The Sundance Institute has announced a new multi-year partnership with Rolex, naming the Swiss watchmaker as its Official Partner and Exclusive Timepiece. The collaboration will provide direct support and funding to the Institute’s Feature Film Program, one of the organization’s cornerstone initiatives.

For more than four decades, Sundance’s Feature Film Program has championed independent filmmakers through its Screenwriters and Directors Labs, Screenwriters Intensive, and year-round ELEVATE professional development track. The new partnership will expand those efforts, providing emerging storytellers with creative resources, mentorship, and access to Sundance Collab, the Institute’s global online learning platform.

Rolex’s support comes through its Perpetual Arts Initiative, which promotes artistic excellence and mentorship across disciplines. “We are incredibly grateful to Rolex for collaborating with us to uplift artists and their stories,” said Michelle Satter, Founding Senior Director of Artist Programs at Sundance Institute. “Together, we’re empowering a new generation of independent filmmakers to bring bold, original work to life.”

Since its founding by Robert Redford, the Institute has helped nurture leading filmmakers including Ryan Coogler, Chloé Zhao, Taika Waititi, Lulu Wang, and The Daniels, continuing its legacy as a vital incubator for independent voices.