Christopher Nolan to Be Honored with Inaugural Sundance Institute Trailblazer Award at 2024 Sundance Film Festival’s Opening Night Gala

Posted on November 1, 2023 by admin

The nonprofit Sundance Institute today unveiled details for the 2024 Sundance Film Festival’s fundraiser, Opening Night Gala: Celebrating 40 Years Presented by Chase Sapphire® which will take place on January 18, 2024 at the DeJoria Center in Utah. Kicking off the 40th edition of the Sundance Film Festival, the evening will honor trailblazing and breakout storytellers, as well as celebrate 40 years of Sundance’s commitment to elevating independent storytelling. Christopher Nolan will be honored with the first-ever Sundance Institute Trailblazer Award. Celine Song and Maite Alberdi — both of whom premiered films Past Lives and The Eternal Memory, respectively, at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival — will each receive the annual Vanguard Award Presented by Acura.

The annual opening night gala enables the nonprofit to raise critical funds to support independent artists year-round through labs, grants, and public programming that nurture artists globally. The 2024 event is made possible with the generous support of Chase Sapphire. The upcoming Sundance Film Festival will take place January 18–28, 2024 in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, as well as online from January 25–28.

“As we step into the 40th edition of the Sundance Film Festival, it is a distinct honor to recognize Christopher Nolan, a prodigious artist whose singular talent and remarkable body of work have made him one of the most respected filmmakers of our time. We are looking forward to spotlighting the unique voices of both Celine and Maite, storytellers we have been supporting and deeply believe in. All three of these storytellers represent Sundance’s values,” said Joana Vicente, Sundance Institute CEO. “From the Festival to our year-round programs, it is artists that have and always will be at the very core of what we do. We look forward to our guests joining us at the Opening Night Gala and, in turn, enabling us to continue championing independent storytellers and their art that adds great value to our culture.”
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Eight Nonfiction Films Highlighting Diversity In Science Selected For The 2023 Sundance Institute | Sandbox Fund

Posted on October 10, 2023 by admin

The nonprofit Sundance Institute and Sandbox Films today announced eight projects selected for the 2023 Sundance Institute | Sandbox Fund. The Fund offers grants and mentorship for independent artists seeking to explore the intrinsic link between science and culture through innovative storytelling.

The selected project teams receive nonrecoupable grants totaling $325,000 for their projects in the stages of development, production, and post-production. The filmmakers will also receive customized film support and join Sundance Institute’s year-round artist community, with meaningful opportunities to connect with Sundance’s network of alumni and creative advisors, as well as Sandbox Films’ roster of renowned scientists.

The grantees’ projects invite viewers to wonder at the natural world and consider the plights of scientists caught in complex webs of immigration, exile, diaspora, and geopolitics, and highlight, among other themes, the deconstruction of colonial legacies and the resurfacing of local and Indigenous knowledge and expertise, particularly related to local and regional ecology.

“We are thrilled to announce the latest cohort of Sundance | Sandbox grantees. This exciting new group of projects showcases an incredibly diverse tapestry of artistic approaches and daring creative visions that continue to redefine what a ‘science film’ can be. From India to the Caribbean, Madagascar to the Everglades, the people and stories spotlighted in these films shed light on the deeply collaborative nature of scientific practice and its crucial role in working toward a brighter future for humanity and its planet,” said Paola Mottura, Director of the Sundance Institute’s Documentary Film Fund.

“We continue to be blown away by the diversity of stories highlighting scientific inquiry that come through this grant program. It is an honor to work with the team at Sundance, and we look forward to supporting this talented group of artists as they bring these films to life,” said Jessica Harrop, Head of Production and Development at Sandbox Film.”
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Animation Is Film Festival Line Up Announcement Plus Poster

Posted on September 21, 2023 by admin

ANIMATION IS FILM (AIF) announces the 6th edition of its highly anticipated 2023 slate of theatrical presentations, special events, and shorts showcases taking place over five days, October 18-22, in Hollywood. AIF’s Opening Night on Wednesday, October 18 launches with a GKIDS presentation of Studio Ghibli’s THE BOY AND THE HERON, the latest film from legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX. This marks the first time the festival will host a premiere in IMAX at this Hollywood landmark. Closing Night also celebrates the Los Angeles Premiere of Aardman’s CHICKEN RUN: DAWN OF THE NUGGET presented by Netflix followed by a Q&A with Oscar nominated Director Sam Fell and Executive Producer and Oscar nominated Director of the beloved first film, Chicken Run (2000), Peter Lord.

