festival marks our milestone 40th edition, we are thrilled to announce the myriad ways we’ll celebrate four decades of visionary storytelling and the emerging artists in this year’s program,” said Festival Director and Head of Public Programming Eugene Hernandez. “The 40th Edition Celebration Screenings will showcase films from Sundance’s rich history, each having made an indelible impact on culture. Our outstanding Short Film program selection, chosen from more than 12,000 submissions, simultaneously welcomes the next generation of voices and storytellers to watch. In gathering some of the extraordinary artists who have been part of our history along with our community of emerging creators and audiences, we hope to demonstrate Sundance’s role as the premier place for international discovery and the vitality of independent cinema.”

“We are pleased to revisit some Festival history through our 40th Edition Celebration Screenings and Events. These are a great complement to our new programming premiering across sections, and our curatorial team is looking forward to bringing the mix of offerings in the 2024 lineup to audiences,” said Kim Yutani, Sundance Film Festival director of programming. “From the inception of the Festival, we’ve been huge supporters of short filmmaking and we’re proud to carry that support into this 40th edition of the Festival as well.”

“Selecting the shorts for the Festival Program every year is an exercise in taking the pulse of film culture, and the outlook is always bright,” said Mike Plante, senior programmer, short film. “In our 40th year, the world of short films is more vibrant than ever. With so many ways to see and experience shorts now — at festivals and online through varied platforms — so many artists are coming to the art form and creating shorts that excite us, and short film fans, in new ways.”

The 53 Short Films for the 2024 lineup were selected from 12,098 submissions, the highest number on record. Of these submissions, 5,323 were from the U.S., and 6,799 were international. This upcoming year’s Short Film program includes work from 22 countries.

Driven by innovation and experimentation, the Short Film program seeks out filmmaking’s most original voices, exhibiting shorts across fiction, nonfiction, and animation, globally. From the start, the Institute has supported short filmmaking in all forms and styles, with alumni of the program including Andrea Arnold, Lake Bell, Damien Chazelle, Destin Daniel Cretton, Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass, Debra Granik, Rashaad Ernesto Green, Reinaldo Marcus Green, Sterlin Harjo, Todd Haynes, Nikyatu Jusu, Shaka King, Lynne Ramsay, Dee Rees, Charlotte Regan, A.V. Rockwell, Joey Soloway, Taika Waititi, and many others.

The Sundance Institute champions short films globally and throughout the year, with select Festival shorts presented as a traveling program at theaters in the U.S, Canada, Europe, and more.

The 2024 Sundance Film Festival Short Films are:

U.S. FICTION SHORT FILMS

Bay of Herons / U.S.A. (Director: Jared James Lank) — Calling on the strength of his ancestors, a young Mi’kmaq man reflects on the pain of bearing witness to the destruction of his homelands. Available online for Public.

Boi de Conchas (The Shell Covered Ox) / U.S.A., Brazil (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Daniel Barosa, Producers: Nikolas Maciel, Bruno Alfano) — While mourning her missing sister, Rayane balances helping her fisherman father and practicing for the school’s music festival — provided she doesn’t become an ox first, a misfortune assailing several teenagers in the area. Cast: Bebé Salvego, Daniela Dams, Walter Balthazar, Bianca Melo, Giulia Sposito, Kaique Martins De Paula, Kyuja Ohanna, Maitê Dias, Tainara Corrêa, and Thiago Klein. World Premiere. Available online for Public.

Border Hopper / U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Nico Casavecchia, Screenwriter: Mercedes Arturo, Producers: Blaine Morris, Robin Spears, Gabriela Ortega) — When a Latinx filmmaker is offered a dream job abroad, she discovers a supernatural way to navigate the U.S. immigration system and get the coveted travel permit she needs. But what seems like a magic solution soon shows unexpected consequences. Cast: Gabriela Ortega, Santiago Reyes MacAllister. World Premiere. Available online for Public.

BUST / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Angalis Field, Screenwriters: Angalis Field, Eliza Barry Callahan, Producer: Drake Burnette) — A trans cop with the New York City Police Department goes undercover to make a drug bust. Cast: Lux Pascal, Nicky DeMarie. World Premiere. Available online for Public.

Didn’t Think I’d See You Here / U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Dylan Guerra, Producers: Yaron Lotan, Laura Dupper) — Rory thinks there’s a ghost haunting his shower and decides to investigate its origin. But when he goes to a party and meets a romantic interest, his spectral mystery begins to unravel. Cast: Yaron Lotan, Holly Settoon, Marquis Rodriguez, Jose Useche. Available online for Public.

Dream Creep / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Carlos A.F. Lopez, Producers: Megan Leonard, Bobby McHugh, Jonathan Caso, Zeus Kontoyannis) — A couple awakens in the night to sounds emanating from an unlikely orifice. Cast: Ian Edlund, Sidney Jayne Hunt. World Premiere. Available online for Public.

Flail / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Ben Gauthier, Screenwriter: Allie Levitan, Producers: Jack Forbes, Maddie Thomas) — It’s her boss’s birthday, and Allie is trying as hard as she can. Cast: Allie Levitan, David Brown, Natalie Rotter-Laitman, Isabella Gerasole, Krista Levitan. Available online for Public.

