Sundance Collab Challenge

We hold periodic challenges for members to showcase their work. Check out past winning submissions below!

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Current Challenge

2024 Sundance Ignite x Adobe Fellowship Application

Accepting submissions:November 9, 2023 - February 7, 2024

The Sundance Institute and Adobe are teaming up to find the next 10 Sundance Ignite x Adobe Fellows. Submit a one- to 15-minute short that shows us your artistic vision and unique voice as a filmmaker.

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Recent Challenge Winner

The Sundance Collab Script Challenge

Professional Help

Nikki Larkins
Screenwriter
Los Angeles, California, United States

A dark comedy about a depressed woman who seeks healing through therapy and finds it at the end of an unexpected rope.

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Winning Submissions

Document
Document

Random Luck

John Cale

Creator

Document
Document

Professional Help

Nikki Larkins

Creator

Video
Video

Ilanga Alikho (The Sun is Missing)

Advik Beni

Creator

Video
Video

El Extraño en la Casa Rivera (The Strange Monster at the Rivera House)

Esteban Bailey

Creator

Video
Video

Busan, 1999

Thomas Kim

Creator

Video
Video

Sharing

Mykea Perry

Creator

Video
Video

Batonebi

Anna R. Japaridze

Creator

Video
Video

Deer Girl

Giovanna Molina

Creator

Video
Video

Xandú

Fernando Rocha

Creator

Video
Video

DZUD

Justin Kim

Creator

Video
Video

Panorama Exótico

Tae Catalina Markey

Creator

Video
Video

Wuss

Rubing Zhang

Creator

Video
Video

The Most Difficult Day of My Life

Rob

Creator

Document
Document

The Birthday

Reuben Smart

Creator

Document
Document

Aftermath

Lisa Bell Roden

Creator

Video
Video

How To Have One Actor Play Multiple Characters

Ash Blodgett

Creator

Document
Document

Ready For My Close-Up

Elijah Guo

Creator

Video
Video

Rick Parker, I'm Afraid

Shannon Meserve

Creator

Document
Document

Sing During the Storm

Spontak

Creator

Audio
Audio

They Met Over Cheese Curds

Erik Frasier

Creator

Document
Document

Write This Down

Bethany Armstrong Johnson

Creator

Video
Video

Before the World Was Big

Juanita Umana

Creator

Video
Video

Blue Corridor 15

Dubheasa Lanipekun

Creator

Video
Video

How To Raise A Black Boy

Justice Jamal Jones

Creator

Video
Video

Nine Days a Week

Maliyamungu Gift Muhande

Creator

Video
Video

No More Parties

Natalie Murao

Creator

Video
Video

Plantas Sin Fronteras

Marilyn Oliva

Creator

Video
Video

SHORT SHORTS

Karina Dandashi

Creator

Video
Video

The Hostess

Dylan Gee

Creator

Video
Video

The Town

Lindiwe Makgalemele

Creator

Video
Video

Think About The Beautiiful Future Ahead

Diego Bragà

Creator

Document
Document

Laverne Loves Shirley

Emily Schmidt

Creator

Video
Video

GTFO - ASAP

Kristy Linderholm

Video
Video

Toilet Paper, Lightbulbs and Guilt

Kyla Yeoman

Creator

Document
Document

Panic Averted

Amanda Krader

Creator

Document
Document

The Sting

Emily Shesh

Creator

Document
Document

Not Happy

GG

Creator

Document
Document

Despierta

Andrés Vázquez

Creator

Video
Video

An Alien Voice

Prasanna Sellathurai

Creator

Video
Video

little bean

Adrienne

Creator

Document
Document

Out of the Blue

Polly B

Creator

Video
Video

Follow the Sun

JoeBill Muñoz

Creator

Video
Video

Still Here

Sean Wang

Creator

Video
Video

To Know Her

Natalie A. Chao

Creator

Video
Video

The South is My Sister's Skin

Zen

Creator

Document
Document

Cowboy Joe Redux

Jingjing Tian

Creator

Video
Video

Searching Skies

Vee Hua

Creator

Document
Document

War Of The Worlds (2005) - Alternate Ending

Andrew Mittleman

Creator

Document
Document

Fixed Births

Amanda Blanchard

Creator

Document
Document

What is Spam?

