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Advisor Studio

Location Scouting for Independent Film and Television

With: Gerry Kim and Soheil Rezayazdi

Location Scouting for Independent Film and Television

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

Channeling Grief Through Storytelling with Chloé Zhao

With: Chloé Zhao and Erica Elson

Channeling Grief Through Storytelling with Chloé Zhao

With: Chloé Zhao and Erica Elson
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!
Video

Making of a Movement: Meet the Creators Coalition on AI

With: Justin Trevor Winters and Janet Yang

Making of a Movement: Meet the Creators Coalition on AI

With: Justin Trevor Winters and Janet Yang
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.
Video

Legal Toolkit for Producers Using AI

With: Elsa Ramo and Erica Elson

Legal Toolkit for Producers Using AI

With: Elsa Ramo and Erica Elson
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.

Reclaiming Storytelling in the Age of Infinite Content

With: Jim Festante, Denver Humphrey, Shira Lazar and Justin Trevor Winters
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.

The Generative Lens: Gary Hustwit on Storytelling Beyond the Timeline

With: Gary Hustwit and KD Daza
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.

Designing Interactive Worlds Through Immersive Storytelling

With: Alton Glass and Erica Elson
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.

The Long Game: Rian Johnson and Noah Segan on Storytelling and Collaboration

With: Rian Johnson, Noah Segan and Katherine Street
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.

The AI Landscape: Critical Debates and Creative Pathways for Independent Filmmakers

With: Alex Rivera and Soheil Rezayazdi
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.
Video

The Future of Storytelling with Charles Melcher

With: Charles Melcher and Erica Elson

The Future of Storytelling with Charles Melcher

With: Charles Melcher and Erica Elson
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.

Behind the Cut: An Inside Look at the Making of THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR | Presented by Adobe

With: Geeta Gandbhir, Viridiana Lieberman and Meagan Keane
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.

Tackling the Ethics of AI Through the Making of GHOST IN THE MACHINE: Part 2

With: Krystal Kauffman, Richard Mathenge, Milagros Miceli, Mophat Okinyi and Valerie Veatch
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.

Narrative Innovations: Personal Storytelling in the Indie Game Landscape

With: Abhi, Tim Dawson, Wren Brier and Erica Elson
Are you a filmmaker with an interest in video game narratives? Are you a gamer with an interest in learning more about how storytelling and art come together to create compelling gaming experiences? In this comprehensive panel featuring the artists behind several innovative indie games, you’ll hear a wide range of perspectives on narrative design, worldbuilding and what goes into making a great game. Several leading video game designers demystify how games are written, the importance of specificity in character development, and how an indie game gets published. Whether you’re an avid gamer or a complete novice, this conversation will give you new insights into this exciting medium.

Storycraft in the Age of AI: Narratology, Structure and the Human Voice

With: Joseph Couch, Mike S. Ryan and Alicia Van Couvering
AI is entering storytelling, but the real question is not whether machines can generate scenes. It’s whether we can use AI to help humans build better stories: more coherent, more original, and more emotionally honest. This panel explores how narratology (the study of story structure, meaning, and form) can guide human-centered AI tools toward new plot structures for the modern age, beyond inherited templates like the Hero’s Journey. This session will examine how creators can keep the moving parts of a story legible, stress-test decisions, and discover new shapes without flattening the original voice.

The Poetry of the Prompt: AI Storytelling and the Making of ANCESTRA

With: Eliza McNitt, Ben Wiley and Patty West
Emmy-nominated filmmaker Eliza McNitt unpacks the creation of ANCESTRA, her 2025 short film made in collaboration with Google’s DeepMind team. McNitt and collaborator Ben Wiley, Creative Director at the Google Creative Lab, discuss how the pair blended live action performances with generative AI visuals to tell a deeply personal story. The film, executive produced by Darren Aronofsky, premiered at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival. A Sundance Film Festival alum, McNitt has described the project as the story of how “a mother’s love becomes a cosmic force in order to save her daughter’s life.”
Video

AI for Documentary Filmmakers: Research, Transcripts, and Trust

With: Kristina Budelis and Erica Elson

AI for Documentary Filmmakers: Research, Transcripts, and Trust

With: Kristina Budelis and Erica Elson
In this session, led by director, producer, and entrepreneur Kristina Budelis, you’ll learn some of the new ways documentary teams are using AI, with a focus on behind-the-scenes use. Budelis, who writes the newsletter Film Robots on AI & Film, will explain how these tools helped her save time in prep and post on a viral episode of PBS x Atlas Obscura’s Untold Earth, “It Looks Like a Desert. But It Has Thousands of Lakes,” which she’ll use as a case study in this presentation. She’ll break down how she used tools like Granola, ElevenLabs, Chat GPT, and Claude for things like research, transcription, translation and temp narration. She’ll also go over the importance of guardrails in regards to things like consent, disclosure, privacy and data considerations. You’ll leave the session with practical takeaways for how to improve your own documentary workflow, save time, and facilitate collaboration.

Tackling the Ethics of AI Through the Making of GHOST IN THE MACHINE: Part 1

With: Alix Dunn, Alli Finn, Johnathan Flowers, Thema Monroe-White, Tiera Tanksley and Valerie Veatch
In the first 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 racial discrimination and climate devastation. During this session, Veatch leads two panel discussions with five participants from the documentary: Thema Monroe-White, Tiera Tanksley, Johnathan Flowers, Alli Finn, and Alix Dunn. These conversations offer insight into finding and shaping your story with your documentary participants, and prove essential for those interested in the systems surrounding the development of AI.

The Independent Screenwriter’s Guide to AI Assistance

With: Bryan Hill, Julius Pryor IV and Katherine Street
Find new ways to bring your ideas to life without waiting for a greenlight from the powers-that-be. In this session, you will discover how LLMs (Language Learning Models) can support your creative process in ideation, research, and drafting while maintaining authorship of your work. Filmmakers Bryan Hill and Julius Pryor IV will walk you through using Generative AI tools as an assistant to help streamline your journey from script to pre-production.

Truth, Reach, and Success: The Future of Documentary Storytelling

With: Geeta Gandbhir, Ryan White, R. J. Cutler, Maggie Pisacane and Sara Bernstein
Sara Bernstein, President of Imagine Documentaries, hosts a conversation about the big question facing docs right now: Where's it all going? Bernstein has produced many Sundance-premiered documentaries, including Rebuilding Paradise, Downfall: The Case Against Boeing, Frida, and most recently, the Grammy-nominated Music By John Williams and Emmy-winning Jim Henson: Idea Man. Joined by esteemed industry panelists, Bernstein leads a straight-talk chat about what’s actually happening in the documentary business today. What are buyers really looking for? How do bold creative ideas and commercial goals meet? And what new paths are filmmakers taking to get projects financed, sold, and in front of audiences? Expect honest insights, market reality, and a look at what’s next.

Behind the Short: GenAI Filmmaking and Collaborating With Your Team | Presented by Adobe

With: Taryn O’Neill, Joanna Popper, Drigan Lee, Maddie Hong and Gina Garcia
Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at how generative tools can support independent artists in making their films. Go inside the process as the team behind the short film MythOS breaks down how they leveraged generative technologies, organized their workflows, and tackled key challenges. This session highlights the steps and decisions that shaped their film, showing what collaboration looks like when incorporating AI tools, and how AI can enhance an artist’s creativity and streamline the path to a finished film.

