Five and a half years ago, as she began writing the script that became Pariah, Dee Rees was coming out to her family. Like the family of 17-year-old Alike in Pariah, Rees’s parents aren’t accepting of her sexuality. During the Festival, audiences may speak of Pariah as a coming-out movie, a film in which Alike (Adepero Oduye) realizes her potential when she makes the decision to reveal what everyone may have already guessed about her.

PARK CITY, UT — Sundance Institute and Mahindra Group today announced a multifaceted agreement that showcases the commitment to and support of independent cinema around the world both by the Mahindra Group, one of the largest companies in India known throughout the world for its commitment to excellence and to social responsibility, and of the nonprofit Sundance Institute, one of the world’s leading cultural organizations
The collaboration allows for the establishment of the Mumbai Mantra|Sundance Institute Screenwriters Lab which shall become an annual event in India, and the Sundance Institute|Mahindra Global Filmmaking Award to be awarded annually at the Sundance Film Festival.
Said Anand Mahindra, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Mahindra Group, “Our entry into Media and Entertainment is positioned to create a rich resource for Independent Filmmakers and to encourage original storytelling from all parts of the world in line with the Mahindra Group’s global foot print. The first step in this direction is the collaboration with the Sundance Institute which three decades ago heralded a unique nurturing spirit for Independent Cinema in America.

New for the 2011 Sundance Film Festival is the Native Showcase, focusing attention on an emerging generation of Native American and Indigenous filmmakers. The program, which includes Billy Luther’s second feature film, a documentary titled GRAB, and a collection of seven shorts, gets its own place in the spotlight this year.
Native and Indigenous films have been well represented in the Festival’s Dramatic Competition sections over the past several years, and this year is no exception with Andrew Okpeaha MacLean’s On the Ice, which will screen in the U.

Park City, UT- Sundance Institute today announced members of five juries awarding prizes at the upcoming Sundance Film Festival which runs January 20-30, 2011. The juries are comprised of 23 individuals spanning the global arts community. Juror photos and extended biographies, in addition to the complete Festival lineup and schedule, are available at www.

NEW YORK, NY January 17, 2011 – Fashion designer Kenneth Cole teams up with the Sundance Institute for the seventh year by designing and donating the uniform that will be worn by the 1,600 Sundance Film Festival volunteers January 20-30. Presented to the volunteers on Day One of the festival, this year’s iconic style is a blue down filled vest which features channel quilting, welt pockets, and a functional glove hook.
For the first time, Kenneth Cole has also collaborated with Sundance Institute on the design of a limited edition retail version of the official Sundance Film Festival volunteer vest.

From its inception, the Sundance Film Festival has championed documentary filmmaking, through both the U.S. and World Cinema Documentary competitions and in Sundance Institute’s Documentary Film Program, all of which are dedicated to supporting and showcasing new directions and emerging filmmakers in non-fiction filmmaking.

You won’t find Lance Weiler wringing his hands over the uncertain future of visual media. Instead he’s evolving alongside the changing industries, experimenting with new forms, new models, and new concepts, making waves as much as he’s riding them. Bringing a shrewd business sense to the development of his projects, he can sound more like a marketing wonk than a filmmaker, and yet he always manages to circle back to the power and promise of storytelling.

Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival is a significant enough achievement, but for six directors with films in the U.S. Dramatic Competition this year, it’s also a coming home.

PARK CITY, UT – Sundance Institute announced today details for the 2011 Sundance Film Festival’s presentation of films by Native filmmakers and the annual Native Forum. A gathering of Indigenous filmmakers from around the world, the Native Forum provides a platform for artists to share their expertise and knowledge through an Indigenous ShortsLab, panels, networking events and special screenings. This year’s Festival will provide a world stage for Native filmmakers whose works include seven short films and four feature films from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States.

Los Angeles, CA – Sundance Institute and Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX) today announced a major three-year partnership designed to nurture new works and new voices in feature film, documentary, Native and Indigenous filmmaking, film music and theater. An extension of Time Warner’s existing support for the nonprofit Sundance Institute, The Time Warner | Sundance Institute Power of Story Partnership includes artist support and fellowships as well as public programming at the Sundance Film Festival.

Park City, UT-Sundance Institute today announced the line up of the 2011 Sundance Film Festival Celebration of Music in Film, an annual concert honoring the art and imagination of film music. This year’s headlining performance features Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Lou Reed who gained notoriety as a founding member and principle songwriter for influential rock band The Velvet Underground, before pursuing a successful solo career. The Sundance Film Festival runs from January 20-30, in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah.

Park City, UT-Sundance Institute today announced the line-up of music-themed films and events at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. This year’s program features a diverse array of musical storytelling, past, present and future through soundtracks and scores, compelling documentaries, an eclectic live-music line-up and more. The Sundance Film Festival runs from January 20-30, in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah.

Sundance Institute is proud to announce our first-ever Alumni Advisory Board. Our community begins with our artists, and we are excited to be bringing the voices of our artist alumni direct to you starting this month. For this year’s Board, we’ve assembled twelve Sundance Institute artist alumni who have generously agreed to share their stories-and experiences-to advise us on Institute programs, and to offer their unique perspectives on what Sundance Institute is all about.

While the Sundance Film Festival is all for self-exploration, pushing boundaries, and taking the untrodden path, sometimes a little guidance can go a long way. From last minute ticket advice to must-see panels and musical performances, this Festival 101 crash course will guarantee you don’t miss a thing.When you’ve made it to Park City, you’re ready to zip up your fleece, watch some films, sample some restaurants, and get the whole show going.

Park City, UT – Sundance Institute announced today a collaboration with YouTube to make available, in the YouTube Screening Room, 12 short films from the 2011 Sundance Film Festival as well as eight classic short films from Institute alumni and earlier Festivals. Each YouTube Screening Room series is scheduled to run for a span of six weeks. The first launch date is January 6, 2011 and will continue to release through February 3, 2011.