This year, AIF continues its mission to champion animation as a cinematic artform, while recognizing and acknowledging the importance of curating successful and critically-acclaimed films from around the world. As part of the feature film line-up, two prestigious Annecy International Animation Film Festival Prize Winners, Neon’s film ROBOT DREAMS (Spain, France) and GKIDS’ CHICKEN FOR LINDA! (France / Italy) will make their West Coast and US debuts, respectively. PHOENIX: REMINISCENCE OF FLOWER (Japan) will make its theatrical North American Premiere, and Dreamworks Animation will host a special presentation of its latest film, TROLLS BAND TOGETHER. Other highlights are the North American Premiere of Sony Pictures Animation/Sony Pictures Imageworks’ THE SPIDER WITHIN: A SPIDER-VERSE STORY, a new Spider-Verse short film, and a special theatrical presentation of the Walt Disney Animation Studios’ narrative short, ONCE UPON A STUDIO, featuring iconic voices from Disney Animation’s past, including Dwayne Johnson, Paige O’Hara, Jodi Benson, and Josh Gad.

“‘Animation Is Film’ is not just the name of our festival, it is its mission. New films from Studio Ghibli and Aardman are seismic cinematic events, and a reason for movie lovers of any medium to rejoice. Joining these titles is a collection of some of the most audacious, genre-defying, and critically acclaimed films of the year. We are so proud to present them in Los Angeles,” said Matt Kaszanek, Executive Director of AIF.
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Eddie Vedder, Foo Fighters & The Killers To Headline Ohana Festival 2023

Posted on April 11, 2023 by admin

Today, Eddie Vedder announced the lineup for the seventh annual Ohana Festival, Vedder’s one-of-a-kind festival experience at the picturesque Doheny State Beach overlooking the Pacific Ocean of Doheny State Beach in Dana Point, CA on September 29th– October 1st.

The Ohana Festival continues to spearhead a new wave of festivals with an eclectic lineup that focuses on diversity and gender balance with performances from over 35 artists across three stages. This year’s festival will be headlined by Eddie Vedder, Foo Fighters, and The Killers.

The weekend will also feature performances by Pretenders, The Chicks, Haim, The War On Drugs, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Father John Misty, Goose, Japanese Breakfast, The Backseat Lovers, Charley Crockett, Glen Hansard, Lucius, Thee Sacred Souls, Suki Waterhouse, Franc Moody, Hermanos Gutiérrez, Dehd, Shame, Dhani Harrison, Brooks Nielsen, Amos Lee, Lido Pimienta, Danielle Ponder, Trousdale, Talk, Wunderhorse, Big Joanie, The Aquadolls, The Alive, Emma Routhier. Last year’s festival, which featured performances by Eddie Vedder, Stevie Nicks, P!NK, Jack White, St. Vincent and more, received rave reviews.
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SFFILM Announces Full Lineup for 66th San Francisco International Film Festival

Posted on March 22, 2023 by admin

Today, SFFILM announced the full lineup for the 66th San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM Festival), the longest-running film festival in the Americas. This year’s program, curated from over 5,000 submissions and invitations, will screen exclusively in theaters across San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley from April 13–April 23.

“It is SFFILM Festival season once again and I cannot wait to share this year’s program with local audiences,” said Jessie Fairbanks, SFFILM’s Director of Programming. “The line-up includes a wealth of Bay Area filmmakers across all sections, and highlights new—and seminal—work from eminent filmmakers. Our curatorial team, dedicated to showcasing evocative stories, prioritized films that unite us all through cinematic expression and outstanding narrative craft. We continue SFFILM’s legacy of bringing international work to the Bay with stories from 37 countries and an exciting array of emerging artists. For the third year in a row, half of this thematically diverse program is helmed by female or non-binary filmmakers and we are so proud to share these stories with festival attendees.”

The 2023 SFFILM Festival will run in theaters across the Bay Area, including the Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland, the Dolby Cinema @ 1275 Market, the Castro Theatre, the Premier Theater, The Walt Disney Family Museum, and Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA). The central hub of the Festival will be at CGV San Francisco to allow for maximum viewing; this location will also feature a hospitality lounge presented by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines for guests to meet and mingle with each other in between screenings.