Harnessing the Power of Virtual Production for Indie Filmmakers

With: Alyssa Boyle, Declan Keeney, Jamie Harvey and Niamh Gormley
Virtual production (VP) offers filmmakers a new avenue to achieve high production value on a smaller budget. In this immersive introduction to the technology, viewers receive a virtual tour of Studio Ulster, one of Europe’s most ambitious VP studios located in Belfast, Ireland. Representatives from Studio Ulster discuss the benefits, logistical issues, and challenges unique to VP. Viewers also hear from independent producer Jamie Harvey on his honest experiences working with VP. This session offers an informed, on-the-ground exploration of VP for independent filmmakers curious of the new technologies, including: LED volumes, real-time engines, camera tracking, in-camera VFX (ICVFX), and motion (or emotion) capture (MOCAP).

DEAR UPSTAIRS NEIGHBORS: Exploring Artist-Driven, AI-Assisted Expressionistic Animation

With: Connie He, Yung Spielburg, Cassidy Curtis, Sarah Rumbley and Márcia Mayer
Join the team behind Dear Upstairs Neighbors for a screening and deep dive into artist-centric, AI-assisted animation workflows. This short film blends traditional animation with abstract expressionism using innovative video-to-video techniques. Learn how animation veterans and researchers at Google DeepMind developed custom AI models to transform hand-crafted art and music into "living paintings" while maintaining total creative control.

Artificial Creativity: The Neuroscience of Imagination in the Intelligence Age

With: Rachel Joy Victor
AI can generate images, scripts, and music, but it doesn’t create the way humans do. This session with Rachel Joy Victor, a researcher and designer of computational narratives and emergent technologies, traces the evolution of artificial intelligence alongside human cognition to unpack what creativity actually is, where AI reaches its limits, and why embodied experience, intuition, and intention remain central to storytelling.

The Machine is Not the Artist: The Evolution of Storytelling Across AI, VR & AR

With: Yelena Rachitsky and Eliza McNitt
Award-winning creatives Yelena Rachitsky (Head of Emerging Formats, Meta) and Eliza McNitt (Director, ANCESTRA, SPHERES) deconstruct their ground-breaking projects and examine how emerging technologies are reshaping cinematic language. Explore the evolution from VR to AI — and why human authorship remains at the center of storytelling.

Cinematic Authorship in an Era of AI and Virtual Production

With: Kathryn Brillhart
Virtual production and AI are often framed as tools—from LED stages and real-time engines to AI-driven workflows—but for independent filmmakers they signal a deeper shift in authorship and creative decision-making. This session explores how evolving production approaches influence cinematic language and creative possibility, and invites filmmakers to engage technology as part of storytelling shaped by intention, literacy, and creative ownership.
Video

No, Generative AI Doesn’t Kill Creativity

With: Henry Daubrez and Erica Elson

No, Generative AI Doesn’t Kill Creativity

With: Henry Daubrez and Erica Elson
Generative AI is reshaping the creative landscape, sparking intense debate about the future of artistry. Henry Daubrez, Resident Filmmaker and Creative Director at Google Labs, brings a practitioner’s eye to this tension. With two decades of experience bridging design, film, and emerging tech for global brands, Henry explores the reality beyond the headlines. Rather than preaching blind optimism or doom, he examines how human storytelling prevails amidst automation. He discusses the practical shifts in the creative process and why, despite powerful algorithms, the "human touch" remains the defining variable. Don’t miss this grounded exploration of creativity’s new frontier.
Advisor Studio

Unearthing Character Through Casting with Richard Hicks

With: Richard Hicks and Katherine Street

Unearthing Character Through Casting with Richard Hicks

With: Richard Hicks and Katherine Street
In this Advisor Studio, veteran Casting Director Richard Hicks will guide you through the full casting process, from breaking down scripts and developing character briefs to crafting a strategy for outreach, auditions, and offers. You will gain insight into how Casting Directors interpret a filmmaker’s vision, present creative options, and balance artistic goals with understanding actor market value, budget, and scheduling realities.
Spotlight

Driving Box Office Success with Joseph Kosinski (F1: THE MOVIE)

With: Joseph Kosinski and Erica Elson

Driving Box Office Success with Joseph Kosinski (F1: THE MOVIE)

With: Joseph Kosinski and Erica Elson
In this hour-long conversation for filmmakers of all levels, you’ll get a chance to ask questions about producing and directing some of Hollywood’s biggest films. Joseph Kosinski will discuss crafting memorable heroes, bringing his unique take to existing IP, and directing thrilling action sequences.
Spotlight

Spotlight: Laura Poitras on Documenting Seymour Hersh in COVER-UP

With: Laura Poitras and Soheil Rezayazdi
Advisor Studio

Mastering Film Festival Q&As and Audience Engagement

With: Leonard Cortana and Katherine Street

Mastering Film Festival Q&As and Audience Engagement

With: Leonard Cortana and Katherine Street
Spotlight

The Urgent Hybrid Cinema of Kaouther Ben Hania (THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB)

With: Kaouther Ben Hania and Soheil Rezayazdi
Event Recording

Inside the Edit with BIPOC Doc Editors: CUTTING THROUGH ROCKS

With: Mohammadreza Eyni and 2 more

Inside the Edit with BIPOC Doc Editors: CUTTING THROUGH ROCKS

With: Mohammadreza Eyni, Sara Khaki and Soheil Rezayazdi

Insider Session: Applying to the Sundance Institute Producers Track Programs

With: Shira Rockowitz, Maria Caridad Clement, Andrea Alarcón, Kristin Feeley and Katherine Street

Spotlight: Finding What Makes a Story Sing with Dana Fox (WICKED: FOR GOOD)

With: Dana Fox and Katherine Street
Join Sundance Collab for an exclusive Spotlight Event with prolific screenwriter and executive producer Dana Fox (How to Be Single, Cruella, Home Before Dark, Wicked) as she talks about her writing journey in film and television, and co-writing the epic two-part musical film Wicked and Wicked: For Good based on the hit novel and Broadway musical.
Event Bundle

Writing for Animation

Includes 3 items: Master Class: Writing for Animation with Julia Cho (Turning Red), Spotlight: Pushing Boundaries in Episodic Animation: A Conversation with ARCANE Creators Christian Linke & Alex Yee, Spotlight: Creating Your Artistic Process with Morgan Neville (PIECE BY PIECE)

Writing for Animation

Includes 3 items:

  • Master Class: Writing for Animation with Julia Cho (Turning Red)
  • Spotlight: Pushing Boundaries in Episodic Animation: A Conversation with ARCANE Creators Christian Linke & Alex Yee
  • Spotlight: Creating Your Artistic Process with Morgan Neville (PIECE BY PIECE)

Much more than a visual style, animation is a powerful and dynamic language for storytelling. In this video bundle, award-winning creators share how to bring animated worlds to life through writing, collaboration, and personal voice. From crafting emotionally resonant scripts with Julia Cho (Turning Red) to exploring creative processes with Morgan Neville and expanding the limits of animated TV, these Spotlights and Master Class offer inspiration and tools for storytellers working in animation and beyond.