Grace / U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Natalie Jasmine Harris, Producers: Samiyah Wardlaw, Julia Kennelly, Latavia Young, Morgan B. Powell) — Sixteen-year-old Grace prepares for her baptism in the rural 1950s South. When she learns she must repent before the ritual, she begins to question the budding romantic feelings she has toward her best friend, Louise. Cast: Jordan Rayanna Wells, Alexis Cofield, Mikayla LaShae Bartholomew, C L Simpson, JeVon Blackwell. World Premiere. Available online for Public.

guts / U.S.A. (Director and Producer: Margaux Susi, Screenwriter: Jan Rosenberg, Producers: Grayson Propst, Angela Giarratana) — Desperate for help, a woman in recovery asks an unlikely stranger on a dinner date. Cast: Kate Burton, Angela Giarratana. World Premiere. Available online for Public.

The Heart / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Malia Ann, Producer: Ayesha Nadarajah) — A lonely man grieves the death of his mother after an argument about groceries and an odd request in her will. Cast: Tunde Adebimpe, LaTonya Borsay. Available online for Public.

The Looming / U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Masha Ko, Producers: Caroline Gluck, Andrey Nikolaev, Kolten Horner) — When a virtual home assistant speaker, Luna, picks up the strange noise Chester has heard in his house, he realizes that it may not be a symptom of dementia. Cast: Joseph Lopez, Kolten Horner, Brianne Buishas, Alyssa Nicole. Available online for Public.

The Looming Cloud / U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Matthew Tyler, Producer: Connie Shi) — Three siblings return home after their mother’s death and face their most daunting task: figuring out how to post about it on social media. Cast: Mitzi Akaha, Jason Amerling, Connie Shi. World Premiere. Available online for Public.

The Lost Season / U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Kelly Sears) — Winter is over. Continue watching. Cast: Skinner Myers. World Premiere. Available online for Public.

Pasture Prime / U.S.A. (Director and Producer: Diffan Sina Norman, Screenwriter and Producer: Carolyn Purnell) — A widow falls for a younger man she meets at the Cowboy Church. Cast: Gail Cronauer, Patrick Kirton, Chris Alan Evans, Susan Kirton, Joshua Ogden-Davis. World Premiere. Available online for Public.

Pathological / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Alison Rich, Producers: Bridgett Greenberg, Ingrid Haas, Avtar Khalsa, Peter Principato, Todd Ruhnau) — A woman who’s a pathological liar wakes up one day to discover her lies have become true. Cast: Alison Rich, Meaghan Rath, Luke Cook, Adam Lustick, Heather Pasternak, George Kareman. World Premiere. Available online for Public.

The Rainbow Bridge / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Dimitri Simakis, Producers: Suki-Rose, Michael Scott) — Tina and her elderly dog MeeMoo discover a clinic promising human-to-pet communication. However, two sinister doctors uncover a bond between them so strong, it transcends time and space. They might be the key to something greater, but at what cost? Cast: Thu Tran, Heather Lawless, James Urbaniak, David Brown, Fat Tony. World Premiere. Available online for Public.

Say Hi After You Die / U.S.A. (Director: Kate Jean Hollowell, Screenwriters: Kate Jean Hollowell, Ruby Caster, Producer: Miranda Kahn) — A grieving woman believes her deceased best friend has come back to visit her… as a port-a-potty. Cast: Kate Jean Hollowell, Ruby Caster, George Basil. World Premiere. Available online for Public.

SHÉ (SNAKE) / U.S.A., U.K. (Director and Screenwriter: Renee Zhan, Producer: Jesse Romain) — Fei is the top violinist in her elite youth orchestra. When another Chinese violinist arrives to challenge her place, Fei’s internal demons take external form. They whisper to her, urging her to be the best, no matter the cost. Cast: Xiaonan Wang, Alina Lew, Simon Paisley Day, Elizabeth Chan, Leslie Ching, Grace Fan. U.S. Premiere. Available online for Public.

Thirstygirl / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Alexandra Qin, Producers: Brooke Goldman, Alexandra Qin) — On a road trip with her younger sister, Charlie struggles to hide a secret sex addiction. Cast: Samantha Ahn, Claire Dunn. Available online for Public.

INTERNATIONAL FICTION SHORT FILMS

Basri & Salma in a Never-Ending Comedy / Indonesia (Director and Screenwriter: Khozy Rizal, Producers: John Badalu, Sue Turley) — A married couple who own an Odong-Odong spend their days entertaining other people’s children. Between relatives, self-doubt, and an explosive confrontation, they uncover why they have not been blessed with a child. Cast: Arham Rizky Saputra, Rezky Chik, Hj. Sugiati, Alghifari Jasin, Alif Anggara, Sri Eka Putri. Available online for Public.

Bold Eagle / Philippines (Director and Screenwriter: Whammy Alcazaren, Producer: Alemberg Ang) — Trapped at home with hallucinogenic drugs and his talking cat, an “alter” anonymously performs lascivious acts on the Internet, seeking refuge in the strong arms of strange men, hoping to masturbate his way to true happiness. Cast: Brian, Monty, Gio Gahol, Ricky Davao.

Bye Bye, Bowser / Austria (Director: Jasmin Baumgartner, Screenwriter: Lorenz Uhl, Producer: Dominic Spitaler) — Luna rebels against the indifference of her artsy friends by writing a punk song about Laugo, the construction worker from across the street. Will the clashing worlds of affluent neglect and working life lead to the collapse of their romance? Cast: Luna Jordan, Laurence Hadschieff. North American Premiere. Available online for Public.

