Celebrating half a decade of the Trans Possibilities Intensive, this exclusive conversation with multi-hyphenate auteur, Isabel Sandoval (LINGUA FRANCA) reflects on the proliferation, possibilities, and power of trans visibility, storytelling, and representation.

In this live, online session, Olivia Wilde will join her Emmy-winning cinematographer Adam Newport-Berra (The Studio, Club Kid) to unpack their visual approach to The Invite.

Drawing from her pioneering roots in the early 2000s digital film revolution, Joana Vicente will discuss how global talent exchanges, responsible tech integration, and an ethical, human-first approach can unlock a bold new wave of auteur-driven cinema.

Join Kiva Reardon for a conversation on the THE FAREWELL's cinematic style, use of autobiography, and lasting impact. The session will include clips, discussion, and end with an audience Q&A!

In this live online event, Paul Trillo discusses his unique collaborative process with Poppy, the technical workflow behind integrating cutting-edge AI tools into a cohesive narrative structure, and how directors can use emerging technology to enhance human performance.

Join us for this free, online conversation on the role of film, television, and digital media in reducing polarization. This session will explore evidence-based strategies that help storytellers navigate sensitive themes without sacrificing creative integrity or audience engagement.

In this live online event, Adrian Chiarella will discuss directing young performers in emotionally demanding roles, depicting the darker aspects of spirituality on screen, and utilizing the horror genre to authentically portray the nuances of the queer experience.

Join Sundance Collab as renowned script consultant, professor, and author Pilar Alessandra teaches you how to look past the surface to find "the note behind the note." Learn how industry insiders evaluate your writing, which core story elements you must defend, and how to discern which feedback will actually elevate your script to its best version.

In this live online event, you'll learn creative and business insights from the smash hit micro-series SCREEN TIME, the logistics of producing and directing high-stakes drama for vertical screens, and how to maintain artistic integrity and cinematic quality under micro-short constraints.

In this session, learn a succinct, six-step plan to develop a distribution strategy for your project, in addition to distribution tips, tactics, and, most importantly, the economics for every window – from theatrical through video-on-demand (VOD) and beyond.

In this three-hour class, you will learn the essential skills needed to effectively direct action scenes as Morenike Joela Evans breaks down the mechanics of directing action from start to finish.

The Sundance Institute Episodic Program is designed for emerging to mid-career scripted fiction writers that includes alumni like Katori Hall (Starz's P-Valley), Barry Jenkins (Amazon's Underground Railroad), and Heather Rae (Amazon's Outer Range). We provide artists with the tools, guidance, and industry access to move your projects and careers forward. The in-person Lab is the cornerstone of the program, an immersive five-day opportunity to develop an original series and pilot episode under accomplished showrunners, creative producers, and development executives. So how will your submission cut through and bring you into the fold? Join us for a direct Q&A with the program director, Jandiz Estrada Cardoso and a recent alum, Liba Vaynberg, who will give you all the pro tips when you're ready to apply!

Join us for an informational session about submitting your short or feature film to the Sundance Film Festival, followed by a live Q&A session to answer your questions about the submission process for this current festival cycle.

Join us for an in-depth conversation with the writer, director, and showrunner, Steven Conrad, about directing a non-linear narrative, navigating a darkly funny tone, and writing deeply layered characters. Don't miss this event about one of the most intriguing shows of the year!

Join us for an exclusive conversation with the Archival Producers Alliance that will dive deep into the ethics and logistics of incorporating generative AI into documentary films with tangible examples of how established documentary filmmakers have chosen to engage with this new technology.

Join us for a hands-on session designed to demystify generative AI through creativity, humor, and experimentation. Whether you're AI-curious or AI-cautious, through a series of fun, surprising experiments, you'll experience first-hand how generative AI intersects with the creative process.

Join us for the first in a quarterly series of updates on the Creators Coalition on AI's work at the intersection of creativity and artificial intelligence. Don't miss this opportunity to stay informed, ask questions, and engage directly with coalition leaders shaping the conversation around AI and the creative community.

Join us to learn how narrative design serves as the framework in video games, directing the player's journey and maintaining sustained engagement. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to learn more about this dynamic storytelling format!

Join the award-winning filmmakers of RICKY for an exclusive conversation as they discuss making independent films with impact, navigating film festivals, carving your own path, and how filmmakers can share their stories with audiences outside of traditional networks.

Join award-winning director/producer Anayansi Prado as she shares insights from creating her latest film, UVALDE MOM (2025, SXSW), delving into the care practices she cultivated throughout its production and release.

In this session, you will hear from a panel of environmental filmmakers as they discuss Redford’s impact on their careers, why climate storytelling is more important and empowering than ever, and how all filmmakers can incorporate climate themes and social impact into their work.

Join us for a focus on New Zealand filmmakers with guests THUNDERLIPS (Sean Wallace and Jordan Mark Windsor), writer/directors of the upcoming body horror comedy MUM, I’M ALIEN PREGNANT, which premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.

Join us for an informational session about applying for Feature Film Development Track programs and fellowships, followed by a live Q&A session to answer your questions surrounding the application process!

