Los Angeles, CA — The Bertha Foundation has awarded a major grant to Sundance Institute’s new Artist Services initiative, which will provide opportunities for Institute artists to reach audiences, raise funding and receive support through a robust educational and resources site.

The Artist Services program furthers the Institute’s mission to support independent artists, and is designed for filmmakers interested in independent “creative distribution” as they navigate the evolving landscape in film distribution, marketing and financing. With unparalleled recognition worldwide, the Institute is in a unique position to bring together a wide range of services and lend invaluable promotional support for artists.

“As a nonprofit organization, the critical support of The Bertha Foundation further enables us to develop programs that provide resources for independent filmmakers,” said Keri Putnam, Executive Director of Sundance Institute. “Our Artist Services initiative has accomplished much in just the last few months, including recently announced custom deals with creative funding, marketing and distribution portals and an online community resource. We are in a new era of independent film, and the funds that will go towards the Artist Services program allow us to continue building a base of knowledge that addresses these new issues, for the benefit of our artists.”

The Bertha Foundation is dedicated to supporting the creation and distribution of social impact media projects, among other initiatives. The Foundation works to build audiences for documentary content, nurture talent, and cultivate partnerships and alliances in the media realm.

“The Bertha Foundation is thrilled to support Sundance Institute in this initiative,” said Rebecca Lichtenfeld of Bertha Philanthropies which provides comprehensive philanthropic advisory services to The Bertha Foundation. “The Bertha Foundation is pleased to partner with the Institute on this project, as it represents tremendous potential to use new technology and social media to build dialogue and advance cultural and artistic expression.”

Sundance Institute
Sundance Institute is a global nonprofit organization founded by Robert Redford in 1981. Through its artistic development programs for directors, screenwriters, producers, composers and playwrights, the Institute seeks to discover and support independent film and theatre artists from the United States and around the world, and to introduce audiences to their new work. The Institute promotes independent storytelling to inform, inspire, and unite diverse populations around the globe. Internationally recognized for its annual Sundance Film Festival, Sundance Institute has nurtured such projects as Born into Brothels, Trouble the Water, Son of Babylon, Amreeka, An Inconvenient Truth, Spring Awakening, I Am My Own Wife, Light in the Piazza and Angels in America.  www.sundance.org

The Bertha Foundation
The Bertha Foundation was established in 2010 by a family who believes that bright ideas, combined with resources and strong leadership, can create profound social impact. We believe in the power of social activism to generate social, political, economic and environmental change. We believe in passionate individuals and projects that can effect change on a local or global scale. Our goal is to facilitate and support their growth. We hope those touched by The Bertha Foundation will in turn be inspired and motivated to create meaningful opportunities for others.  www.berthafoundation.org