Dreams like paper boats / Haiti (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Samuel Frantz Suffren) — Edouard and his daughter live with a cassette received from his wife in the United States, a long time ago. After years of absence, what can we expect from a distant love? Cast: Kenny Laguerre, Zaraina Ruth-Amma Suffren, Clorette Jacinthe. World Premiere. Available online for Public.

Essex Girls / U.K. (Director: Yero Timi-Biu, Screenwriter: Busayo Ige, Producers: Angela Moneke, Simon Hatton) — After an incident at her high school pulls her into the orbit of the only other Black girl in her year, “Essex Girl” Bisola is plunged into a journey to discover a whole new side of herself. Cast: Busayo Ige, Corinna Brown, Maisie Smith, Adrianna Bertola, Krysstina Frempong, Rebecca Dike. Available online for Public.

Lea Tupu’anga / Mother Tongue / New Zealand (Director: Vea Mafile’o, Screenwriter: Luciane Buchanan, Producers: Alex Lovell, Eldon Booth) — A young speech therapist disconnected from her Tongan heritage lies about her Tongan language skills to get a job. Out of her depth, she must find a way to communicate or risk her patient’s life. Cast: Luciane Buchanan, Albert Rounds, Mikey Falesiu, Michael Koloi, Elizabeth Thomson. World Premiere.

The Masterpiece / Spain (Director and Producer: Alex Lora Cercos, Screenwriter and Producer: Lluis Quilez, Screenwriter: Alfonso Amador, Producers: Sandra Travé, Josemari Martínez, Néstor López) — Leo and Diana, a wealthy couple, meet Salif and Yousef, two scrap dealers, at a recycle center. Offering them more junk, Diana invites them to their mansion, but the immigrants actually might be the ones with something she wants. Cast: Daniel Grao, Babou Cham, Melina Matthews, Adam Nourou, Guido Grao. World Premiere. Available online for Public.

Phoebe / Greece, Cyprus (Director and Screenwriter: Vaggelio Soumeli, Producers: Janine Teerling, Marios Piperides, Romana Lobach, Paul Typaldos) — Having been recently discharged from rehab, 26-year-old Phoebe takes her young son on a road trip that will determine their future. Cast: Athina Pavlou Benazi, Nikolas Drosopoulos, Orestis Raissis. World Premiere. Available online for Public.

Pisko the Crab Child is in Love / Japan (Director and Screenwriter: Makoto Nagahisa, Producer: Yasuo Suzuki) — Pisko’s father is a crab while her mother is human. Pisko falls in love with her teacher but is heartbroken when he leaves her because she is half-crab. Pisko finally finds love and companionship with her friend Kubokayo. Cast: Aiko Kano, Saya, Maki Fukuda, Kanta Sato. U.S. Premiere. Available online for Public.

Shalal / Iran (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Amir Ali Sisipour, Producer: Rostam Sisipour) — Mehran and his mother, Ziba, don’t have shadows, so they use a black fur to catch the shadows of people and drink them. One day, Mehran decides to catch someone’s shadow alone. Cast: Masomeh Emamai, Amir Reza Sisipour, Javad Ansari, Fataneh Imani. Available online for Public.

The Stag / Taiwan (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: An Chu, Producer: Tzu-Yuan Wang) — At a deer farm in Changhua County, a middle-aged man is asked to cut off a stag’s antlers in front of his two kids. Cast: Yung-He Chen, Wei-Jen Chen, Si-Kai Chen. International Premiere. Available online for Public.

Terra Mater / Rwanda (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Kantarama Gahigiri) — Technology and waste in our lands, systems, and bones. Here she stands, confidently, like a goddess surrounded by endless mountains of plastic, stench, and rare earths. She cannot help but wonder, where is the space for healing? Cast: Cheryl Isheja. Available online for Public.

Viaje de Negocios / Mexico (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Gerardo Coello Escalante, Producers: Amandine Thomas, Nahim Abuxapqui, Rodrigo Solano) — Daniel arrives at school wearing brand-new sneakers from America, gifted to him by his father. When he sees another boy wearing the same sneakers, he begins to suspect that their shoes are the key to a terrible secret. Cast: Rodrigo Mota, Pablo Torres, Gerardo Saldaña, Lila Urbina. World Premiere. Available online for Public.

Voice Ever / France (Directors and Screenwriters: Céline Perreard, Pauline Archange, Producer: Anne Luthaud) — Over the course of an evening, Romane, Sarah, Emmanuel, and Boris connect on Voice Ever, a new dating app where you choose your date based on their voice. Their weaknesses and vulnerabilities will surface in their desire to meet. Cast: Alexandra Desloires, Kelly Bellacci, Vincent Pasdermadjian, Xavier Lacaille, Maya Raad, Edith Baldy. North American Premiere. Available online for Public.

ANIMATION SHORT FILMS

27 / France, Hungary (Director and Screenwriter: Flóra Anna Buda, Producers: Emmanuel-Alain Raynal, Pierre Baussaron, Gábor Osváth, Péter Benjámin Lukács) — Alice is 27 years old today. Even though she is suffocating a bit, she still lives with her parents and tends to live in her dreams to escape her dreary everyday life. Available online for Public.

Baigal Nuur – Lake Baikal / Canada, Germany (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Alisi Telengut) — The formation of Lake Baikal in Siberia is reimagined, featuring the voice of a Buryat woman who can still recall some words in her endangered Buryat language (a Mongolian dialect). U.S. Premiere.

