sundance institute – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

SPOTLIGHT September 2025: Anu Valia, Filmmaker, WE STRANGERS

August 31, 2025September 1, 2025 Leslie Combemale Anu Valia, CollegeHumor, immigrant parents, Kirby Howell-Batiste, leslie combemale, New York Film Academy, NYU, reframe, ReFrame Rise, sundance institute, tisch school of the arts, We Strangers, women in film

A recent Movie of the Week for AWFJ, We Strangers, bowled over the entire MOTW team. Though it is writer/director Anu Valia’s feature film debut, it shows a remarkable agility with storytelling and a clear commitment and trust with her collaborators both above and below the line. Valia is no stranger to creating art onscreen, having helmed and penned the Sundance Film Festival darling Lucia, Before and After, which won the Short Film July Award at the fest in 2017. She’s also been directing for the small screen for years. Shortly before the release of We Strangers, it was announced she was selected as one of the filmmakers in the WIF (formerly Women in Film) and ReFrame’s new class of ReFrame Rise for 2025 and 2026.

News

WEEK IN WOMEN: Michelle Satter honored at Sundance Film Festival – Brandy McDonnell reports

January 19, 2025January 19, 2025 Brandy McDonnell Amanda Kelso, Michelle Satter, sundance institute, Sundance Labs, the week in women, twiw

The nonprofit Sundance Institute has announced details for the 2025 Sundance Film Festival’s gala fundraiser, Celebrating Sundance Institute. Presented by Google TV, the gala will take place on Jan. 24 at the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley in Utah. The event will be an evening in celebration of Michelle Satter, founding senior director of artist programs at Sundance Institute, for her longstanding commitment to nurturing artists and cultivating independent film through the Sundance Labs, where visionary artists have convened for four decades to develop groundbreaking projects through an in-depth creative process

SPOTLIGHT

SPOTLIGHT June, 2024: ANDRIA WILSON MIRZA, Producer, Gender Equity Activist, Head of ReFrame and the ReFrame Stamp

June 1, 2024June 2, 2024 Leslie Combemale Andria Wilson Mirza, Baby Daal Productions, Cannes Film Festival 2024, Fawzia Mirza, ReFrame Rise Directors Program, reFrame stamp, sundance institute, Women in Film and Television, Women in Film LA

Reaching parity for female filmmakers and women above and below the line, as well as working to raise the number of trans, nonbinary, or gender-nonconforming individuals in Hollywood and around the world is one of the most challenging jobs in the film industry. It’s also a formula for a better world. Seeing ourselves onscreen, having men see us onscreen, impacts our acceptance not only in film but all aspects of society. As an intersectional filmmaker herself, and former executive director of Inside Out, Canada’s largest LGBTQ+ Film Festival, Andria is the perfect subject to spotlight for June. Thank you Andria, for all you do!

Festivals

Sundance Institute’s 2024 Momentum Fellowship Recipients – Jennifer Merin reports

February 22, 2024August 23, 2024 Jennifer Merin A.V. Rockwell, Aitch Alberto, D. Smith, Erica Tremblay, Laura Moss, Momentum Fellowship, Raven Jackson, Savanah Leaf, Sing J. Lee, sundance, sundance institute

Sundance Institute has announced eight storytellers selected for the 2024 Momentum Fellowship. Now in its sixth year, Momentum continues its mission of fostering professional growth for mid-career artists, emphasizing professional development opportunities during a critical juncture in their creative journey. The fellowship specifically targets mid-career artists hailing from historically marginalized backgrounds, offering them tailored support and resources. It is led by the Institute’s Women at Sundance and Artist Accelerator programs. Momentum supports creators working in fiction or nonfiction who have recently achieved a noteworthy accomplishment, providing participants with a full-year of customized support around current goals they identify for themselves to level up in their craft and career.

News

WEEK IN WOMEN: Joana Vicente to helm Sundance Institute as new CEO – Brandy McDonnell reports

October 25, 2021October 29, 2021 Brandy McDonnell joana vicente, keri putnam, robert redford, sundance institute, the week in women, toronto international film festival, twiw

Longtime filmmaker and executive Joana Vicente will take the helm as the new CEO of the Sundance Institute at the beginning of November. She will be responsible for setting strategies for the institute that embrace the evolving future of storytelling and build on the Sundance’s record of supporting visionary artists with distinct voices in film, theater, film composing, episodic storytelling and emerging media.

SPOTLIGHT

SPOTLIGHT January 2021: Keri Putnam, Sundance Executive Director and Activist

January 3, 2021January 29, 2021 Leslie Combemale film festivals, keri putnam, reframe, robert redford, SPOTLIGHT january 2021, sundance film festival, sundance institute, tabitha jackson

With consistent commitment, creativity and compassion, Sundance Institute Executive Director Keri Putnam opens opportunities for diverse voices in moviemaking. She has built industry-wide alliances that advocate and enact change. Numbers don’t lie. The Sundance fest 2021 program boasts 50% female filmmakers. Sundance grants fund films that Hollywood would deny. When, at some point in the future, we all see ourselves represented onscreen and in the credits, we can thank Keri Putnam Putnam for moving the needle forward to make it happen.

Festivals

Sundance 2020 Curtain Raiser – Leslie Combemale reports

January 20, 2020January 21, 2020 Leslie Combemale 0 Comments gender parity, Movie of the Week, reframe, sundance film festival 2020, sundance institute, women film makers

A SUNDANCE PRIMER & SUNDANCE 2020: Why Sundance is so female-friendly, and looking Ahead at events and Films at one of the most female filmmaker supportive film festivals of the year. In 2020, Sundance continues their commitment to parity for women in film and inclusion of filmmakers and creators from all perspectives.

Commentaries Member News News Women on Film

THE WEEK IN WOMEN: ‘Systematic Change Project’ for Gender Parity, HUNGER GAMES Sustain, Barbra is Back and more – Brandy McDonnell reports

December 7, 2015December 7, 2015 Brandy McDonnell 0 Comments barbra streisand, gender parity, hunger games, mary walsh, sundance institute, systematic change project, the week in women, Whistler Film Festival, women in film los angeles

‘It’s time for action’: With the new ‘Systemic Change Project,’ Women in Film Los Angeles and the Sundance Institute are