DeVonté Sanchez

Creator

Document
Document

The A Doesn't Stand for Accessible

Rachel Handler

Creator

Video
Video

Skate Yrself Clean

Janna Jude Brown

Creator

Video
Video

One of Us

B. Allen

Creator

Document
Document

A Good Family

Damon Colquhoun

Creator

Document
Document

Tinder-Roni

Johnathon L. Jackson

Creator

Document
Document

Random Luck

John Cale

Creator

Past Challenges

2023 Sundance Ignite x Adobe Fellowship

Challenge has ended

The Sundance Institute and Adobe are teaming up to find the next 10 Sundance Ignite x Adobe Fellows. Submit a one- to 15-minute short that shows us your artistic vision and unique voice as a filmmaker.

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The Sundance Collab Script Challenge

Challenge has ended

Calling all creators! Do you have an amazing script for a short film that's production-ready and you're looking for an opportunity to build momentum around your project? Submit it to the Sundance Collab Script Challenge!

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2022 Sundance Ignite x Adobe Short Film Challenge

Challenge has ended

The Sundance Institute and Adobe are teaming up to find the next 10 Sundance Ignite x Adobe Fellows. Submit a one- to 15-minute short that shows us your artistic vision and unique voice as a filmmaker.

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The Mobile Filmmaking Challenge

Challenge has ended

With a smartphone in our pocket, making films has never been easier or more cost effective. This month's challenge invites you to shoot a short film using your mobile device.

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The Dialogue Prompt

Challenge has ended

In screenwriting, strong, compelling dialogue is one of the most important factors in driving the story forward. This month's challenge invites you to craft a captivating scene using a specific line of dialogue.

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The Blackout

Challenge has ended

Oh, how we rely on the conveniences of modern technology today. This month’s challenge invites you to craft a scene where technology creates a colossal obstacle for your main character(s).

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You Are the Teacher

Challenge has ended

We all turn to the internet whenever we have a curiosity around a specific topic or want to learn something new. This month's challenge invites you to be the teacher. Create a short-form video around any subject that you feel especially knowledgeable about that could help someone as a learning resource.

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A Fish Out of Water

Challenge has ended

A fish out of water is the classic trope of placing a character in an unusual environment or situation to begin and/or advance the story, heighten tension, and/or to add comedic effect. Choose a historical figure or well-known cinematic character as your protagonist and place this person in a unique fish out of water moment.

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A Day in the Life of a Creator - Presented by Coil

Challenge has ended

As we slowly settle into a new normal in many parts of the world, what's clear is that things have forever changed. Create a short-form documentary-style video that highlights the new rhythm of a typical day for you as we start to emerge into the new world COVID-19 has forged.

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Capturing Emotion with Sound // Presented by the Dolby Institute

Challenge has ended

Olivia is sitting in her room in upstate NY. She's in her early 30s and has received some bad news lately. Her father’s health is declining and she’s coming off a recent break-up. As she sits in an easy-chair thinking about her current situation, a loud train goes by further rattling her upset state of mind. This month’s challenge invites you to combine sound and music to help tell this story and to bring Olivia and her internal landscape to life.

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The Podcast Challenge

Challenge has ended

While the world came to a standstill just over a year ago, podcasting as an artform has continued to thrive. Interview someone in your life about a significant experience or challenge that they’ve overcome during this past year. Create a short-form podcast episode using sound bites from this interview to create a compelling audio story.

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The Interview

Challenge has ended

It's the opportunity of a lifetime. The stakes are high as your main character is mere moments away from interviewing for their dream job. Your character is seated in an office when there's a knock on the door and the hiring manager enters. Your character's stomach drops, recognizing the person. Write the scene that picks up from this moment.

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2021 Sundance Ignite x Adobe Short Film Challenge

Challenge has ended

The Sundance Institute and Adobe are teaming up to find the next 10 Sundance Ignite x Adobe Fellows. Submit a one- to 15-minute short that shows us your artistic vision and unique voice as a filmmaker.

View Details

What If? Writing A TV Series Twist

Challenge has ended

What if Ross and Rachel didn’t end up together? What if the Fresh Prince took place in London? What if McDreamy had never died? This month’s challenge invites you to imagine a world of “what if?” Choose two primary characters from a favorite TV show that you've watched and write a new scene that would change everything in their relationship.

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Pitch Yourself!

Challenge has ended

As creators, having a great idea is only the first step. It's equally important to be able to communicate that idea effectively so potential collaborators, clients, or backers understand and buy into your vision. This challenge asks creators to create a 1-2 minute pitch video for a short story, short film or docu-short that quickly conveys the premise, tone, characters, creative execution, and/or why they're uniquely positioned to tell this story.