Event Bundle

Sundance Film Festival 2025 Spotlights

Includes 6 items: Festival Spotlight 2025: A Conversation on Art, Love, and Legacy with COME SEE ME IN THE GOOD LIGHT, Festival Spotlight 2025: Advocacy Meets AI with FREE LEONARD PELTIER, Festival Spotlight 2025: The Art of True Crime with ZODIAC KILLER PROJECT, Festival Spotlight 2025: World Cinema Dramatic Competition, Festival Spotlight 2025: Making Your First Feature, Festival Spotlight 2025: NEXT

Sundance Film Festival 2025 Spotlights

Includes 6 items:

  • Festival Spotlight 2025: A Conversation on Art, Love, and Legacy with COME SEE ME IN THE GOOD LIGHT
  • Festival Spotlight 2025: Advocacy Meets AI with FREE LEONARD PELTIER
  • Festival Spotlight 2025: The Art of True Crime with ZODIAC KILLER PROJECT
  • Festival Spotlight 2025: World Cinema Dramatic Competition
  • Festival Spotlight 2025: Making Your First Feature
  • Festival Spotlight 2025: NEXT

This video bundle features Festival Spotlight events from the 2025 Sundance Film Festival! Enjoy exclusive conversations with the creators behind work that screened at the Sundance Film Festival, designed to share advice and insights on the creative process.

Event Bundle

Succeed as a Film Producer

Includes 14 items: Master Class: Success on Set - The Producer’s Role with Kara Durrett (HONK FOR JESUS, SAVE YOUR SOUL), David Hinojosa (STILL ALICE), Jess Wu Calder (ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI) and Alexandra Byer (COLEWELL), Master Class: Post-Production - The Producer's Role with Simon TaufiQue (THE INTERPRETERS), Anja Marquart (THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE) and Mark Steele (HOWL), Master Class: Funding Your Fiction Film with Caroline Von Kuhn, Giancarlo Nasi, Jessica Lacy, Jennifer Dana, Ryan Zacarias and Sophia Yen, Master Class: Finding and Negotiating Distribution for Your Film with Elsa Ramo, Master Class: Producing Your Short Film with Andrew Carlberg (SKIN), Advisor Studio: Building and Sustaining Your Career as a Producer with Daniela Taplin Lundberg, Master Class: Crafting Impactful Pitch Decks for Film & TV with Alexandra Barreto, Taylor Feltner, and DMA Anderson | presented by IMDbPro, Master Class: Navigating International Production, Advisor Studio: Creative Producing - From Pitch to Picture with Carol Baum, The Heart of Development with Misha Green (LOVECRAFT COUNTRY) , Advisor Studio: Allison Carter (EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE) on the Essential Skills of a Successful Producer, Spotlight: Jason Blum on Entrepreneurial Producing in the Horror Genre, Producer Sev Ohanian (SEARCHING) on Developing & Building Relationships, Master Class: Film Producing - An Entrepreneurial Approach with Jason Berman (AIR)

Succeed as a Film Producer

Includes 14 items:

  • Master Class: Success on Set - The Producer’s Role with Kara Durrett (HONK FOR JESUS, SAVE YOUR SOUL), David Hinojosa (STILL ALICE), Jess Wu Calder (ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI) and Alexandra Byer (COLEWELL)
  • Master Class: Post-Production - The Producer's Role with Simon TaufiQue (THE INTERPRETERS), Anja Marquart (THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE) and Mark Steele (HOWL)
  • Master Class: Funding Your Fiction Film with Caroline Von Kuhn, Giancarlo Nasi, Jessica Lacy, Jennifer Dana, Ryan Zacarias and Sophia Yen
  • Master Class: Finding and Negotiating Distribution for Your Film with Elsa Ramo
  • Master Class: Producing Your Short Film with Andrew Carlberg (SKIN)
  • Advisor Studio: Building and Sustaining Your Career as a Producer with Daniela Taplin Lundberg
  • Master Class: Crafting Impactful Pitch Decks for Film & TV with Alexandra Barreto, Taylor Feltner, and DMA Anderson | presented by IMDbPro
  • Master Class: Navigating International Production
  • Advisor Studio: Creative Producing - From Pitch to Picture with Carol Baum
  • The Heart of Development with Misha Green (LOVECRAFT COUNTRY)
  • Advisor Studio: Allison Carter (EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE) on the Essential Skills of a Successful Producer
  • Spotlight: Jason Blum on Entrepreneurial Producing in the Horror Genre
  • Producer Sev Ohanian (SEARCHING) on Developing & Building Relationships
  • Master Class: Film Producing - An Entrepreneurial Approach with Jason Berman (AIR)

Learn the ins and outs of what it takes to succeed as a producer through this curated video bundle! Industry-leading producers break down practical guidance and behind-the-scenes strategies for producing across formats, budgets, and borders. These Master Classes and Spotlights from our Video Library offer expert insight on everything from navigating pre-production, creating pitch decks, funding and distribution, and more!

Event Bundle

Pitching & Pitch Decks

Includes 5 items: Pitching Your Project​, Funding Your Work with Nina Yang Bongiovi (FRUITVALE STATION). Jim Cummings (THUNDER ROAD), & more, Master Class: How to Craft a Successful Film or TV Pitch with Jose Acevedo (EVERYTHING'S TRASH) and Giulia Caruso (COLUMBUS), Master Class: Own Your Voice - Pitch and Present with Confidence with Jackie Miller (President of Bespoken), Advisor Studio: Rafael Agustín (JANE THE VIRGIN) on Pitching a TV Series, Master Class: Creating a Compelling Pitch Package with Producers Nina Yang Bongiovi (PASSING) & Larissa Rhodes (THE SOCIAL DILEMMA)

Pitching & Pitch Decks

Includes 5 items:

  • Pitching Your Project​, Funding Your Work with Nina Yang Bongiovi (FRUITVALE STATION). Jim Cummings (THUNDER ROAD), & more
  • Master Class: How to Craft a Successful Film or TV Pitch with Jose Acevedo (EVERYTHING'S TRASH) and Giulia Caruso (COLUMBUS)
  • Master Class: Own Your Voice - Pitch and Present with Confidence with Jackie Miller (President of Bespoken)
  • Advisor Studio: Rafael Agustín (JANE THE VIRGIN) on Pitching a TV Series
  • Master Class: Creating a Compelling Pitch Package with Producers Nina Yang Bongiovi (PASSING) & Larissa Rhodes (THE SOCIAL DILEMMA)

Attracting creative and business collaborators to your project requires having a clear vision that you can share with others in a compelling way. In this curated collection from our video library, you'll learn key tactics and tools for crafting a persuasive verbal pitch and designing a dynamic pitch deck.

