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A Sundance Film Festival Programmer on Why Short Films Matter
I really believe what we’re doing for short films here at Sundance Institute is unparalleled anywhere else. We love the short form, respect it terribly, and have tried to grow our program into something that is solid, educational, and above all else, pretty unique. While some may have a preconceived notion that shorts are the redheaded stepchildren to a film festival, we at the Institute couldn’t disagree more.
Public Programs Put Boots and Films On the Ground
While the programs of the Sundance Institute all had their start in and around Park City, Utah, they also have a life in locations throughout America and the world at large. From screenings and script readings to musical performances and discussions, Sundance Institute Public Programming Events showcase work supported by Sundance Institute and allow audiences to step into the world of Sundance Institute Artist Programs from their very own communities.
The Public Programming Event you’re probably most familiar with is our SundanceUSA program.
#ArtistServices: What I See After 30 Years
We just celebrated the 30th Anniversary of the Feature Film Program Labs which started with the June Filmmakers Lab in 1981. Over these years, we’ve had the privilege of providing an immersive creative experience to hundreds of artists whose films have transformed the independent landscape and had a significant impact on audiences around the world. More recently, the Feature Film Program evolved to establish a year-round support system for independent filmmakers beginning at the script stage and continuing through distribution with Labs, granting, and ongoing creative and strategic support.
Welcome to #ArtistServices
Joseph Gordon-Levitt has appeared in a number of films premiering at the Sundance Film Festival including Manic (2001), Brick (2005), Mysterious Skin (2004), 500 Days of Summer (2009), and Hesher (2010) and his short film Sparks played in 2009. His project hitRECord.org was featured at the 2010 Film Festival’s New Frontier performances and installations.
Russ B. Collins on Forging a Future for Arthouse Cinemas Around the World
Russ B. Collins has served as executive director of the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor since 1982. The restored 1920s-era movie palace is a participating venue of Sundance Institute’s Art House Project and Sundance Film Festival USA.
Adventures in Specialized Distribution: ‘We Were Here’
Red Flag Releasing is an independent distribution company owned by Paul Federbush and Laura Kim. The former Warner Independent Pictures executives shepherded films such as March of the Penguins, Good Night, and Good Luck and Paradise Now. Federbush also worked as a production executive on Slumdog Millionaire.
Theatrical 2000!
Mike Plante started Cinemad as a film zine in 1998, which continues as a blog and podcast at iblamesociety. He has worked at Sundance Institute since 2001 in a variety of roles and had some strange times working at CineVegas. He also helps run Cinemad Presents, a distributor bringing unusual films to unusual venues.
On The Road with Range Life Entertainment
Todd Sklar loves coffee. In early 2008, he founded Range Life Entertainment, a privately-held film exhibition and marketing company, which tours independent films across the country on a bi-annual basis. Focusing on event-based screenings and niche marketing, Range Life currently programs over 120 events per year, while also producing original content, and continuing to parade dive bars and karaoke rooms across the U.
Super 8—A Digital Marketing Campaign
Super 8 is a film written and directed by J.J. Abrams and produced by Steven Spielberg.
Adventure in Full Swing
Philip Himberg is Producing Artistic Director of the Sundance Institute Theatre Program. He is currently at the Theatre Lab on Manda, a two-week exchange and development program providing East African artists with guidance in their creative development toward final production.
Theatre Program Producing Artistic Director Philip Himberg.
10 Ways in Which I Would Release Bomb It Today
Jon Reiss is a filmmaker who also helps filmmakers strategize and execute the releases of their films and train their PMDs. His new book is a collaboration with The Film Collaborative and Sheri Candler titled Selling Your Film Without Selling Your Soul to be released in September. His latest “film” Bomb It 2 will be released on iTunes and other digital platforms later this year.
Twitter for Independent Filmmakers: A Guide
Josh Grau (@grauface) leads sales development for Brand Solutions at Twitter. He focuses on developing large-scale event-based programs for marketers and works closely with movie studios to develop Twitter-specific marketing strategies for major releases. Prior he headed business development for YouTube Branded Entertainment, and Director of Marketing for ESPN and CBS.
State of the Union
The third annual Creative Producing Summit kicked off last night at the Sundance Resort with a panel of independent producers and directors mulling the state of the independent film industry. Festival Director John Cooper prefaced the discussion with a few sales numbers from the boom that was the 2011 Festival (a record 78 film sales), and moderator Dan Steinman of CAA sarcastically noted that this panel would—with ease—capture the “unified” mood of independent film in the allotted hour.With film sales spiking at many of the premier Festivals internationally, Steinman opened the discussion with the most pertinent question—is independent film back in business? Eric d’Arbeloff (Roadside Attractions) led the hesitantly optimistic responses, suggesting that the industry saw encouraging signs this year: “Maybe we’re back in business, but I’m not sure I see the sea changing.
Manda Welcomes Us
Deborah Asiimwe is a Ugandan playwright and Specialist for Sundance Institute East Africa. Below she shares her experience at the ongoing Sundance Institute Theatre Lab on Manda off the coast of Kenya.
Here, the stars shine brightest and they seem so many—how does this sky hold all of them? We arrive as the sun is about to “return to his mother.
Q&A: Go Behind the Scenes at the Alamo Drafthouse with CEO Tim League
As part of our Creative Distribution Initiative, we tapped Alamo Drafthouse CEO Tim League to find out more about how the Austin-based movie theater chain does business. Keep reading for League’s thoughts on building his brand, finding new audiences, and branching out into partnering with Magnolia.For you and for the Alamo, how does a film that does not have an all-rights-scale distribution model in place build out the booking process for screening in your theater?In terms of the Alamo, we have a programming office out here in Austin.