“We are thrilled to bring an array of exciting new films and filmmakers to our discerning and passionate Bay Area film lovers,” said Anne Lai, Executive Director of SFFILM. “Each year, our Festival unites us both inside and outside of theaters where we engage in conversations across audiences, filmmakers, industry guests, and others who help us deepen our understanding of the craft, and of the fascinating world we all share. I am particularly delighted that in addition to hosting screenings in venues across the Bay Area, we will have a Festival hub at the CGV San Francisco. We are excited to host a space this year that harnesses the energy of multiple screens. As audiences gravitate towards different fare, they will also be able to spend time in a gathering place designed to create connection, possibility, and opportunity with one another. Find your spot, and we’ll see you there.”
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2023 Sundance Institute Momentum Fellows Announced

Posted on March 2, 2023 by admin

Today the nonprofit Sundance Institute announced the eight participants selected for the fifth annual Momentum Fellowship, a program designed to support and provide coaching to mid-career artists with a focus on career development during a pivotal moment in their creative practice. Created to support storytellers from historically marginalized communities who have recently achieved a noteworthy accomplishment, such as a highly regarded feature film or series, Momentum provides fellows with a full-year program of deep, customized support around the goals they have identified for themselves to level up in their craft and career. The Momentum Fellowship is a program of Women at Sundance, with support from Equity, Inclusion and Belonging.

The Momentum Fellowship includes an unrestricted artist grant; professional coaching offered by Renee Freedman & Company, supported by The Harnisch Foundation; connection to ELEVATE, Sundance’s professional development initiative; and bespoke year-round support from Sundance Institute staff. Additionally, as part of an ongoing partnership with Universal’s Global Talent Development & Inclusion team (GTDI), the Studio will provide additional support for up to four (4) Momentum fellows working on fiction projects. GTDI is providing select participants access to the Studio’s creative executives and producers to build career momentum and exposure to potential directing opportunities across the Company’s portfolio.

“Over the years, the fellows selected for Momentum have all experienced success with their recently completed projects. This has often been a critical moment for artists to receive creative and tactical support as they focus on a meaningful path forward,” said Michelle Satter, Founding Senior Director, Artist Programs. “This is where Momentum is both aptly named and unique in the industry — the fellowship is customized to the needs of individual filmmakers as they move forward with their next steps, making choices that will ensure they can sustain a career that gives them exciting and timely creative opportunities.”
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2023 Sundance Film Festival Awards Announced

Posted on January 27, 2023 by admin

The Sundance Film Festival, a program of the nonprofit Sundance Institute, returned back in person and across the country online for 2023. Whether you gathered in theaters or are joining us from home, the Festival offers the opportunity to be a part of the discovery of stories and artists that will inspire and entertain us for years to come. The 2023 Sundance Film Festival jurors and audiences have voted with the awards announced today during an event at The Ray Theatre in Park City and updated on Sundance Film Festival’s official social accounts. The award-winning films will screen in person and via the online Festival platform on Saturday, January 28, and Sunday, January 29. Tickets for all award-screening films are available beginning at 1:00 p.m. MT today.

The jury and audience-awarded prizes amplify the fearless and dynamic stories across sections, with Grand Jury Prizes awarded to A Thousand and One (U.S. Dramatic), Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project (U.S. Documentary), Scrapper (World Cinema Dramatic), and The Eternal Memory (World Cinema Documentary), and the NEXT Innovator Award presented by Adobe was awarded to KOKOMO CITY.

Voted on by the audience, Radical was granted the Festival Favorite Award. Audience Awards for films in competition were presented by Acura to The Persian Version (U.S. Dramatic) and Beyond Utopia (U.S. Documentary), and presented by United Airlines to Shayda (World Cinema Dramatic) and 20 Days in Mariupol (World Cinema Documentary). KOKOMO CITY won the audience award for NEXT.

“This year’s Festival has been an extraordinary experience,” said Joana Vicente, Sundance Institute CEO. “The artists that comprise the 2023 Sundance Film Festival have demonstrated a sense of urgency and dedication to excellence in independent film. Today’s award winners highlight our programs’ most impressive achievements in the current moment of cinematic arts. I hope you will join me in congratulating our winners, as well as thanking all artists across sections for sharing their stories with the Sundance community.”