Event Bundle

Meet the Masters: Documentary Filmmakers on Documentaries

Includes 6 items: Spotlight: Crafting Authentic Narratives in Documentary with Matthew Heineman, Spotlight: Creating Your Artistic Process with Morgan Neville (PIECE BY PIECE), Spotlight: Documenting Digital Lives with Lauren Greenfield (SOCIAL STUDIES), Spotlight: Rory Kennedy (DOWNFALL: THE CASE AGAINST BOEING) on Crafting Documentary Films that Explore the Urgent Social Issues of Our Time, Advisor Studio: Nanfu Wang (ONE CHILD NATION) on Documentary Filmmaking, Spotlight: Creating Social Impact Through Storytelling with Jeff Orlowski and Larissa Rhodes (THE SOCIAL DILEMMA)

Meet the Masters: Documentary Filmmakers on Documentaries

Includes 6 items:

  • Spotlight: Crafting Authentic Narratives in Documentary with Matthew Heineman
  • Spotlight: Creating Your Artistic Process with Morgan Neville (PIECE BY PIECE)
  • Spotlight: Documenting Digital Lives with Lauren Greenfield (SOCIAL STUDIES)
  • Spotlight: Rory Kennedy (DOWNFALL: THE CASE AGAINST BOEING) on Crafting Documentary Films that Explore the Urgent Social Issues of Our Time
  • Advisor Studio: Nanfu Wang (ONE CHILD NATION) on Documentary Filmmaking
  • Spotlight: Creating Social Impact Through Storytelling with Jeff Orlowski and Larissa Rhodes (THE SOCIAL DILEMMA)

Experience the craft through the voices behind it! This video bundle offers firsthand insights from today's documentary filmmakers who are shaping nonfiction cinema. From learning how to work with vulnerable participants to empowering change through documentary, these filmmakers will guide you in transforming real-life experience into powerful narratives.

Event Bundle

Meet the Masters: Directors on Directing

Includes 15 items: Spotlight: Sofia Coppola on PRISCILLA, Spotlight: The Craft of Visual Storytelling with Rachel Morrison (THE FIRE INSIDE), Spotlight: A Cinematic Dialogue with Richard Linklater, Spotlight: Emerald Fennell on SALTBURN, Spotlight: Judd Apatow on Writing and Directing Comedy, Spotlight: From Script to Screen with Filmmaker David Lowery (THE GREEN KNIGHT) | Presented by Frame.io, Spotlight: Patty Jenkins: From MONSTER to WONDER WOMAN, Spotlight: Gina Prince-Bythewood (LOVE & BASKETBALL, THE OLD GUARD) on Writing, Directing, and Representation, Spotlight: Chloé Zhao (NOMADLAND, ETERNALS) on Finding Your Way as a Filmmaker, MOONLIGHT: A Case Study with Barry Jenkins, Taika Waititi (BOY) on Going From Indies to Hollywood, Spotlight: Conversation with Ava DuVernay: Art is Activism, Boots Riley on the Creative Process Behind SORRY TO BOTHER YOU, Spotlight: Jeff Nichols on THE BIKERIDERS, Spotlight: Creating Magic in Cinema with Mira Nair

Meet the Masters: Directors on Directing

Includes 15 items:

  • Spotlight: Sofia Coppola on PRISCILLA
  • Spotlight: The Craft of Visual Storytelling with Rachel Morrison (THE FIRE INSIDE)
  • Spotlight: A Cinematic Dialogue with Richard Linklater
  • Spotlight: Emerald Fennell on SALTBURN
  • Spotlight: Judd Apatow on Writing and Directing Comedy
  • Spotlight: From Script to Screen with Filmmaker David Lowery (THE GREEN KNIGHT) | Presented by Frame.io
  • Spotlight: Patty Jenkins: From MONSTER to WONDER WOMAN
  • Spotlight: Gina Prince-Bythewood (LOVE & BASKETBALL, THE OLD GUARD) on Writing, Directing, and Representation
  • Spotlight: Chloé Zhao (NOMADLAND, ETERNALS) on Finding Your Way as a Filmmaker
  • MOONLIGHT: A Case Study with Barry Jenkins
  • Taika Waititi (BOY) on Going From Indies to Hollywood
  • Spotlight: Conversation with Ava DuVernay: Art is Activism
  • Boots Riley on the Creative Process Behind SORRY TO BOTHER YOU
  • Spotlight: Jeff Nichols on THE BIKERIDERS
  • Spotlight: Creating Magic in Cinema with Mira Nair

Experience the craft through the voices behind it! This video bundle offers a rare window into the minds of today’s most influential filmmakers. From Sofia Coppola to Ava DuVernay, Barry Jenkins to Robert Eggers, these intimate conversations and behind-the-scenes insights explore the craft, challenges, and personal journeys that illuminate what it means to be a director.

Event Bundle

Learn to Craft Your Documentary

Includes 12 items: Master Class: Writing Your Documentary Script with Mark Monroe (ICARUS, THE COVE), Master Class: Doc Filmmaking: Finding and Shaping Your Story with Roger Ross Williams (GOD LOVES UGANDA), Master Class: Documentary Filmmaking with Jennifer Fox (THE TALE), Advisor Studio: Director Jamila Wignot & Producer Lauren DeFilippo (AILEY) on Prepping Your Documentary , Advisor Studio: Documentary Grant Writing with Tracie Holder, The Art of Nonfiction with Chai Vasarhelyi (FREE SOLO), Steve James (AMERICA TO ME), and Steve Maing (CRIME + PUNISHMENT), Master Class: Documentary Filmmaking: Navigating Truth and Ethics with Dawn Porter (JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE), Making Documentaries Using Archival Footage with Penny Lane (OUR NIXON), Advisor Studio: Geeta Gandbhir (APART) on Documentary Interview Techniques, Advisor Studio: Navigating Generative AI with the Archival Producers Alliance Tool Kit, Master Class: Documentary Editing Fundamentals with Jacob Bricca, ACE (MISSING IN BROOKS COUNTY), The Elements of a Great Documentary Scene with Jonathan Oppenheim (PARIS IS BURNING)

Learn to Craft Your Documentary

Includes 12 items:

  • Master Class: Writing Your Documentary Script with Mark Monroe (ICARUS, THE COVE)
  • Master Class: Doc Filmmaking: Finding and Shaping Your Story with Roger Ross Williams (GOD LOVES UGANDA)
  • Master Class: Documentary Filmmaking with Jennifer Fox (THE TALE)
  • Advisor Studio: Director Jamila Wignot & Producer Lauren DeFilippo (AILEY) on Prepping Your Documentary
  • Advisor Studio: Documentary Grant Writing with Tracie Holder
  • The Art of Nonfiction with Chai Vasarhelyi (FREE SOLO), Steve James (AMERICA TO ME), and Steve Maing (CRIME + PUNISHMENT)
  • Master Class: Documentary Filmmaking: Navigating Truth and Ethics with Dawn Porter (JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE)
  • Making Documentaries Using Archival Footage with Penny Lane (OUR NIXON)
  • Advisor Studio: Geeta Gandbhir (APART) on Documentary Interview Techniques
  • Advisor Studio: Navigating Generative AI with the Archival Producers Alliance Tool Kit
  • Master Class: Documentary Editing Fundamentals with Jacob Bricca, ACE (MISSING IN BROOKS COUNTY)
  • The Elements of a Great Documentary Scene with Jonathan Oppenheim (PARIS IS BURNING)

Ready to step into the world of nonfiction storytelling? This comprehensive video bundle is designed to equip emerging documentary filmmakers with the tools to craft and shape impactful stories. Learn how to develop your script, conduct your interviews, refine your story, and navigate the creative process from celebrated directors and producers in this collection of videos.