In this immersive Advisor Studio session, specialist Kim Gillingham, Dream Consultant on HAMNET, shares her Creative Dreamwork practice to help tap into your creative energy.

Join us for a conversation with the editing team behind one of the most acclaimed documentaries of 2025! COME SEE ME IN THE GOOD LIGHT premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Festival Favorite Award, and went on to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature.

In this conversation, we’ll dive deep into the unique production challenges of capturing a subject – AI – that changes by the hour. We’ll examine finding your creative vision, maintaining editorial independence with high-stakes documentary participants, and the ethics of AI in filmmaking.

In this session, you will hear from Institute members, advisors, and alumni who will reflect on where it all started. Don’t miss this chance to hear from some of the key figures from the Sundance Institute for a deeper understanding of Redford as our guiding light for the future of filmmaking.

In this Advisor Studio session, veteran producer and location scout Gerry Kim will explore how to scout with both artistry and strategy.

In this hour-long online conversation for filmmakers and film lovers, we’ll dive deep into Chloé Zhao’s process bringing the poignant and heartbreaking story of HAMNET to the screen. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from one of the most thoughtful and empathetic filmmakers working today!

Founding members of the Creators Coalition on AI (CCAI) share their groundbreaking initiative to develop standards and best practices for artificial intelligence use in entertainment. Gain candid insights into the organization's mission to create ethical guidelines and artistic protections for creators. The session includes breakfast.

As AI tools become more widely available, they also raise questions about ethical boundaries and legal concerns. Led by veteran entertainment attorney Elsa Ramo, this one-hour session covers important guidelines to follow when using AI in your filmmaking workflow. You’ll gain a clearer understanding of common pitfalls and red flags in AI generative content and what guardrails need to be established when it comes to ethics, ownership and technical safeguards. This session provides an overview of different AI use cases in various aspects from development, packaging, production, and distribution.

We are drowning in Content but starving for the communal experience of Story. How can filmmakers capitalize on this new wave of Vertical Storytelling to give audiences the opportunity to consume serotonin-rich narrative Story over the quick dopamine rush that Content currently provides? This panel discussion explores these questions from the perspective of the creator and provides insights into how to bridge the gap between content creation and storytelling in the social media landscape.

Trailblazing independent filmmaker Gary Hustwit joins Story Forum for a conversation on art, innovation, and experimentation in the age of AI. Hustwit directed Eno, a 2024 documentary that employed generative technology to create a unique cut of the film for each screening. The film premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, went on to receive six nominations from Cinema Eye Honors, and was shortlisted for an Academy Award. In this moderated conversation, Hustwit discusses how he conceptualized and created the film, the challenges of incorporating bespoke tech into his filmmaking practice, and his predictions on the future intersections of film and technology.

Led by Alton Glass, founder of GRX Immersive Labs, this session illustrates how filmmakers can become world builders using case studies from Glass’ own work. You’ll learn how to translate your unique voice across new tools and platforms and gain a greater understanding of how creators can successfully use virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality with intention to empower others. Drawing from his own career, which spans film XR, AI and immersive education, Glass unpacks how creators can navigate rapid technological change without losing their creative identity.

Join us for a deep dive into the actor/director relationship, the lessons learned from decades on set, and their take on the future of independent cinema. Discover how a shared artistic language can push the boundaries of genre, and what it truly means to grow alongside your closest collaborators.

Sundance Film Festival alum and honoree Alex Rivera (Sleep Dealer, The Infiltrators) joins Story Forum to explore the critical debates surrounding AI and filmmaking. In this session, Rivera delivers a presentation on how thoughtful, socially-engaged filmmakers can approach this moment in which AI has become ubiquitous in modern life. Rivera speaks about the history and various debates surrounding AI, explores creative workflows, and discusses whether this technology can open up new possibilities in our creative practice.

In this session, you’ll find out how these new formats turn people from passive viewers into active participants whose choices, movement, and emotions shape the experience itself, moving from a traditional audience to an “actience.” You’ll get a practical framework for building immersive, responsible, and transformative narratives, and you’ll learn how changing how you think about your audience can empower them to have more agency and influence on their stories, their lives, and how they interact with the world.

In this session, moderator Meagan Keane (Director of Product Marketing, Adobe Pro Video) takes us inside the creative process that shaped The Perfect Neighbor. Director Geeta Gandbhir and Editor Viridiana Lieberman break down how they organized and made sense of extensive footage, refined interviews, and built narrative momentum as the story evolved. This session highlights the tools, workflows, and editorial decisions that transformed raw material into a cohesive documentary, revealing how structure, iteration, and collaboration bring real-world stories into focus.

In the second of two Story Forum sessions on the film, Veatch presents a deep-dive into the making of her documentary as well as the technology’s implications with regards to international labor issues. During this session, Veatch leads a panel discussion with four participants from the documentary: Richard Mathenge, Mophat Okiny, Krystal Kauffman, and Dr. Milagros Miceli. This conversation offers insight into finding and shaping your story with your documentary participants, and proves essential for those interested in the systems surrounding the development of AI.