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Directing: Core Elements
Beginner to Intermediate
With: Marie Jamora, Tayo Amos and Joey Ally
You have an interest in directing fiction films, but now you want an expert in the field to help guide you as you take the next step. In this eight-week self-paced course, you will learn about the directing craft, how to assemble and collaborate with your crew, work with actors, and translate work from script-to-screen. Throughout the course, you will have the opportunity to film an assigned scripted scene and get feedback on your work from a Sundance Collab Advisor.
Documentary Filmmaking: Core Elements
Beginner to Intermediate
With: Patrick Shen, Erin Heidenreich and Sofian Khan
You have an idea for a documentary film, but now you want an expert in the field to help guide you as you take the next step. In this eight-week self-paced course, you will learn how to move from concept through post-production with a documentary film. Along the way, you will develop a compelling proposal for potential funders of your project and get feedback on your work from a Sundance Collab Advisor.
Screenwriting: Core Elements
Beginner to Intermediate
With: Trey Ellis, Brook Sitgraves Turner, Ani Simon-Kennedy and Caleb Aldrich
Learn the core elements of writing a screenplay for a feature film, with an accomplished screenwriter as your guide. In this self-paced course, you will develop a new script idea into an outline that can be used to write your first draft.
TV Writing: Core Elements
Beginner to Intermediate
With: Angela LaManna, David Silverstein and Sidney Butler
Create an outline for your episodic TV pilot idea in eight weeks with an accomplished TV writer as your guide. In this introductory level self-paced course, you will take this important first step for your original pilot script and learn a set of tools to help you ask the important questions of every scene and character that will get you past "stuck" when writing future episodes.
Self-Paced Course
Screenwriting: From Outline to First Draft of Your Screenplay
With: Deborah Goodwin and 3 more
Screenwriting: From Outline to First Draft of Your Screenplay
Intermediate
With: Deborah Goodwin, Meedo Taha, Kimberly Barrante and Sonte'nish Myers
You’ve got a great idea for a movie and fleshed out an outline for your screenplay. Now, it’s time to start writing that script that gets past gatekeepers and grabs your reader’s attention — whether it’s an assistant, an agent, an executive, a financier, or the talent you want on screen. In this course you will move from outline to completing a first draft of your screenplay (90-120 pages).
Rewriting Your TV Pilot and Crafting Your Pitch
Advanced
Looking for support to polish your original pilot and prepare your TV series pitch? Revise your pilot with an accomplished TV writer as your guide. In this live online, eight-week course designed for aspiring and experienced TV writers, a Sundance Collab Instructor will offer a comprehensive approach to refining your pilot, creating a TV series show bible, and preparing a compelling pitch to industry professionals.
Film Producing: Core Elements
Beginner to Intermediate
With: Simon TaufiQue and Gerry Kim
Do you have a short or feature film you plan to produce? In this eight-week self-paced online course, you will learn the fundamental concepts of creative producing for independent fiction films - from development to financing to budgeting and more with an accomplished producer as your guide. Throughout the course, you will have the opportunity to create pitch materials to communicate your project’s vision to funders and key collaborators and get feedback on your work from a Sundance Collab Advisor.
Live Online Course
Rewriting Your Screenplay and Crafting Your Pitch
With: Lee Moss and Q Terah Jackson
Rewriting Your Screenplay and Crafting Your Pitch
Advanced
With: Lee Moss and Q Terah Jackson
Looking for support to polish your script and prepare your pitch? Revise your feature film screenplay with an accomplished screenwriter as your guide. In this live online, nine-week course designed for aspiring and experienced screenwriters, a Sundance Collab Instructor will offer a comprehensive approach to refining your script and preparing to pitch it to industry professionals.
How to Effectively Collaborate with Your Cinematographer
Intermediate
Instructor: Tal Lazar
In this intermediate four-week online course, you will build on your understanding of the language of visual storytelling and how to effectively communicate your ideas with your collaborators.
Directing Actors
Beginner to Intermediate
With: Tessa Blake, Jorge G Camarena and Kelly Pike
In just eight weeks, an accomplished director will give you the tools to transform a script into a roadmap that takes your vision from ideas to final cut. In this introductory level self-paced course, you'll explore and experiment with how to approach your collaboration with actors from auditions to working on set.
Self-Paced Course
Crafting Your Short Film Screenplay
Instructor and Advisor (October 2026): Asher Jelinsky
Crafting Your Short Film Screenplay
Beginner to Intermediate
Instructor and Advisor (October 2026): Asher Jelinsky
Short films are a great way to showcase your voice, talent, and storytelling skill. In this eight-week self-paced online course, you will learn the fundamentals of screenwriting and develop your original story idea into a short screenplay with accomplished filmmakers as your guides. Designated homework assignments are reviewed by a Sundance Advisor and designed to move you closer to your completed short screenplay (5-15 pages).
Live Online Course
Anatomy of a Nightmare: Writing Your Horror Feature
With: Lee Moss and Zandashé Brown
Anatomy of a Nightmare: Writing Your Horror Feature
Beginner to Intermediate
With: Lee Moss and Zandashé Brown
In this eight-week live online course, you will move from idea to outline through a review of the foundations of compelling storytelling, and lessons on character, conflict, dialogue, and the components of the horror genre.
