Sundance Institute

Festival Spotlight 2025: Advocacy Meets AI with FREE LEONARD PELTIER offers an unprecedented look at how storytelling and technology can push for justice. Join the visionary team behind Free Leonard Peltier, a documentary that premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival just eight days after Peltier’s historic pardon. ?? What You’ll Learn: ? How advocacy and storytelling influenced Peltier’s release ? The groundbreaking use of AI to reconstruct untold moments ? The role of film in amplifying Native American activism ?? Date: Tuesday, March 25 | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (PDT) ??? Register for FREE: sndnc.org/41G2PeA #SundanceCollab #FreeLeonardPeltier #FilmAndActivism #AIinFilm #IndigenousVoices

Post-production isn’t just about cutting footage—it’s where a film truly comes to life. ?? From Dailies to Deliverables: Introduction to Editing and Post-Production is a four-week course that explores how to successfully navigate post-production with award-winning filmmaker and editor Julia Kots. ?? What You’ll Learn: ? The principles of editing ? How to effectively communicate with an editor ? Post-production schedules, budgets, and team dynamics ?? Course Dates: March 25 – April 15 ?? Register by March 23: sndnc.org/4hIhZG0 #SundanceCollab #FilmEditing #PostProduction #FilmCraft #Storytelling

Thinking about expanding your film to global markets? ?? Join Stuart Pollok, a film finance expert with over $300M in film financing experience, for Navigating International Production, a three-hour Master Class that explores how to leverage international incentives, understand co-productions, and identify the best production hubs. ?? What You’ll Learn: ? How to differentiate international productions and co-productions ? How to secure local incentives and funding ? How to collaborate with international producers ?? Register by March 21 to join live or access the recording: sndnc.org/3Ri8Wkj ?? Live Session: March 21 | 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PT #SundanceCollab #FilmProduction #InternationalFilm #CoProductions #FilmFinance

Whether you're writing for film or TV, understanding how to craft compelling scenes is essential. In Mastering the Fundamentals of Scene Writing, award-winning screenwriter and educator Lovinder Gill will break down the elements of great scenes and show you how to elevate your storytelling. ?? Learn how to analyze beats, identify subtext, and avoid common scene-writing pitfalls. ?? Bonus: Add a 1-1 feedback session with Lovinder for personalized guidance! ?? Register by March 20: sndnc.org/4bMfC3O ?? Live Sessions: March 21 & 22 #SundanceCollab #Screenwriting #Filmmaking #SceneWriting #Storytelling

Core App 3.0 is here! The Nonfiction Core Application was created by a collaboration?between IDA and Sundance Institute in 2016. See what's new in Core App 3.0 below!

We’re on Bluesky Social! ?? Join us for updates, celebrations, and all things Sundance. Follow us today! ?? sndnc.org/bluesky

“Having the time and space to work with the amazing creative community that I know from experience that Sundance has to offer has been really huge for me.” The Sundance Institute | The Asian American Foundation Fellowship and Scholarship provides AANHPI artists working in film and television with professional development opportunities and community building with like-minded creatives and mentors. In 2023, 12 incredibly talented AANHPIs joined the program; listen to what some of them took away from their year! The Fellowship and Scholarship is made possible by support from TAAF, through a grant provided by their founding partners Panda Express and MacArthur Foundation.

?? Exciting news! The 2025 Building Bridges Completion Fund recipients have been announced! In partnership with Doris Duke Foundation, this fund provides vital support to U.S.-based filmmakers amplifying the richness and diversity of Muslim narratives on screen. This year’s grantees are telling bold, resonant stories that broaden perspectives and deepen cultural understanding. Learn more about the recipients and their projects: sndnc.org/4hbX0uU

Congratulations to the Sundance-supported films on their wins at the 2025 #Oscars! ?? Kieran Culkin of “A Real Pain” wins ‘Best Actor in a Supporting Role’ — Premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival ?? “No Other Land” wins ‘Best Documentary Feature Film’ — Supported by Sundance Institute’s 2021 Documentary Fund and the 2023 Documentary Edit and Story Lab Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences #AcademyAwards #IndieFilm

We’re celebrating the Sundance-supported films nominated at the 2025 #Oscars! ?? From a lineup of powerful documentaries, a standout screenplay, an unforgettable supporting performance, and incredible hair and makeup artistry, these films are making waves at cinema’s most iconic night. Fun fact: Every nominee for ‘Best Documentary Feature Film’ is Sundance-supported! Talk about a winning streak! Tune in 7PM ET/4PM PT this Sunday to join us in supporting these amazing films. 1. “A Real Pain” — nominated for ‘Best Original Screenplay’ and ‘Best Actor in a Supporting Role.’ Premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where writer-director Jesse Eisenberg won the ‘Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: U.S. Dramatic.’ ??: George Pimentel/Shutterstock for Sundance Film Festival 2. “A Different Man” — nominated for ‘Best Makeup and Hairstyling.’ Premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. ??: Presley Ann/Shutterstock for Sundance Film Festival 3. “Black Box Diaries” — nominated for ‘Best Documentary Feature Film.” Supported by Sundance Institute’s 2023 Documentary Film Program and the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. ??: Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet 4. “No Other Land” — nominated for ‘Best Documentary Feature Film.” Supported by the Sundance Institute’s 2021 Documentary Fund and the 2023 Documentary Edit and Story Lab. ??: Sam Emenogu 5. “Porcelain War” — nominated for ‘Best Documentary Feature Film.” Premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the ‘U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary’ award. ??: Gelee Lai 6. “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat” — nominated for ‘Best Documentary Feature Film.” Premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the ‘World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Cinematic Innovation.’ ??: Anjelica Jardiel 7. “Sugarcane” — nominated for ‘Best Documentary Feature Film.” Supported by the 2022 Sundance Documentary Film Grant and 2022 Catalyst Forum and premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the ‘Directing Award: U.S. Documentary.’ Additionally, the 2025 Vanguard Award for Nonfiction was given to Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie for their work on “Sugarcane.” ??: Maya Dehlin Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences #AcademyAwards #AwardsSeason #IndieFilm