Sundance Institute Announces Seven New Members of Board of Trustees

The Institute Continues to Shape Board Leadership for Future The nonprofit Sundance Institute today announced the newly appointed and recent additions to the Institute’s Board of Trustees. Kimberlé Crenshaw, Ann Lewnes, Wonya Lucas join the board alongside Uzodinma Iweala, Amanda Kelso, William Plapinger, and Junaid Sarieddeen who joined over the last year. Together they add to the business, cultural, and philanthropic leaders who guide and … Continue reading Sundance Institute Announces Seven New Members of Board of Trustees

AFI FEST 2020 presented by Audi Full Film Festival Lineup

AFI announce the full lineup for this year’s virtual AFI Fest presented by Audi! The festival features 124 titles – 53% are directed by women, 39% are directed by BIPOC and 17% are directed by LBGTQ+. This year’s reimagined virtual festival runs online Oct. 15-22. The newly announced films will play in the World Cinema, New Auteurs, Documentary, Cinema’s Legacy, Short Film Competition, Meet the … Continue reading AFI FEST 2020 presented by Audi Full Film Festival Lineup

Gina Duncan Joins Sundance Institute as Producing Director, Sundance Film Festival

Sundance Institute announced that Gina Duncan will join the Sundance Film Festival team in the newly-created role of Producing Director, reporting to Festival Director Tabitha Jackson and working closely with Programming Director Kim Yutani. As Producing Director, Duncan will integrate the artistic vision of the Festival with its practical, audience-facing elements. She’ll work with the programming team as they curate works for exhibition, and serve … Continue reading Gina Duncan Joins Sundance Institute as Producing Director, Sundance Film Festival

OLIVIA MUNN TO STAR IN ALEPPO FOR MILU ENTERTAINMENT

  It has been announced that award-winning actress Olivia Munn (X-Men Apocalypse, The Newsroom) is attached to play the lead in the drama feature ALEPPO for MiLu Entertainment. The announcement follows her recent casting as the lead in the much-anticipated action title REPLAY at the 2020 Virtual Cannes Market. Munn will also lead the thrilling social drama THE GATEWAY, currently in post-production. ALEPPO is the … Continue reading OLIVIA MUNN TO STAR IN ALEPPO FOR MILU ENTERTAINMENT

“Don’t Read This On A Plane”: The Discovery Of One’s Hidden Truth

By Monteque Pope-Le Beau “Don’t Read This On A Plane” is a delightfully funny and poignant film about finding what it is you truly want out of life. Who would not enjoy traveling across the European country side meeting wonderfully interesting people while having the privilege of visiting some of the most beautiful and prestigious book bookstores Europe has ever known. Yet sometimes a trip … Continue reading “Don’t Read This On A Plane”: The Discovery Of One’s Hidden Truth

Screenplay Competition Quarterfinalists

2020 Screenplay Competition Winners Announcement Dates Quarterfinalists | September 15, 2020 Semifinalists | September 22, 2020 Top 12 | September 29, 2020 Awards Ceremony* | October 8, 2020 *This year’s awards ceremony will be live streamed and open to all. Please check back for more information.  Quarterfinalists Features A Splendid Place by Andy Gillies & Brendan Marshall-Rashid As You Wish by Suhashini Krishnan Back to … Continue reading Screenplay Competition Quarterfinalists

Ten Nonfiction Films Combine Art, Science, Storytelling: Sundance Institute | Sandbox Fund Grantees

  The nonprofit Sundance Institute and Sandbox Films, a new mission-driven documentary studio, selected and announced their latest cohort of filmmakers and projects supported by the Sundance Institute | Sandbox Fund, an initiative that elevates the voices of independent artists working at the intersection of science and nonfiction storytelling as they produce and promote work and discourse that highlights the overlap of science and art. … Continue reading Ten Nonfiction Films Combine Art, Science, Storytelling: Sundance Institute | Sandbox Fund Grantees

Pandemic Feature Film “Hall” Has Its World Premiere at FRIGHTFEST

  FRIGHTFEST, UK’s leading genre film festival, has just announced the selection of Francesco Giannini’s debut pandemic feature HALL for a World Premiere presentation on August 30th at 6:00PM local time. The anticipated high-tension thriller about a scary virus outbreak will be available to a worldwide highly curated audience during the virtual festival held exceptionally this year in August 2020. “I’ve known about Frightfest UK … Continue reading Pandemic Feature Film “Hall” Has Its World Premiere at FRIGHTFEST

Sundance Institute Announces 2020 Creative Producing Labs Fellows

 Sundance Institute has announced Fellows and Advisors for the five-day 2020 Creative Producing Labs, redesigned digitally to take place for the first time ever on Sundance Co//ab. The Labs begin July 27, and is a flagship convening for the Institute’s Creative Producing Program, which champions and develops current and rising generations of independent producers across fiction and nonfiction film. Under the leadership of Creative Producing … Continue reading Sundance Institute Announces 2020 Creative Producing Labs Fellows

“Days of the Whale” Review: A Relevant Message For Today

By Joanna Panayi Director Catalina Arroyave Restrepo was born in Medellín, Colombia. In 2010 she co-funded Rara, an-art house producing company based in Medellín. Her debut film, Days of the Whale, won two screenplay awards, the most important Colombian production fund (FDC), and had its world premiere at the 2019 SXSW film festival. It will have a U.S. virtual cinema release on July 24, 2020. Days … Continue reading “Days of the Whale” Review: A Relevant Message For Today

Sundance Film Festival Director Tabitha Jackson Reveals Approach for 2021 Festival

