Dear Readers,

I just returned from my 30th year of the Sundance Film Festival and I want to share some thoughts this week about how this festival, widely respected as the premiere festival for launching new work and discovering new talent, reflects an ever evolving global ecosystem of independent films, and how this impacts what you and I are viewing on our screens, big and small.

Let’s start with the stunning number of films submitted to the programming team – 17 thousand! That’s 2,000 more than last year and a daunting number for the curators, who had to select only 90 for festival competition screenings and premieres (and that number includes features, documentaries, short films, and a few episodic series).

The photos below are just some of the talented creatives whose work was selected this year.

International films. Equally surprising as the number of submissions is the fact that more than half of the feature-length films submitted were from production teams outside the US! While there are multiple factors for this increase, one reason bandied about in many festival conversations is that there is more financial support for independent filmmaking outside the US.

There is also a growing supply and demand challenge. There are more independently produced films, but fewer getting distribution beyond festival screenings…in spite of more distribution channels than ever!

More than 150 streaming platforms are looking for content to offer, yet in the past couple of years at Sundance and other festivals, fewer films are being sold to Netflix, Amazon, Apple, HBO, etc. This year, sales picked up a bit, and what many are predicting is that the solution may be something similar to what happened when niche cable channels exploded in numbers, leading to mergers and acquisitions and ultimately, to consolidation in search of aggregating rather than dividing the audience. How this will all work out with the streamers is not clear yet.

But let’s hope for another groundbreaking idea from a visionary like Robert Redford who defied the skeptics who said there wasn't an audience for independent film.

In those early days, I observed Redford quite literally offering tickets to festival screenings to skiers and people in restaurants and bars, but for some time now, tickets sell out to every festival screening. And every year, films premiered here go on to win major industry awards, find appreciative audiences, and launch careers.

“From the first edition in 1985, Sundance Film Festival has aimed to provide a space to gather, celebrate, and engage with risk-taking artists that are committed to bringing their independent visions to audiences — the Festival remains true to that goal to this day.”

- Robert Redford, Sundance Institute and Festival founder

There are always those life changing, mind expanding moments, on and off screens, that make this festival a "can’t miss" memorable experience, and I want to share one that is deeply personal.

At the opening night gala, I was honored with the Sundance Vanguard Award for Philanthropy, a recognition of support which has been given only once before to the wonderful Darren Walker, CEO of the Ford Foundation. I joked that in my case, the award might be for longevity of service, given that I have been a trustee of the Institute for nearly three decades and was honored to serve three terms as Board Chair. Every minute has been a privilege that has enriched my life in many, many ways.

My friend and Project Dandelion co-founder, Mary Robinson, the first woman president of Ireland and current chair of The Elders, attended her first SFF this year to present me with the award. Being introduced by a world leader is an award in itself, and then to have Amy Redford read a personal letter from Robert Redford was truly thrilling…and humbling!

A Vanguard Award is, of course, a reminder to continue to be “out front” shaping ways forward for others; to take risks and blaze new trails; to remain open to new ideas and innovations; and to support with time and treasure the work of a collective creative vanguard. 

I first came to Sundance as a storyteller myself, seeking advice from Robert Redford for a series called The Native Americans, which Ted Turner had commissioned me to produce. Redford agreed to serve as a co-executive producer and put together a creative team of Indigenous artists who had trained at the Institute’s Native Lab (now called the Indigenous Voices Lab) and from that first experience until now, my life and my work has been shaped in large part by our association. I’ve witnessed Redford’s mission to elevate untold stories, discover and support new voices and talent, and ultimately change the trajectory of culture, careers, and lives.

For me, this journey has been the destination, and for that gift, I am forever grateful.

I hope you will check out the winners of this year’s Sundance Film Festival and try to find a way to see them yourself, visit Sundance.org to discover more about the unique programs offered by the Sundance Institute and hopefully, you’ll be inspired to join and support the creative vanguard that is the Sundance community! 

Next week, I'll be writing about Daughters, winner of the 2024 Festival Favorite Award.  It’s a beautiful, inspiring and moving film, a perfect example of the power of independent work to shift perspectives with personal stories we might not otherwise see.

Onward!

- Pat

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