Event Bundle

Forge Your Career as a Director

Includes 5 items: Master Class: Building and Sustaining Your Career as a Writer and Director with Kasi Lemmons, Master Class: Lessons from a Life Behind the Camera with Ken Kwapis (THE OFFICE), Master Class: How to Craft a Successful Film or TV Pitch with Jose Acevedo (EVERYTHING'S TRASH) and Giulia Caruso (COLUMBUS), Master Class: Transforming Your Short Film to Your First Feature with Adamma and Adanne Ebo (HONK FOR JESUS, SAVE YOUR SOUL), Spotlight: Chloé Zhao (NOMADLAND, ETERNALS) on Finding Your Way as a Filmmaker

Forge Your Career as a Director

Includes 5 items:

  • Master Class: Building and Sustaining Your Career as a Writer and Director with Kasi Lemmons
  • Master Class: Lessons from a Life Behind the Camera with Ken Kwapis (THE OFFICE)
  • Master Class: How to Craft a Successful Film or TV Pitch with Jose Acevedo (EVERYTHING'S TRASH) and Giulia Caruso (COLUMBUS)
  • Master Class: Transforming Your Short Film to Your First Feature with Adamma and Adanne Ebo (HONK FOR JESUS, SAVE YOUR SOUL)
  • Spotlight: Chloé Zhao (NOMADLAND, ETERNALS) on Finding Your Way as a Filmmaker

Charting a path as a director requires a blend of creative vision, leadership, and expertise in navigating the industry. In this curated video bundle, experienced directors & screenwriters share insights on building a directing career, from developing your voice and making your first feature to navigating the business, pitching, and sustaining long-term momentum!

Event Bundle

Finding Representation & Building Your Brand

Includes 3 items: Master Class: How to Find Representation for Writers and Directors with Rebecca Sun (The Hollywood Reporter), Melissa Breaux, Adam Marshall, Christina Chou, and Elsa Ramo, Master Class: Building Your Online Presence for Filmmakers with Digital Strategist Ryan Davis, Advisor Studio: Kelly Bush Novak on Developing Your Personal Brand

Finding Representation & Building Your Brand

Includes 3 items:

  • Master Class: How to Find Representation for Writers and Directors with Rebecca Sun (The Hollywood Reporter), Melissa Breaux, Adam Marshall, Christina Chou, and Elsa Ramo
  • Master Class: Building Your Online Presence for Filmmakers with Digital Strategist Ryan Davis
  • Advisor Studio: Kelly Bush Novak on Developing Your Personal Brand

Whether you’re building your core team (agent, manager, and/or attorney), pursuing new creative collaborators and financial supporters, or seeking a direct connection with your audience, this curated collection from our video library will help you tell your own story in an effective way.

Event Bundle

Finding & Shaping Your Screenplay's Story

Includes 4 items: Master Class: Finding Your Screenplay's Story with David Schwab, Mira Nair, Tamara Jenkins and Destin Daniel Cretton, Advisor Studio: Sheldon Candis (LUV) on Finding Your Voice and Visual Style, Advisor Studio: Trey Ellis (THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN) on Building Your Storytelling Toolbox, Conversations from the Sundance Labs | Building Characters, Emotion and Story with J.R. Cole (BLACK PANTHER) & more

Finding & Shaping Your Screenplay's Story

Includes 4 items:

  • Master Class: Finding Your Screenplay's Story with David Schwab, Mira Nair, Tamara Jenkins and Destin Daniel Cretton
  • Advisor Studio: Sheldon Candis (LUV) on Finding Your Voice and Visual Style
  • Advisor Studio: Trey Ellis (THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN) on Building Your Storytelling Toolbox
  • Conversations from the Sundance Labs | Building Characters, Emotion and Story with J.R. Cole (BLACK PANTHER) & more

In this curated collection from our video library, you'll hear from multiple writers, including Mira Nair (Salaam Bombay!), Tamara Jenkins (The Savages) and Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings). Among others, these writers offer their perspectives and strategies for finding their stories, developing their characters and honing their artistic voices.

Event Bundle

Develop Your Craft as a Director

Includes 13 items: Master Class: Designing and Blocking a Scene with Lesli Linka Glatter (HOMELAND), Master Class: Directing TV with Rachel Raimist (QUEEN SUGAR), Master Class: Directing Actors with Judith Weston (ENDLESS LOVE), Advisor Studio: Building a Culture of Humanity on Set, Advisor Studio: Directing Principles to Change Your Filmmaking with Rob Spera, Advisor Studio: Creating Safe and Authentic Performances with Intimacy Coordinator Marci Liroff, Advisor Studio: A Director’s Guide Through Pre-Production with Robert Mandel, Working with Your Editor: Collaboration & Workflow with Bridey Elliott & Patrick Lawrence | Presented by Adobe , Master Class: The Sound & Music of the Daniels’ EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE | Presented by the Dolby Institute, How to Shoot a Fight Scene with Director Catherine Hardwicke (TWILIGHT), Directing Actors: Casting & Rehearsing with Karyn Kusama (YELLOWJACKETS), The Fundamentals of Cinematography with Rodrigo Prieto (THE IRISHMAN), Advisor Studio: Natalie Metzger (THUNDER ROAD) on Finding and Building a Successful Production Crew

Develop Your Craft as a Director

Includes 13 items:

  • Master Class: Designing and Blocking a Scene with Lesli Linka Glatter (HOMELAND)
  • Master Class: Directing TV with Rachel Raimist (QUEEN SUGAR)
  • Master Class: Directing Actors with Judith Weston (ENDLESS LOVE)
  • Advisor Studio: Building a Culture of Humanity on Set
  • Advisor Studio: Directing Principles to Change Your Filmmaking with Rob Spera
  • Advisor Studio: Creating Safe and Authentic Performances with Intimacy Coordinator Marci Liroff
  • Advisor Studio: A Director’s Guide Through Pre-Production with Robert Mandel
  • Working with Your Editor: Collaboration & Workflow with Bridey Elliott & Patrick Lawrence | Presented by Adobe
  • Master Class: The Sound & Music of the Daniels’ EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE | Presented by the Dolby Institute
  • How to Shoot a Fight Scene with Director Catherine Hardwicke (TWILIGHT)
  • Directing Actors: Casting & Rehearsing with Karyn Kusama (YELLOWJACKETS)
  • The Fundamentals of Cinematography with Rodrigo Prieto (THE IRISHMAN)
  • Advisor Studio: Natalie Metzger (THUNDER ROAD) on Finding and Building a Successful Production Crew

Directing is both an art and a skill that evolves with experience, experimentation, and curiosity. In this comprehensive video bundle, accomplished directors & creative collaborators offer practical insights into the many dimensions of the craft. Learn to shape performance with actors, design and block compelling visuals, navigate pre-production, and build trust across your crew.