The Bleacher / U.S.A. (Directors and Screenwriters: Nicole Daddona, Adam Wilder, Producer: Zeus Kontoyannis) — The disappearance of her sock at a local laundromat sends a fragile Rita over the edge. Hellbent on finding it, she searches deep and gets sucked into a washing machine, entering an otherworldly cycle from which she may never escape. Cast: Kate Micucci, Ben Sinclair, Sky Elobar. World Premiere. Available online for Public.

Bug Diner / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Phoebe Jane Hart) — A dissatisfied marriage, a secret crush, and workplace fantasies come to a head in a diner run by a mole with a hot ass. Cast: Jacob Levy, Phoebe Hart. World Premiere. Available online for Public.

Dona Beatriz Ñsîmba Vita / Brazil (Director and Screenwriter: Catapreta, Producer: Miriam Rolim) — Kimpa Vita fulfills the prophetic mission of leading her people in a racist and unequal society. Set in contemporary Brazil and inspired by the true story of Kimpa Vita, a 17th-century Congolese religious leader. North American Premiere. Available online for Public.

Drago / U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Daniel Zvereff) — A young boy’s dream of becoming a doctor is challenged when war forces him and his mother to flee their village and start a new life in New York City. World Premiere. Available online for Public.

Larry / U.S.A. (Directors: Takeshi Murata, Christopher Rutledge, Screenwriter: Takeshi Murata) — A dog loses its grasp of shape and time while balling like Shaq. Available online for Public.

Martyr’s Guidebook / Poland (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Maks Rzontkowski) — Tony is the ultimate good guy, sometimes to a fault. From nabbing the smallest slice of cake in grade school to guiding lost strangers in the city, his kindness knows no bounds. He also lives with an angel. Cast: Maks Rzontkowski, Julia Woronowicz, Jaś Dąbrówka. International Premiere. Available online for Public.

Matta and Matto / Switzerland (Directors and Screenwriters: Bianca Caderas, Kerstin Zemp, Producer: Joder von Rotz) — In a time when all interpersonal closeness is forbidden, the hourly hotel Vaip offers wondrous rooms where guests snuggle up to devices built with great skill and let themselves fall into the perfect illusion of human touch. Cast: Bianca Caderas, Kerstin Zemp, Etienne Mory, Amélie Cochet, Danay Gijzen, Martine Ulmer. North American Premiere. Available online for Public.

Miisufy / Estonia (Director: Liisi Grünberg, Screenwriter and Producer: Aurelia Aasa) — Digital pet cat Miisu gets tired of her owner and starts to revolt. Inspired by Tamagotchi — observing the world through the eyes of digital pets. Cast: Maria Ehrenberg. Available online for Public.

NONFICTION SHORT FILMS

14 Paintings / China (Director and Producer: Dongnan Chen, Producers: Jiaqing Lin, Chongjun Li, Jisong Li, Heying Chen) — A field study of 14 paintings from China’s Dafen village, as the government rebrands the copy-painting district as a hub for original art. North American Premiere. Available online for Public.

ALOK / U.S.A. (Director: Alex Hedison) — A compelling portrait of Alok Vaid-Menon, acclaimed nonbinary author, poet, comedian, and public speaker. Executive-produced by Jodie Foster. World Premiere. Available online for Public.

Bob’s Funeral / U.S.A (Director, Screenwriter, Animator, and Producer: Jack Dunphy) — Searching for the root of generational trauma, the director sneaks a camera into his estranged grandfather’s funeral. World Premiere. Available online for Public.

Ekbeh / U.S.A. (Director: Mariah Eli Hernandez-Fitch) — While learning to make gumbo, the creator shares personal stories about their grandparents as a way to honor and preserve their Indigenous history and life. Available online for Public.

Merman / U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Sterling Hampton IV, Producer: Monica Lawless) — A 58-year-old Black Queer man speaks the truth about his life as an emergency nurse, a leather enthusiast, husband, and civil rights advocate. Available online for Public.

Object 817 / Belgium (Director and Screenwriter: Olga Lucovnicova, Producers: Frederik Nicolai, Annabel Verbeke) — A poetic journey to the heart of the Ural, where the discovery of an alien creature uncovers a haunting secret. World Premiere. Available online for Public.

Salone Love / U.S.A., U.K., Sierra Leone (Director: Tajana Tokyo, Producers: Tabs Breese, India Wadsworth) — A scrapbook of opinions and advice about love in Sierra Leone. Available online for Public.

The Smallest Power / Iran (Director and Producer: Andy Sarjahani, Producer: Daniel Lombroso) — During the Woman, Life, Freedom uprising in Iran, in the aftermath of the murder of Jina Mahsa Amini, a medical resident finds her voice when the chaos in the streets comes to her hospital floor. Available online for Public.

To Be Invisible / U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Myah Overstreet) — Every week for the past three years, Alexis and Kellie have stood outside Durham County’s child welfare agency, demanding the return of their children. Together, they embark on a journey to bring their children home. World Premiere. Available online for Public.

Winding Path / U.S.A. (Directors: Alexandra Lazarowich, Ross Kauffman, Producer: Robin Honan) — Eastern Shoshone MD-PhD student Jenna Murray spent summers on the Wind River Indian Reservation helping her grandpa anyway she could. When he suddenly dies, she must find a way to heal before realizing her dream of a life in medicine. World Premiere. Available online for Public.

