The Latest

I Think I Understand: An Appreciation of Laura Dern’s Performance in “Smooth Talk”
by Matthew Eng In the opening sequence of Joyce Chopra’s 1985 Smooth Talk, three teenage girls wake from a late afternoon nap on the beach

Here’s Your In-Person Roadmap to Get You to the 2023 Sundance Film Festival
By Stephanie Ornelas It’s been two years since we’ve gathered together in Utah and we’re excited to return in person with more films, more accessibility,

Here’s Your In-Person Roadmap to Get You to the 2023 Sundance Film Festival
By Stephanie Ornelas It’s been two years since we’ve gathered together in Utah and we’re excited to return in person with more films, more accessibility,

Sundance Institute and Festival Alums Lead Nominees in 2022 Cinema Eye Honors and IDA Documentary Awards
Today is a big day for documentary lovers. Not only is Sara Dosa’s enchanting Fire of Love premiering on Disney+, but both the International Documentary

Interview: Director Sara Dosa Values the Mystery of Her Award-Winning Documentary “Fire of Love”
Maurice and Katia Krafft made it their life’s work to document erupting volcanoes and contribute to a scientific understanding of volcanoes. By Vanessa Zimmer Sometimes,

From “Fruitvale Station” to “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”: Ryan Coogler Reflects on the Power of Sundance Institute
By Stephanie Ornelas It was a full circle moment for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever director Ryan Coogler when he returned to the 2019 Sundance Film

Lulu Wang, Patrick Gaspard, and Shripriya Mahesh Join Sundance Institute’s Board of Trustees
By Stephanie Ornelas Building an enduring, evolving community for independent storytellers from all walks of life is crucial for an organization like Sundance Institute —

The Kids are Not Alright: A Timeline of Discontented Youth Stories From the Sundance Film Festival
by Layla Halfhill With fall now officially upon us and students begrudgingly back to school, it seems a fitting time to reflect upon the cinematic

In “Mosquita y Mari” the Streets of Huntington Park Play Meaningful Backdrop to Adolescent Exuberance
by Carlos Aguilar Anyone familiar with Southeast Los Angeles, an area of this metropolitan sprawl seldom registered in mainstream media, can attest that Pacific Boulevard

“In the Bedroom” and “Smiley Face” Among Festival Alums Celebrating November Birthdays
Tom Wilkinson and Sissy Spacek received acclaim for their performances in “In the Bedroom,” at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival. By Vanessa Zimmer Fifteen years

Personnel Thoughts: Our Picks for Favorite Ethan Hawke Sundance Festival Moments
Here at the Sundance Institute, we talk a lot about film. Whether it’s helping co-workers figure out what to watch this weekend or feeling positively

Sundance Institute and WIF’s ReFrame launches ReFrame ReSource: An online hub for research, tools, and best practices to advance equity in the screen industries
Developed with partner Teal Media, the ReFrame ReSource is an open source website designed for industry professionals interested in shifting the status quo Los Angeles,

From “The Janes” to “After Tiller”: How Films Are Championing Reproductive Justice
By Stephanie Ornelas Documentary storytellers are often on the forefront of major societal issues, and in light of the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v.

Release Rundown: What to Watch in November
In the arid high country of Bolivia, an elderly Chechua couple, Sisa and Virginio, live simply, tending their llamas and collecting water. By Vanessa Zimmer

Sundance Horror Films Like “Nanny” and “Master” Allow For Provocative Reflection on Social Issues
By DarkSkyLady Communism and Invasion of the Body Snatchers, STDs and It Follows, appropriation of Black people/culture, and Get Out — social issues and horror