Event Bundle

Conversations from the Sundance Labs - Directing

Includes 10 items: Conversations from the Sundance Labs | Lesli Linka Glatter (MAD MEN) and Keith Gordon (FARGO) on Scene Breakdown and Shooting Preparation, Conversations from the Sundance Labs | Karyn Kusama (DESTROYER) on Directing and Prepping Your Film, Conversations from the Sundance Labs | Kasi Lemmons (EVE'S BAYOU) on Directing, Conversations from the Sundance Film Festival | Pathways to Your First Feature Film with Carey Williams (EMERGENCY) & Chase Joynt (FRAMING AGNES), Conversations from the Sundance Labs | Roundtable on Mentally Preparing to Direct with Ira Sachs (FRANKIE), Karyn Kusama (DESTROYER) & more, Conversations from the Sundance Labs | Rick Famuyiwa on Directing THE WOOD and DOPE, Conversations from the Sundance Labs | Miguel Arteta (BEATRIZ AT DINNER) and Randa Haines (CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD) on Directing, Conversations from the Sundance Labs | Roundtable on Scene Breakdown and Preparing to Shoot with Walter Salles (THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES) & more, Conversations from the Sundance Labs | Roundtable on Building the World of Your Film with Miguel Arteta (BEATRIZ AT DINNER) & more, Conversations from the Sundance Labs | Benh Zeitlin (WENDY) on Creating the World of Your Film

Conversations from the Sundance Labs - Directing

Includes 10 items:

  • Conversations from the Sundance Labs | Lesli Linka Glatter (MAD MEN) and Keith Gordon (FARGO) on Scene Breakdown and Shooting Preparation
  • Conversations from the Sundance Labs | Karyn Kusama (DESTROYER) on Directing and Prepping Your Film
  • Conversations from the Sundance Labs | Kasi Lemmons (EVE'S BAYOU) on Directing
  • Conversations from the Sundance Film Festival | Pathways to Your First Feature Film with Carey Williams (EMERGENCY) & Chase Joynt (FRAMING AGNES)
  • Conversations from the Sundance Labs | Roundtable on Mentally Preparing to Direct with Ira Sachs (FRANKIE), Karyn Kusama (DESTROYER) & more
  • Conversations from the Sundance Labs | Rick Famuyiwa on Directing THE WOOD and DOPE
  • Conversations from the Sundance Labs | Miguel Arteta (BEATRIZ AT DINNER) and Randa Haines (CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD) on Directing
  • Conversations from the Sundance Labs | Roundtable on Scene Breakdown and Preparing to Shoot with Walter Salles (THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES) & more
  • Conversations from the Sundance Labs | Roundtable on Building the World of Your Film with Miguel Arteta (BEATRIZ AT DINNER) & more
  • Conversations from the Sundance Labs | Benh Zeitlin (WENDY) on Creating the World of Your Film

Go behind the scenes to learn from Sundance Advisors in our Conversations from the Labs series. This collection of videos will deepen your understanding of a major creative discipline, the art of Directing!

Event Bundle

Climate Storytelling & Sustainable Production

Includes 4 items: Master Class: Changing the Narrative - Climate Representation in Film & TV with Jessie Keyt, Advisor Studio: Climate Storytelling: How to Promote Sustainability From Script to Screen, Advisor Studio: A Guide to Sustainable Movie Production with Kent Hayward, Creator Meetup: How to Run a Sustainable Film Production with Heidi Kindberg (HBO/HBO Max)

Climate Storytelling & Sustainable Production

Includes 4 items:

  • Master Class: Changing the Narrative - Climate Representation in Film & TV with Jessie Keyt
  • Advisor Studio: Climate Storytelling: How to Promote Sustainability From Script to Screen
  • Advisor Studio: A Guide to Sustainable Movie Production with Kent Hayward
  • Creator Meetup: How to Run a Sustainable Film Production with Heidi Kindberg (HBO/HBO Max)

This curated video bundle features Collab Master Classes, Advisor Studios, and a range of insightful resources dedicated to climate storytelling and sustainability in film production. Whether you're a filmmaker, producer, or writer, these tools offer practical guidance and innovative strategies to tell your story and reduce your environmental impact on set!

Event Bundle

Business & Legal Literacy

Includes 3 items: Master Class: Filmmaker's Legal Toolkit: From Protecting IP Through Negotiating Distribution with Janis Nelson, Cory Field, Victoria Cook, Michael Donaldson, Chris Perez, and Raymond Tambe, Master Class: Finding and Negotiating Distribution for Your Film with Elsa Ramo, Master Class: Launching and Managing Your Creative Business with Financial Expert Amy Smith

Business & Legal Literacy

Includes 3 items:

  • Master Class: Filmmaker's Legal Toolkit: From Protecting IP Through Negotiating Distribution with Janis Nelson, Cory Field, Victoria Cook, Michael Donaldson, Chris Perez, and Raymond Tambe
  • Master Class: Finding and Negotiating Distribution for Your Film with Elsa Ramo
  • Master Class: Launching and Managing Your Creative Business with Financial Expert Amy Smith

It is critical to understand the business and legal considerations that will protect and advance your project, but it can be difficult to know where to look or what to prioritize. In this curated collection from our video library, you'll learn how to launch your own business, how to protect your intellectual property, and how to navigate the distribution landscape.

Event Bundle

Building Your TV Writing Career

Includes 5 items: Advisor Studio: Josh Goldenberg on Breaking into the Business and Building Your Career, Master Class: Breaking into the Industry as a TV Writer with Rae Benjamin (THE WITCHER), Diane Ademu-John (EMPIRE), Janet Lin (BRIDGERTON) and Jelani Johnson (EVP of Macro) | Presented by In the Cut, Master Class: Jumpstart Your TV Writing Career with Kelly Edwards (OUR KIND OF PEOPLE), Master Class: Succeeding in the Writers' Room with Niceole Levy (THE BANKER), Conversations from the Sundance Labs | The Business of Buying and Selling TV with Carrie Gillogly & more

Building Your TV Writing Career

Includes 5 items:

  • Advisor Studio: Josh Goldenberg on Breaking into the Business and Building Your Career
  • Master Class: Breaking into the Industry as a TV Writer with Rae Benjamin (THE WITCHER), Diane Ademu-John (EMPIRE), Janet Lin (BRIDGERTON) and Jelani Johnson (EVP of Macro) | Presented by In the Cut
  • Master Class: Jumpstart Your TV Writing Career with Kelly Edwards (OUR KIND OF PEOPLE)
  • Master Class: Succeeding in the Writers' Room with Niceole Levy (THE BANKER)
  • Conversations from the Sundance Labs | The Business of Buying and Selling TV with Carrie Gillogly & more

There is no direct, linear path to becoming an artist, which can be at times liberating, daunting, or sometimes both simultaneously. Where to start? In this curated collection from our video library, we asked TV writers, executives, and a partner at a management company to offer their perspectives and strategies for breaking into the industry.

Event Bundle

Artist Support, Funding & Festivals

Includes 4 items: Master Class: Funding Your Fiction Film with Caroline Von Kuhn, Giancarlo Nasi, Jessica Lacy, Jennifer Dana, Ryan Zacarias and Sophia Yen, Film Crowdfunding Strategies with Kickstarter, Advisor Studio: Simone Ling (MOSQUITA Y MARI) on Navigating Labs, Grants and Resources in the Independent Film Space , Insider Session: Film Festival Strategies with Senior Programmer John Nein

Artist Support, Funding & Festivals

Includes 4 items:

  • Master Class: Funding Your Fiction Film with Caroline Von Kuhn, Giancarlo Nasi, Jessica Lacy, Jennifer Dana, Ryan Zacarias and Sophia Yen
  • Film Crowdfunding Strategies with Kickstarter
  • Advisor Studio: Simone Ling (MOSQUITA Y MARI) on Navigating Labs, Grants and Resources in the Independent Film Space
  • Insider Session: Film Festival Strategies with Senior Programmer John Nein

Navigating film financing, labs and festivals can be daunting. In this curated collection from our video library, you will learn about various avenues for funding your film, creative and strategic support as an artist, as well as film festival strategies.