40TH EDITION CELEBRATION SCREENINGS & EVENTS

Rediscover classic works of independent cinema as the Sundance Film Festival celebrates its 40th edition and the breadth, diversity, artistic resonance, and cultural impact of four decades of independent storytelling. The 40th Edition Celebration Screenings & Events section brings archival screenings back into focus as part of the Sundance Film Festival for audiences to explore and rediscover the films that have shaped the heritage of both

Sundance Institute and independent storytelling. The program is rounded out with special events and conversations with artists across the decades.

Napoleon Dynamite / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Jared Hess, Producers: Sean Covel, Chris Wyatt, Screenwriter: Jerusha Hess) — From rural Preston, Idaho, comes Napoleon Dynamite, a new kind of hero with moon boots and some sweet moves. When his friend Pedro decides to run for class president, Napoleon finds goals outside of being a star milk-tasting judge to help him triumph over adversity. Cast: Jon Heder, Aaron Ruell, Jon Gries, Efren Ramirez, Haylie Duff, Tina Majorino, Diedrich Bader.

Since its premiere at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival in the U.S. Dramatic Competition almost 20 years ago, Napoleon Dynamite’s quirky humor and offbeat characters have sustained a lasting impact on pop culture, proliferating endless references in popular media and a steadfast following. The film’s brand-new restoration will debut at the upcoming Festival. The original 35mm cut negative was digitally scanned at a 4K resolution by Disney and Searchlight Pictures. All color and restoration work was also performed at 4K resolution, which was approved by the director, Jared Hess.

“Returning to Sundance with Napoleon Dynamite feels like a homecoming. When it premiered at the festival 20 years ago, we never anticipated the incredible reaction it would receive,” said Napoleon Dynamite writer-director Jared Hess. “It’s always been a very personal film for Jerusha and me, so the love affair it’s had with audiences all these years continues to delight us. To commemorate its 20th anniversary, we are thrilled to screen this newly restored version of Napoleon Dynamite. The restoration team did an amazing job bringing to life new details from the original film’s negative that we’d never seen before. We can’t wait to share it!”

● Park City Screening on at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan, 24, followed by a conversation with screenwriter Jerusha Hess, actor Jon Heder, and more.

The Babadook / Australia (Director and Screenwriter: Jennifer Kent, Producers: Kristina Ceyton, Kristian Moliere) — A single mother, plagued by the violent death of her husband, battles with her son’s fear of a monster lurking in the house, but soon discovers a sinister presence all around her. Cast: Essie Davis, Daniel Henshall, Hayley McElhinney, Barbara West, Ben Winspear, Noah Wiseman.

The Babadook premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival in the Midnight section, where it was acquired by IFC Midnight. The film’s skillful exploration of motherhood and grief, coupled with its innovative approach to the psychological horror genre, earned The Babadook widespread critical acclaim and cemented a loyal following.

“I definitely have some distance on Babadook now, after ten years. The film feels like an old friend, one that changed my life in many ways,” said The Babadook director Jennifer Kent. “Sundance was such a huge part of that change. I look forward to ‘coming home’ to the place where it all began, and to the festival that has given me and ‘Mister B’ so much.”

● Park City Screening at 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 25, followed by a conversation with director Jennifer Kent and more.

Mississippi Masala / U.S.A. (Director and Producer: Mira Nair, Producer: Michael Nozik, Screenwriter: Sooni Taraporevala) — During 1972 in Greenwood, Mississippi, Mina, whose Indian family was forced to flee Uganda, meets Demetrius, a carpet cleaner in Indian-owned Patel Motels. Their passionate romance exposes the rifts and commonalities between the Indian and Black communities. Cast: Sarita Choudhury, Charles S. Dutton, Joe Seneca, Roshan Seth, Sharmila Tagore, Denzel Washington.

With an interracial relationship at its center, and Indian American filmmaker Mira Nair at its helm, Mississippi Masala explored the intersecting issues of racism, colorism, and displacement with extraordinary nuance at a time when these types of stories were scarce. The film screened in the 1992 Sundance Film Festival at the Opening Night in Park City. Mississippi Masala’s 4K digital restoration, which will screen at the upcoming Festival, was undertaken by Janus Film and the Criterion Collection and supervised by director Mira Nair and cinematographer Ed Lachman.

“Welcome to black and brown skins in the same frame, to my 30-year-old but still radical film, Mississippi Masala! We gathered movie stars from all across the world to tell this tale of Idi Amin’s expulsion of Asians from Uganda in 1972 and their prickly embrace into the Mississippi Delta. This was a movie that went missing, until I tracked the only print available to a music store in Nashville, Tennessee. The owner turned out to be a major fan and sold me back the rights of the film for one dollar,” said director Mira Nair. What you’re about to see is a beautiful 4K restoration undertaken by Criterion and supervised by legendary cinematographer Ed Lachman and myself. “

● Park City Screening at 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 24, followed by a conversation with director Mira Nair and more.

Go Fish / U.S.A. (Director, Producer, and Screenwriter: Rose Troche, Screenwriter: Guinevere Turner) — Max is a young woman looking for romance. After a failed date, she discovers that some of life’s best surprises come when you don’t judge a book by its cover. Cast: V.S. Brodie, T. Wendy McMillan, Migdalia Melendez, Anastasia Sharp, Guinevere Turner.