By Tabitha Jackson Tabitha Jackson is the director of the Sundance Film Festival Dear Friends, As we plan for our 2021 Festival — my first in the Director’s chair — and with submissions now open, I wanted to give you an early insight into how we are thinking. This is not an announcement, but rather an invitation into the process of building something together this … Continue reading Sundance Film Festival Director Tabitha Jackson Reveals Approach for 2021 Festival

Pot Luck film A Fresh, Versatile Perspective On The Cannabis Industry

By Joanna Panayi From Emmy-nominated and award-winning filmmaker Jane Wells, Pot Luck, is a 3 Generations production narrated by Robin Quivers. This documentary takes us on an enlightening adventure across the Colorado state, exploring the normality of the legalization of cannabis. Pot luck is an insightful analysis of the legalization of cannabis’s direct, cultural, and structural impacts on society. The documentary focuses on the pros … Continue reading Pot Luck film A Fresh, Versatile Perspective On The Cannabis Industry

Sundance Institute Selects 2020 Native Filmmakers Lab Fellows

  Five Indigenous filmmakers have been chosen to participate in the 2020 Sundance Institute Native Filmmakers Lab, reimagined and expressed digitally this year on Sundance Co//ab. The Lab is at the core of the Institute’s commitment to supporting Indigenous storytellers since its founding. At the Native Filmmakers Lab (June 29–July 10), Fellows will workshop scripts of their short films under the expert creative mentorship of … Continue reading Sundance Institute Selects 2020 Native Filmmakers Lab Fellows

Sundance Institute Selects 2020 Art of Editing Fellows

8 filmmakers have been chosen to participate in the Sundance Institute’s inaugural Art of Editing Lab and Fellowship. This is a new Lab developed after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, expressed digitally this year on Sundance Co//ab. The Fellowship evolved out of the Documentary Film Program’s standing commitment to supporting new voices in nonfiction feature editing. The Lab aims to develop artists personal artistic … Continue reading Sundance Institute Selects 2020 Art of Editing Fellows

Angelfish: To Live Your Life To The Fullest, Surround Yourself With The Right People 

By Sanyukta Thakare The coming of age love story will remind you of all the right reasons for falling in love. It also talks about being surrounded by the right people, who listen, love and support you. The story follows Eva a young Puerto Rican woman and Brendan, an Irish-American man, both struggle in their own world full of responsibility but with each other’s support, they … Continue reading Angelfish: To Live Your Life To The Fullest, Surround Yourself With The Right People 

The Producer’s Legal Guide to Covid-19: A Virtual Legal Clinic on Your Rights & Obligations During the Pandemic

Entertainment attorney David Albert Pierce is back to provide more answers to pressing questions on what you legally can and should do to protect yourself, your production, your for-profit or non-profit company, or your employees in light of these unprecedented circumstances.   Please tune in for Slamdance’s 2nd Livestream Legal Clinic with David Albert Pierce of Pierce Law Group, LLP Thursday, May 14th 11AM PDT on … Continue reading The Producer’s Legal Guide to Covid-19: A Virtual Legal Clinic on Your Rights & Obligations During the Pandemic

International Film and Marketing Executives Ali M. Aksu and Aya Kikimova Launch Next Generation Content Production Platform FilmCapital (filmcapital.io)

filmcapital.io’s First Project is Feature COVID-2021, co-produced with BC Entertainment Group, by Director Bob Cook, and Starring Robert Carradine (Lizzie McGuire, Revenge of the Nerds), Diane Delano, Barry Godin, Darby Hilton, Rudy Ramos (Yellowstone, Resurrection Blvd.) and Felissa Rose Created to address a pressing need within the independent film finance space, the co-production platform FilmCapital (filmcapital.io) has officially opened its doors, the announcement was made today by co-founders … Continue reading International Film and Marketing Executives Ali M. Aksu and Aya Kikimova Launch Next Generation Content Production Platform FilmCapital (filmcapital.io)

Sundance Institute Announces Tabitha Jackson as Incoming Festival Director

Concludes Global Search With First New Festival Director in 11 Years     Sundance Institute announced Tabitha Jackson as the new Director of the Sundance Film Festival. Jackson was chosen from a worldwide search and follows outgoing Director, John Cooper, who served in the role for 11 years and will assume a newly-created Emeritus Director role. An award-winning filmmaker, she has served as Director of … Continue reading Sundance Institute Announces Tabitha Jackson as Incoming Festival Director

Nino Aldi’s “TRIBES” World Premiere At The 2020 Santa Barbara Film Festival

TRIBES, or, what humankind might accomplish if it only had eleven minutes in a speeding subway car!   By Vernon Nickerson, TRIBES, directed by the incredibly talented Nino Aldi, is an absolute gem of an emotional roller coaster and a featured short at the 2020 Santa Barbara Film Festival. Full-disclosure, toy guns particularly and toy weapons of any kind in general were forbidden in my … Continue reading Nino Aldi’s “TRIBES” World Premiere At The 2020 Santa Barbara Film Festival

Latest Additions to 2020 Sundance Film Festival Announced

The Social Dilemma Joins Documentary Premieres; Born into Brothels and High Art Are From The Collection Films Special Event Love Fraud Confirmed as Day One Screening   Sundance Institute adds three feature films to the 2020 Sundance Film Festival’s robust slate of independent work today, alongside previously announced work. The Institute also confirmed that previously-announced Special Event, Love Fraud, will screen on Day One of … Continue reading Latest Additions to 2020 Sundance Film Festival Announced