Event Bundle

Amplify Your Film with Music and Sound

Includes 12 items: Master Class: The Sound & Music of the Daniels’ EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE | Presented by the Dolby Institute, Designing Sound & Score with Nia DaCosta, Laura Karpman, and Katy Wood on THE MARVELS | Presented by The Dolby Institute, Master Class: Building your Story Soundscape with Music and Sound with Peter Golub (THE GREAT DEBATERS), Hildur Gu∂nadóttir (JOKER) and More | Presented by the Dolby Institute, Conversations from the Sundance Film Festival | Creating Cinematic Story through Music & Ambiance with Saul Williams (NEPTUNE FROST) & more, Conversations from the Sundance Labs | Ryan Coogler, Ludwig Göransson, and Stephen Boeddeker on Creating the Soundscape for BLACK PANTHER, Telling Your Story with Sound: A Conversation with Alma Har’el and Benh Zeitlin | Presented by the Dolby Institute, Master Class: Film Music - Creating the Soundscape for Your Film with Peter Golub (THE GREAT DEBATERS), Adam Smalley (THE LION KING) and Carter Burwell (THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN), The Role of a Music Supervisor with John Houlihan (BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY), Composing for Film and TV with Mark Isham (CRASH), The Basics of Being a Music Editor with Adam Smalley (THE MORNING SHOW), Using Sound to Craft Meaning with Yance Ford (STRONG ISLAND), Amplifying Story Through Music with Jodie Foster (HOUSE OF CARDS), Mark Isham (CRASH), and Tom Carlson (LITTLE MAN TATE)

Amplify Your Film with Music and Sound

Includes 12 items:

  • Master Class: The Sound & Music of the Daniels’ EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE | Presented by the Dolby Institute
  • Designing Sound & Score with Nia DaCosta, Laura Karpman, and Katy Wood on THE MARVELS | Presented by The Dolby Institute
  • Master Class: Building your Story Soundscape with Music and Sound with Peter Golub (THE GREAT DEBATERS), Hildur Gu∂nadóttir (JOKER) and More | Presented by the Dolby Institute
  • Conversations from the Sundance Film Festival | Creating Cinematic Story through Music & Ambiance with Saul Williams (NEPTUNE FROST) & more
  • Conversations from the Sundance Labs | Ryan Coogler, Ludwig Göransson, and Stephen Boeddeker on Creating the Soundscape for BLACK PANTHER
  • Telling Your Story with Sound: A Conversation with Alma Har’el and Benh Zeitlin | Presented by the Dolby Institute
  • Master Class: Film Music - Creating the Soundscape for Your Film with Peter Golub (THE GREAT DEBATERS), Adam Smalley (THE LION KING) and Carter Burwell (THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN)
  • The Role of a Music Supervisor with John Houlihan (BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY)
  • Composing for Film and TV with Mark Isham (CRASH)
  • The Basics of Being a Music Editor with Adam Smalley (THE MORNING SHOW)
  • Using Sound to Craft Meaning with Yance Ford (STRONG ISLAND)
  • Amplifying Story Through Music with Jodie Foster (HOUSE OF CARDS), Mark Isham (CRASH), and Tom Carlson (LITTLE MAN TATE)

Music and sound have the power to transform a film to deepen emotion, shape the story, and leave a lasting impact. In this curated video bundle, film composers, sound designers, music supervisors, and filmmakers share their creative approaches to building dynamic soundscapes. Elevate your film's sonic identity by harnessing the full expressive potential of sound and music through these Master Classes and Spotlights!

Insider Session

Insider Session: Applying to the Sundance Institute Native Lab

With: Isabella Madrigal and 3 more

Insider Session: Applying to the Sundance Institute Native Lab

With: Isabella Madrigal, Jared Lank, Adam Piron and Erica Elson
Advisor Studio

Advisor Studio: A Guide to High-Speed, Low-Budget Film Production

With: Miguel Silveira and 2 more

Advisor Studio: A Guide to High-Speed, Low-Budget Film Production

With: Miguel Silveira, Missy Hernandez and Erica Elson
Event Recording

Digital Security for Filmmakers with the Freedom of the Press Foundation

With: Davis Erin Anderson and Soheil Rezayazdi
Event Recording

Insider Session: Applying to the Sundance Institute Ignite Program

With: Samina Saifee and 3 more

Insider Session: Applying to the Sundance Institute Ignite Program

With: Samina Saifee, Kat Schulze, Toby Brooks and Katherine Street

Insider Session: Applying to the 2026 Sundance Institute Episodic Lab

With: Fatima Liaqat, Kyle Kubo, Jandiz Estrada Cardoso and Erica Elson
Advisor Studio

Advisor Studio: Crafting Bone-Chilling Horror Beat Sheets with Beth Bruckner O’Brien

With: Beth Bruckner O’Brien and Soheil Rezayazdi

Insider Session: Applying to Sundance Collab’s Cultural Impact Residency

With: Alejandra López, Caitlin McCarthy, Jennifer Huang and Soheil Rezayazdi
Master Class

Master Class: Harnessing AI as a Tool in Animated Storytelling

With: Michaela Ternasky-Holland and Katherine Street

Master Class: Harnessing AI as a Tool in Animated Storytelling

With: Michaela Ternasky-Holland and Katherine Street
Advisor Studio

Advisor Studio: Writing Action That Works As Drama with Javier Grillo-Marxuach

With: Javier Grillo-Marxuach and Soheil Rezayazdi
Event Recording

CDMX 2025: Catalyst (THE QUEENDOM)

With: Giulia Caruso and 3 more

CDMX 2025: Catalyst (THE QUEENDOM)

With: Giulia Caruso, Otilia Portillo, Paula Arroio and Elena Fortes
Event Recording

CDMX 2025: Urgency and Documentary Storytelling

With: Sudeep Sharma and 4 more

CDMX 2025: Urgency and Documentary Storytelling

With: Sudeep Sharma, Mstyslav Chernov, David Borenstein, Gianluca Matarrese and Lindsay Utz
Event Recording

CDMX 2025: Collaborating with Actors

With: Ash Hoyle and 3 more

CDMX 2025: Collaborating with Actors

With: Ash Hoyle, Carmen Emmi, Laura Casabé and Fernanda Echevarría Del Rivero
Spotlight

Spotlight: Showrunning the Resistance with ANDOR Creator Tony Gilroy

With: Tony Gilroy and Soheil Rezayazdi
Event Recording

Inside the Edit with BIPOC Doc Editors: SABBATH QUEEN

With: Sandi DuBowski and 5 more

Inside the Edit with BIPOC Doc Editors: SABBATH QUEEN

With: Sandi DuBowski, Francisco Bello, ACE, Jeremy Stulberg, ACE, Kyle Crichton, Meranda Yslas and Soheil Rezayazdi
Advisor Studio