Despite almost three decades of queer storytelling that have come since its premiere at the 1994 Sundance Film Festival in the U.S. Dramatic Competition, Go Fish remains just as resonant today. A pioneering work in lesbian cinema, the film helped pave the way for more authentic portrayals of LGBTQ+ characters and stories. Go Fish was digitally restored by the Academy Film Archive and UCLA Film & Television Archive in conjunction with Sundance Institute in 4K from the original 16mm A/B camera negatives and 35mm magnetic soundtrack. The restoration was funded by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Amazon MGM Studios, Frameline, Sundance Institute, and UCLA Film & Television Archive. To address the specific preservation risks posed to independent film, Sundance Institute partnered with the UCLA Film & Television Archive in 1997 to form the Sundance Institute Collection at UCLA and preserve independent films supported by the Institute.

“I am so honored that these organizations have come together to restore Go Fish on the eve of its 30th anniversary,” said Go Fish director, writer, and producer Rose Troche. “The Sundance Film Festival helped launch Go Fish into the zeitgeist of Queer culture and I will be forever grateful. This restoration will allow Go Fish to live on for a new generation.”

● Park City Screening at noon on Wednesday, Jan. 24, followed by a conversation with director Rose Troche, producer John Pierson, and more.

The Times of Harvey Milk / U.S.A. (Director and Producer: Rob Epstein, Producer: Richard Schmiechen) — Documenting Harvey Milk’s rise from neighborhood activist to a symbol of gay political achievement, followed by his assassination at San Francisco’s City Hall and the subsequent Dan White trial and aftermath.

By memorializing the remarkable life and political career of LGBTQ+ advocate Harvey Milk, The Times of Harvey Milk played a pivotal role in influencing public opinion and discourse on gay rights. The documentary received widespread acclaim, indicated by its 1985 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. It also received the Special Jury Prize (Documentary) at Sundance’s very first festival in 1985, where it screened in the U.S. Documentary Competition. The film’s digital restoration, which will screen at the upcoming Festival, was completed by Janus Films and the UCLA Film & Television Archive.

“Back in 1985, when The Times of Harvey Milk screened at the first Sundance Film Festival, Frederick Wiseman, D.A. Pennebacker, and Barbara Kopple were on the jury,” said The Times of Harvey Milk director and producer Robert Epstein. “Being in the Festival was a reward in itself, but receiving a special jury award from these legends was a young filmmaker’s dream come true. Sundance has been an important part of my life and career ever since. How great to be returning with The Times of Harvey Milk as part of the 40th edition celebration.”

● Park City Screening at 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 25, followed by a conversation with director Robert Epstein and more.

DIG! XX / U.S.A. (Director and Producer: Ondi Timoner, Producer: David Timoner) — Looking at the collision of art and commerce through the eyes of two dueling rock bands — The Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massacre — over the past 27 years. DIG! XX is the 20th anniversary extended edition of the rock documentary DIG!, which adds new narration by The Brian Jonestown Massacre’s Joel Gion and features 35+ minutes of never-before-seen footage.

DIG! premiered at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival in the U.S. Documentary Competition, where it ultimately won the Grand Jury Prize in the documentary category. DIG! XX, which will premiere at the upcoming Festival, is not only a digitally enhanced, remixed, and remastered version of DIG!, but also a special 20th anniversary new edit of the film culled from 2,500 hours of footage, shot over seven years, and brought to you by the original sibling team, Ondi & David Timoner.

“Twenty years ago, we had 2,500 hours of footage and a five-hour cut, so a lot of really great stuff hit the cutting room floor,” said DIG! XX director and producer Ondi Timoner. “A lot of those tapes are over a quarter-century old, so if we wanted to share more of this crazy story, it was now or never. We added an additional 35 minutes of carefully selected gems and a view inside The Brian Jonestown Massacre through a new narration by Joel Gion, the band’s tambourine player, which counterbalances the original narration by The Dandy Warhols’ frontman, Courtney Taylor. Now fans can watch the story through the eyes of both bands and follow them through to today, while reflecting back on DIG!’s impact on them and our culture.”

● Park City Screening at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 23, followed by a conversation with director Ondi Timoner, producer David Timoner, and The Brian Jonestown Massacre’s Joel Gion.

Pariah / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Dee Rees, Producer: Nekisa Cooper) — When forced to choose between losing her best friend or destroying her family, a Brooklyn teenager juggles conflicting identities and endures heartbreak in a desperate search for sexual expression. Cast: Adepero Oduye, Pernell Walker, Kim Wayans, Charles Parnell, Aasha Davis.

Pariah first premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival as a short film. It later returned to the 2011 Festival as a feature film premiering in the U.S. Documentary Competition, where it received an Excellence in Cinematography Award. Director Dee Rees workshopped Pariah in the Sundance Institute’s Directors and Screenwriters Labs and received three separate Institute grants to support production of the film. After opening to critical acclaim, Pariah, a young Black lesbian’s coming-of-age story, quickly became part of the LGBTQ+ film canon.

“I’m moved and excited to be coming back to where it all began and celebrating this special anniversary with the Institute,” said Pariah director Dee Rees. “From the lab advisors, to the fellows, to the audiences, Sundance was that magically supportive and generous community that enabled Pariah to be born in the world and it’s always a joyous, heady feeling to return.”

● Park City Screening at 6:45 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 26, followed by a conversation with director Dee Rees.