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The Time is Now!

Challenge has ended

We are living in a time of global urgency. Climate change, racial inequality, and healthcare are just some of the hot topics that continue to spark debate in our everyday lives. This month's Challenge invites you to use your voice, to bring awareness to the issues of this moment, and to advocate for change.

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The Candidate

Challenge has ended

Election season is upon us in some parts of the world, but no matter where you live, those who represent us as leaders should ideally inspire trust, hope and a vision for the future. Write a scene/sequence about a candidate or leader who encounters an unexpected human moment that will transform the way she/he thinks about an important issue affecting the people she/he wants to represent or lead.

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Tomorrow's Promise

Challenge has ended

It's no secret that we're living through unprecedented and complicated times, but there is always hope to be found and a new day ahead. This month's challenge invites you to envision what the future holds when we reach the other side of the pandemic and begin to experience connection in new ways.

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The Meet Cute

Challenge has ended

A "meet cute" is a cinematic term used to describe the pivotal moment when two characters meet for the first time under unique, comical, or charming circumstances that lead to a future romantic relationship. In light of current times, we're more heavily relying on digital technology as a way to meet new people. Write a scene/sequence about two people who experience a digital meet cute.

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Sound as Storytelling // Presented by the Dolby Institute

Challenge has ended

Sound plays a vital role in telling a story in film. Beyond depicting what we see and lending a heightened sense of reality to a scene, sound can be used in bold and imaginative ways. A creative sound designer can make choices that are not obvious, going beyond the merely naturalistic to a more expressive dimension. Write a scene that provides an emotional landscape where sound can play a major role in telling the story.

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The Time Capsule

Challenge has ended

Globally, we're living in a time when how we spend our day has changed. Choose one day during the month of June to capture a day in your life. Record the highlights of your day and edit it into a short-form documentary style video that's up to 8 minutes long.

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Every Object Tells a Story

Challenge has ended

Collectively, many of us have found ourselves spending most or all of our time in our homes, reacquainting ourselves with spaces and objects that have made us feel safe and nostalgic.

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An Act of Kindness

Challenge has ended

During challenging times, there are always "helpers" to be found that remind us of the kindness of strangers. Write a scene/sequence about a character who experiences an "all is lost moment" who fortuitously receives the help of a stranger.

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2020 Sundance Ignite Short Film Challenge

Challenge has ended

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Imagined Futures

Challenge has ended

Create a short video or write a sequence with a main character who is facing either an internal or external conflict to overcome. Sponsored by Humanitas

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The Disruptor

Challenge has ended

Craft a written scene/sequence where an unexpected guest arrives at a family dinner for Thanksgiving or another significant holiday in your cultural practices. Sponsored by Backstage

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The Revisionist - Write an Alternative Ending

Challenge has ended

Crafting an ending that's both inevitable and surprising is very challenging. Select a feature film (well known, if possible) that ended in an unsatisfying way and rewrite the final scene. Sponsored by Final Draft

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Family Secrets

Challenge has ended

Interview a family member about something (an event, a relationship, an experience) in their background or in your family history that had a profound impact on their life, something you were always curious about.

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Cultural Collision

Challenge has ended

Create a scene in which two people from different backgrounds must negotiate a misunderstanding. Establish the characters and their points of view, provide a clear conflict, and show us what happens.

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An Unforgettable Entrance

Challenge has ended

Create the moment when the audience is first introduced to the main character in a written scene or video.

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Mystery Sender

Challenge has ended

Create a character and show us what happens when they receive a text message from an unknown sender that includes one of the following prompts: "I'm here" / "Remember me" / "Your time is up" / "Don't look back".

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Speak Your Truth

Challenge has ended

Think of a local issue that's important to you and create a piece of work that uses the power of story to engage your audience.

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Free Skate

Challenge has ended

Create a project in any genre that uses this image of roller skates as inspiration.

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First Impressions: Not All is Lost!

Challenge has ended

You only get one chance for a first impression - tell the story of an important meeting that goes terribly wrong

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My So-Called Family

Challenge has ended

Write the first 5-10 pages of the TV pilot about your family: can be in any genre!

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Three's a Crowd

Challenge has ended

Create a piece in any format or genre in which a Valentine's Day dinner takes a twist

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Strangers on a Train, on a Plane, at a Bar!

Challenge has ended

What happens when two strangers are forced together, if even for a moment? Create a scene to win the Challenge.

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