Advisor Studio: Mastering the Art of Film Development with Dana Lustig

With: Dana Lustig and Katherine Street

Advisor Studio: Leading a Creative Partnership with Your Cinematographer with Tal Lazar

With: Tal Lazar
In this interactive 60-minute session, Lazar shares practical methods directors can use to lead creative collaborations with their cinematographers, regardless of their technical expertise. You’ll learn to find subtext in a scene, link it to effective visual methods, and gain authority through your understanding of the story. The session ends with a Q&A session, where audience members ask questions to gain insights tailored to their own filmmaking journey.
Event Recording

Inside the Edit with BIPOC Doc Editors: PATRICE: THE MOVIE

With: Jenna A. Bush and 4 more

Inside the Edit with BIPOC Doc Editors: PATRICE: THE MOVIE

With: Jenna A. Bush, Ally Southwood-Smith, John Tarquinio, Ephraim Kirkwood and Soheil Rezayazdi
Spotlight

Spotlight: Directing THE PITT with Amanda Marsalis

With: Amanda Marsalis and Patty West

Spotlight: Directing THE PITT with Amanda Marsalis

With: Amanda Marsalis and Patty West
Spotlight

Spotlight: Documenting Digital Lives with Lauren Greenfield (SOCIAL STUDIES)

With: Lauren Greenfield and Soheil Rezayazdi
Spotlight

Spotlight: Reimagining THE WEDDING BANQUET with Andrew Ahn

With: Andrew Ahn and Katherine Street

Master Class: Integrating Accessibility and Inclusion into Filmmaking

With: Reid Davenport, Day Al-Mohamed and Alison O'Daniel

Festival Spotlight 2025: Advocacy Meets AI with FREE LEONARD PELTIER

With: Jhane Myers, David France, Jesse Short Bull and Soheil Rezayazdi
Master Class

Master Class: Navigating International Production

With: Stuart Pollok and Katherine Street

Master Class: Navigating International Production

With: Stuart Pollok and Katherine Street
Event Recording

Inside the Edit with BIPOC Doc Editors: SPERMWORLD

With: Daniel Garber and 2 more

Inside the Edit with BIPOC Doc Editors: SPERMWORLD

With: Daniel Garber, Emily Yue and Soheil Rezayazdi
Event Recording

Festival Spotlight 2025: The Art of True Crime with ZODIAC KILLER PROJECT

With: Charlie Shackleton and Katherine Street
Event Recording

Festival Spotlight 2025: World Cinema Dramatic Competition

With: Nadia Fall and 3 more

Festival Spotlight 2025: World Cinema Dramatic Competition

With: Nadia Fall, Rohan Kanawade, Alireza Khatami and Erica Elson
Event Recording

Festival Spotlight 2025: Making Your First Feature

With: Rashad Frett and 3 more

Festival Spotlight 2025: Making Your First Feature

With: Rashad Frett, Alex Russell, Evan Twohy and Soheil Rezayazdi
Event Recording

Festival Spotlight 2025: NEXT

With: Kate Beecroft and Katherine Street

Festival Spotlight 2025: NEXT

With: Kate Beecroft and Katherine Street
Event Recording

Festival Spotlight 2025: World Cinema Documentary Competition

With: Sara Khaki and 4 more

Festival Spotlight 2025: World Cinema Documentary Competition

With: Sara Khaki, Mohammadreza Eyni, Christopher King, Maia Lekow and Soheil Rezayazdi
Master Class

Master Class: Building Confidence and Resilience as an Artist

With: Sasha Damjanovski and Katherine Street

Master Class: Building Confidence and Resilience as an Artist

With: Sasha Damjanovski and Katherine Street
Advisor Studio

Advisor Studio: Preparing Your Film for a Festival Premiere

With: Carolyn Kaylor and Erica Elson
Advisor Studio

Advisor Studio: Pitching Your Documentary for Production Funding

With: Kavery Kaul and Erica Elson

Insider Session: Submitting Your Feature Film to the Sundance Film Festival

With: Sudeep Sharma, Ana Souza and Katherine Street
Spotlight

Spotlight: Megan Park on MY OLD ASS

With: Megan Park and Erica Elson

Spotlight: Megan Park on MY OLD ASS

With: Megan Park and Erica Elson
Event Recording

Insider Session: Submitting Your Short to the Sundance Film Festival

With: Mike Plante and Katherine Street
Advisor Studio

Advisor Studio: Mastering the Art of the Pitch with Patricia Resnick

With: Patricia Resnick and Katherine Street
Spotlight

Spotlight: Jeff Nichols on THE BIKERIDERS

With: Jeff Nichols and Erica Elson

Spotlight: Jeff Nichols on THE BIKERIDERS

With: Jeff Nichols and Erica Elson
Event Recording

Insider Session: Applying to the Sundance Documentary Fund

With: Dominic Davis and 2 more

Insider Session: Applying to the Sundance Documentary Fund

With: Dominic Davis, Evan Neff and Katherine Street

Spotlight: Crafting Complex Characters with the Creators of HACKS

With: Jen Statsky, Lucia Aniello and Erica Elson
Spotlight

Spotlight: Creating Magic in Cinema with Mira Nair

With: Mira Nair and Erica Elson

Spotlight: Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck on Building a Successful Career as Writer/Directors in Film and TV

With: Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck and Erica Elson
For this Spotlight Event, Fleck and Boden will discuss their journey from making a short to their first feature, the art of collaboration, and the differences between directing film and television.

Making Your First Feature Film - A Conversation at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival

With: Julian Brave NoiseCat, Emily Kassie, Josh Margolin, Sean Wang and Patty West
For this in-person meetup during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, Sundance Collab brings together Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie (SUGARCANE), Josh Margolin (THELMA), and Sean Wang (DÌDI (弟弟)), for a candid conversation about the process of making their first feature film.
Event Recording

Insider Session: Applying to the Ignite Challenge

With: Toby Brooks and Katherine Street

Insider Session: Applying to the Ignite Challenge

With: Toby Brooks and Katherine Street
Spotlight

Spotlight: Emerald Fennell on SALTBURN

With: Emerald Fennell and Katherine Street

Spotlight: Emerald Fennell on SALTBURN

With: Emerald Fennell and Katherine Street
Event Recording

Insider Session: Applying to the Sundance Producers Track Programs

With: Andrea Alarcón and 4 more

Insider Session: Applying to the Sundance Producers Track Programs

With: Andrea Alarcón, Maria Caridad Clement, Kristin Feeley, Shira Rockowitz and Katherine Street
Advisor Studio

Advisor Studio: Documentary Grant Writing with Tracie Holder

With: Tracie Holder and Katherine Street

Advisor Studio: Documentary Grant Writing with Tracie Holder

With: Tracie Holder and Katherine Street
Spotlight

Spotlight: Sofia Coppola on PRISCILLA

Panelist: Sofia Coppola

Graton Fellowship for Artists from California-Based Tribes Information Session

With: Adam Piron, Ianeta Le'i, Charine Gonzales and Katherine Street

View More

Video Library

Explore Master Classes and live event recordings, Conversations from the Sundance Labs and more