Three Seasons / Vietnam (Director, Producer, and Screenwriter: Tony Bui, Producers: Jason Kliot, Joana Vicente) — Although the hearts, goals, and desires are different for everyone in a culturally-shifting Ho Chi Minh City, four individuals paint a vivid picture of the past, present, and future of a city eking into a new era. Cast: Don Duong, Zoe Bui, Tran Manh Cuong, Nguyen Huu Duoc, Ngoc Hiep, Harvey Keitel.

Director Tony Bui workshopped Three Seasons at the 1996 Sundance Institute’s Screenwriters and Directors Labs. Just three years later, Three Seasons went on to premiere at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival in the U.S. Dramatic Competition, where the film received widespread acclaim, earning the Excellence in Cinematography Award, and became the first feature film to win both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award. The version screening in the upcoming Festival is a new digital restoration in 4K from the original 35mm camera negative and original master 4-track stereo.

“After 25 years, Three Seasons comes full circle back to Sundance where it originally premiered,” said Three Seasons director, producer, and screenwriter Tony Bui. “The long and emotional journey to restore the film isn’t just about preserving the film, but about bringing it back to life to share this timeless story of love, loss, and healing after the Vietnam War for generations to come.”

● Park City Screening at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 25, followed by a conversation with director Tony Bui, producers Jason Kliot and Joana Vicente, and more.

“Power of Story: Four Decades of Taking Chances,” 3 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 23, at the Egyptian Theatre, 328 Main St.

With this conversation, we look back at the legacy of independent storytelling and the Sundance Film Festival over the course of four decades. A group of artists reflect on their work and careers, the empowering nature of risk-taking, and the importance of negotiating creative freedom. We want to talk about the past as we contemplate the future of storytelling and explore how revolutionary narrative experiences can reshape culture through artistic discovery, emerging media, and the reassertion of independence. Featuring: Miguel Arteta (Chuck & Buck), Richard Linklater (Boyhood), Dawn Porter (Gideon’s Army), Christine Vachon (Past Lives)

“The 40th Edition Short Film Show with Mark & Jay Duplass,” 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 23, at the Egyptian Theatre, 328 Main St.

An eclectic mixtape of short films that have screened at Sundance over its four-decade history, curated by Sundance programmers and hosted by short film alums Mark and Jay Duplass. We welcome filmmakers back to celebrate their shorts as part of this surprise screening.

Since the early days of the festival and the Rogues Gallery program of short films, throughout its almost 40 years of history, the Festival has always supported short films, providing a platform for both established and new filmmakers to connect with audiences in live action, animation and non-fiction shorts. 

For information, visit festival.sundace.org.

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The nonprofit Sundance Institute unveiled details for the 2024 Sundance Film Festival’s fundraiser, Opening Night Gala: Celebrating 40 Years Presented by Chase Sapphire, which will take place on Jan. 18, 2024 at the DeJoria Center in Utah.

Kicking off the 40th edition of the Sundance Film Festival, the evening will honor trailblazing and breakout storytellers, as well as celebrate 40 years of commitment to elevating independent storytelling. 

During the event, Christopher Nolan will be honored with the first-ever Sundance Institute Trailblazer Award. Celine Song and Maite Alberdi — both of whom premiered films “Past Lives” and “The Eternal Memory,” respectively, at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival — will each receive the annual Vanguard Award Presented by Acura.

The annual opening night gala enables the nonprofit to raise critical funds to support independent artists year-round through labs, grants and public programming that nurture artists globally. 

The 2024 event is made possible with the generous support of Chase Sapphire. The upcoming Sundance Film Festival will take place Jan. 18–28, in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, as well as online from Jan. 25–28.

“As we step into the 40th edition of the Sundance Film Festival, it is a distinct honor to recognize Christopher Nolan, a prodigious artist whose singular talent and remarkable body of work have made him one of the most respected filmmakers of our time, (and) we are looking forward to spotlighting the unique voices of both Celine and Maite, storytellers we have been supporting and deeply believe in,” said Joana Vicente, Sundance Institute chief executive officer. “All three of these storytellers represent Sundance’s values. From the Festival to our year-round programs, it is artists that have and always will be at the very core of what we do. We look forward to our guests joining us at the Opening Night Gala and, in turn, enabling us to continue championing independent storytellers and their art that adds great value to our culture.”

For the past 40 years, the Sundance Film Festival has been a foothold for independent filmmaking, acting as a platform not just for discovering unique voices, but also launching and transforming careers.

Recognizing an artist’s unwavering dedication and notable contributions to the field of independent film, the inaugural Sundance Institute Trailblazer Award will be presented to an individual who exemplifies this legacy.

Nolan was celebrated by Sundance two decades ago when his breakthrough film, “Memento,” screened to great acclaim at the Festival. 

The film’s 2001 Sundance debut garnered that year’s Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award and was ultimately nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. 

“Memento” catapulted Nolan’s career, propelling him from independent films to major blockbusters, including “The Dark Knight” trilogy and this year’s triumph, “Oppenheimer.”

One of the most acclaimed directors of our time, Nolan boldly pushes the parameters of cinematic storytelling.

“Presenting ‘Memento’ at the Sundance Film Festival marked a pivotal moment in my career, this award is a full circle moment and testament to the extraordinary influence of independent filmmaking,” Nolan said.

The annual Vanguard Awards, presented by Acura, honor artists whose work highlights the art of storytelling and creative independence in both nonfiction and fiction. 