“In addition to acknowledging our artists, I want to thank this year’s jurors for their time and thoughtful consideration,” added Kim Yutani, Sundance Film Festival Director of Programming. “Their efforts help contextualize our artists’ work beyond the Festival program and elevate their stories to new audiences around the globe. The winners themselves represent a diverse mix of bold storytelling, thought-provoking reflections, and critical representations of our world today.”
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2023 Sundance Film Festival Begins Online Programming Over 130 Films Available on the Sundance Online Platform

Posted on January 24, 2023 by admin

The 2023 Sundance Film Festival online program begins today, Tuesday, January 24, with over 130 films available for on demand viewing. Audiences came together in-person in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Sundance Resort with talent including Anne Hathaway, Cynthia Erivo, Jason Momoa, Michael J. Fox, Daisy Ridley, Alexander Skarsgård, Dakota Johnson, Randall Park, Brooke Shields, and more making their way to the snow for their world premieres.

With the Festival online program beginning today, audiences across the country can now join in the action by participating in the discovery of this year’s most impactful independent stories. Tickets can be purchased on https://festival.sundance.org/tickets.

This year, the online Festival experience allows you to watch where you want, when you want. Films will be available starting at 8:00 a.m. MT on January 24, and you can start your screening at any time until 11:55 p.m. MT on January 29. Online Award-Winner screenings will be available starting at 8:00 a.m. MT on January 28 and play until 11:55 p.m. MT on January 29. To access these screenings, purchase an Award-Winners Package.
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Lovers & Friends Announces 2023 Lineup Missy Elliott, Usher, Mariah Carey To Headline

Posted on January 17, 2023 by admin

Following enormous success with its inaugural year, Lovers & Friends returns May 6, 2023 to the Las Vegas Festival Grounds with a massive collection of hip-hop and R&B’s biggest artists, highlighting the ongoing evolution of the genres.

Additional performances by Pitbull, 50 Cent, Christina Aguilera, Miguel and many more, at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds on Saturday May 6, 2023, with presale on Friday, January 20 at 10 AM PST

The incredible lineup will treat fans to over 45 artists with impeccably curated and nostalgia-fueled performances from female powerhouses including Missy Elliott, marking her first billed performance since 2019, Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, alongside Usher, 50 Cent, Nelly, Pitbull, with additional performances from contemporary fan-favorites Miguel, Jhene Aiko, Summer Walker, Bryson Tiller, PARTYNEXTDOOR and many more.

GA, GA+, VIP and VIP Cabana presale tickets will go on sale Friday, January 20 at 10 AM PST at www.loversandfriendsfest.com and any remaining tickets will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, January 20 at 2 PM PST.

Layaway payment plans start at $19.99 down. VIP packages include preferred viewing areas, charging stations, a dedicated entry lane at the festival entrance, air-conditioned restrooms and more. VIP Cabanas are available with exclusive viewing areas with VIP service including food vouchers and select complimentary beverages, expedited entry and more.Hotel and ticket packages are available with discounted rates at select Las Vegas hotels, 24/7 hotel concierge, and exclusive add-ons including access to the Lovers & Friends Official Open Bar inside Zouk Nightclub and brunch packages from Resorts World Las Vegas. For tickets and the full list of amenities available in each ticket package, please visit www.loversandfriendsfest.com.

Miss USA R’Bonney Gabriel Crowned Miss Universe 2022

Posted on January 14, 2023 by admin

Miss Universe

Fashion designer and model Miss USA R’Bonney Gabriel has been crowned as the new Miss Universe on Saturday night, held in New Orleans, Louisiana at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

This makes her the first Miss USA to wear the crown since Olivia Culpo in 2012. According to thee Miss Universe organization, R’Bonney is an eco-friendly fashion designer, model, and sewing instructor with an excitement for life. She attributes her opportunistic outlook to her upbringing immersed in the arts, sports, and travel.

During the Q&A portion of the three finalists, Gabriel was asked how she would represent Miss Universe “an empowering and progressive organization” if she were to win, to which she replied: “I would use it to be a transformational leader,” she responded, citing her background in fashion design as a teacher in the field.

The 28 years old, competed against 83 other participants from around the world. First runner Up went to Miss Venezuela’s Amanda Dudamel, withh Dominican Republic’s Andreina Martinez winning second runner up.

The pageant also included a costume show portion, wherein Gabriel’s outfit paid tribute to NASA’s Apollo 11 lunar landing.

Last year’s winner was Harnaaz Sandhu of India was in attendance to pass her crown and title of Miss Universe to her successor. Former Miss USA and Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo and TV host Jeannie Mai Jenkins hosted the event which comprised of swimsuit, evening gown and interview portions.

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