Visual Storytelling: The Shot, The Image, and The Camera
Intermediate
With: Peter Markham
Mastering visual storytelling is like learning a new language—the language of the screen—and it is a critical component of a director’s work. Over four weeks, gain expertise on the practical aesthetics of the moving image—explored from the perspectives of both shot and camera.
Self-Paced Course
TV Writing: From Outline to First Draft of Your Pilot
With: Angela LaManna and 2 more
TV Writing: From Outline to First Draft of Your Pilot
Intermediate
With: Angela LaManna, Andrew Orenstein and Barbara Stepansky
You’ve got a great idea for a TV series and you have fleshed out an outline for your pilot. Now, it’s time to start writing that script that grabs your reader’s attention - whether it’s an agent, an executive, or a showrunner. In this course you will move from outline to completing a draft of your original pilot (under 60 pages).
Live Online Course
How to Schedule, Budget, and Prepare Your Production for Financing
Instructor: Summer Shelton
How to Schedule, Budget, and Prepare Your Production for Financing
Beginner to Intermediate
Instructor: Summer Shelton
In this introductory four-week online course, you will learn the basics of feature film scheduling and budgeting, location scouting, hiring a casting director and making offers to talent. Creators at any level of experience are welcome to join.
Weekend Intensive
Solo Documentary Filmmaking with Bing Liu and Luke Lorentzen
Instructor: Bing Liu and Luke Lorentzen
Solo Documentary Filmmaking with Bing Liu and Luke Lorentzen
With: Bing Liu and Luke Lorentzen
In this online weekend intensive, Oscar nominee Bing Liu and Sundance Directing Award winner Luke Lorentzen will share how they capture extraordinary, deeply personal footage as solo operators. Leave this weekend inspired and renewed by what a lone wolf documentary filmmaker can create!
Upcoming Events
Sep1
Spotlight
4:00PM - 5:00PM (PDT)
Inside the Producer & Director Partnership on THE WHISPER MAN
With: James Ashcroft and 3 more
Inside the Producer & Director Partnership on THE WHISPER MAN
September 1, 2026
4:00PM - 5:00PM (PDT)
4:00PM - 5:00PM (PDT)
With: James Ashcroft, Angela Russo-Otstot, Kassee Whiting and Katherine Street
Join Sundance Collab for an in-depth conversation with the creative and producing team behind the upcoming film THE WHISPER MAN as they give an inside look into their creative and business collaboration, the studio-director dynamic, and the journey of bringing James Ashcroft’s vision to the screen.
Sep17
Advisor Studio
10:00AM - 12:00PM (PDT)
Harnessing Improv for Script Development
With: Kat O'Brien and Katherine Street
Harnessing Improv for Script Development
September 17, 2026
10:00AM - 12:00PM (PDT)
10:00AM - 12:00PM (PDT)
With: Kat O'Brien and Katherine Street
In this online session, screenwriter, actor, and producer Kat O’Brien will guide you through exploring the art of improvisation, connecting improv tools and techniques to your writing practice.
Film Club: THE DOOM GENERATION
September 25, 2026
12:00PM - 1:15PM (PDT)
12:00PM - 1:15PM (PDT)
Host: Kiva Reardon
Join Kiva Reardon for a conversation on Gregg Araki's The Doom Generation. The session will include clips, discussion, and end with an audience Q&A!
Featured Program
On Demand Course
From Script to Screens: Writing Your Micro-Series (On Demand)
Xian Li
In this course, you’ll learn about the landscape of the micro-series, how to develop your concept, craft your logline, write your first episodes, and map out your series.
FREE
Partner Program
Sundance Collab x TikTok Micro-Series Challenge
Submit your 30-episode script and pitch package for the opportunity to receive a $5,000 grant, a Sundance Collab course package, pitch coaching, and present live online to the TikTok team.
Our Partners
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Frequently Asked Questions
Sundance Collab is our digital platform for creators around the globe to learn, share, and connect. It advances Sundance Institute’s mission to discover, support, and inspire independent artists, by creating a digital community that amplifies independent voices, wherever they are in the world, at whatever stage they are in their career.
No. At this time, being a part of the Sundance Collab community is separate from your Sundance Institute Membership. If you are looking for information on becoming a Sundance Institute Member, please visit Sundance.org/membership.
Check out these personalized resources based on your profile.
As a community for learning, sharing work, and connecting to a community, there are multiple ways Sundance Collab can help a creator starting their career. Our robust and growing video library and Filmmaker Toolkit are useful for learning the art, craft, and business of making films and creating in other forms. Online events and Master Classes featuring industry leaders can also help you develop your craft and work.
If you’re looking for more direct, hands-on experience and an opportunity to further your project, we offer live, self-paced, and on-demand courses with industry experts in screenwriting, directing, producing, documentary and career and business strategies. An application may be required for some courses and course fees apply. We offer a limited amount of need-based scholarships to our courses. Check the course description to see if that course currently has scholarships available.
By participating in some or all of these offerings, you have the opportunity to gain valuable insight and make meaningful connections with other creators.