The Vanguard Award for Fiction will be presented to Song, director and writer of “Past Lives,” and the Vanguard Award for Nonfiction will go to Alberdi, director of “The Eternal Memory.” Previous honorees include: W. Kamau Bell, Nikyatu Jusu, Ryan Coogler, Siân Heder, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Radha Blank, Lulu Wang, Dee Rees, Damien Chazelle, Marielle Heller, Benh Zeitlin, Boots Riley and many more.

Song is a playwright best known for “Endlings” and is one of the most exciting new voices in film.

“Past Lives,” her debut feature, which she wrote and directed, premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and was released by A24, opening to unanimous praise.

Song previously participated as a member of the 2018 cohort for the Sundance Institute Playwrights Retreat at Ucross.

“I am incredibly honored to receive this award — it really means the world to me,” Song said. “Sundance is where I showed my very first film for the very first time, and I will never forget the experience — pacing around the green room at the Eccles (Theatre), waiting to introduce the film to the world, meeting the audience afterward, being there together with everyone who made the movie with me. Sundance is the place that launched my career as a filmmaker: it’s a home for ‘Past Lives’ — and a home for me — in the deepest way. Thank you so much.”

Alberdi was the first Chilean woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for “The Mole Agent” (2021), which premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival.

Her unique style, deft approach and intimate portrayal of small worlds has made her one of the most celebrated and important voices in documentary film today. 

Alberdi has a long history with Sundance: she received a Sundance Documentary Film Grant in 2013 and 2016, and served on the jury for the 2019 Festival in the World Documentary Competition category. 

Most recently, her film “The Eternal Memory” premiered at the 2023 Festival and received the World Cinema Documentary Jury Prize.

“It’s an absolute honor to receive the Vanguard Award,” Alberdi said. “Sundance was the gateway to North American audiences for me and has been hugely supportive of my last two films. I am enormously grateful that the narrative avant-garde is also understood as applying to documentaries and that filmmaking boundaries are continuing to expand. ‘The Eternal Memory’ is a film that has taught me so much about the infinite ways of telling, looking at and working with real-life stories and I am proud and humbled to be among such an extraordinary group of filmmakers who have been given this recognition including Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson, Siân Heder, Radha Blank, Lulu Wang and Nikyatu Jusu — amongst others whose work I greatly admire.”

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The nonprofit Sundance Institute announced four newly appointed additions to the Institute’s Board of Trustees. 

Tessa Thompson, Pete Nicks, Nina Fialkow and Kimberly Steward have joined the leaders who guide and steer the entire organization and also act in an advisory capacity. They add to the Institute’s Board of values-based leaders, building an enduring, evolving community for storytellers, Sundance representatives said.  

They will work closely with Board Chair Ebs Burnough and Chief Executive Officer Joana Vicente. 

“As Sundance Institute continues to respond to the needs of independent artists, we welcome these new members of our board, each of whom has an incredible commitment to independent film and a long history with the Institute,” said Burnough. “Together, the board is poised to identify new and strengthened ways to uplift independent storytellers.”

“We are so pleased to have Tessa, Pete, Nina and Kimberly join as trustees on the Board of Sundance Institute,” said Vicente. “They bring expertise and valuable perspectives that will be meaningful as we continue to evolve as a cultural organization.” 

Thompson is an award-winning actor and producer. Nicks is an award-winning documentary filmmaker. Fialkow is an award-winning producer and Steward is an Academy Award-nominated producer, entrepreneur and philanthropist.

“Both the Sundance Film Festival and the Institute have served as an artistic home for me throughout my career,” Thompson said. “I’m proud to expand this journey by joining the board to eagerly serve a community that has been so incredibly impactful to me and countless others.”

Nicks added, “I drove out to my first Sundance in 1999 in what was likely a highly unreliable vehicle. But I made it and got to see my film school professor Jon Else hoist what was then known as the Filmmaker’s Trophy for his documentary ‘Sing Faster: The Stagehands’ Ring Cycle.’ I was hooked and lucky enough to be invited over the years with my own films. I’m now beyond thrilled to join the Board of Trustees and play a role in the evolution of this magical organization.”

“Sundance Institute is one of the most influential organizations that supports emerging creative talent,” Steward said. “They have supported my career and company since its inception in 2013. I am honored to be a part of a community that provides resources and programs to incubate and curate diverse talent on-screen and off-screen.”

“As a longtime attendee of the Sundance Film Festival and supporter of the institute, I am thrilled to join the Board of Trustees and look forward to being fully engaged,” said Fialkow.

The four join current members on the Institute’s board — President and Founder Robert Redford, Burnough, Vice Chairs Sean Bailey and Gigi Pritzker, Jason Blum, Kimberlé Crenshaw, Philipp Engelhorn, Caterina Fake, Jeanne Donovan Fisher, Robert J. Frankenberg, Patrick Gaspard, Donna Gruneich, Cindy Harrell Horn,Uzodinma Iweala, Amanda Kelso, Charles D. King, Lyn Davis Lear, Ann Lewnes, Wonya Lucas, Alejandro Ramírez Magaña, Shripriya Mahesh, Pat Mitchell, Bill Plapinger, Amy Redford, Geoffrey K. Sands, Nadine Schiff-Rosen, Barry Tyerman and Lulu Wang. 

With these additions, the Sundance Institute board comprises 32 people, 14 of whom self-identify as BIPOC.  The board is 44% men and 56% women.

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