Spotlight Events feature conversations with high-profile film and television industry professionals who share helpful advice and insights on their career experiences and creative process.


Join Sundance Collab for a conversation with Academy Award-nominated Cinematographer Rachel Morrison (Mudbound, Black Panther, Fruitvale Station) as she talks about her transition to the director’s role, first in television (The Morning Show, The Mandalorian, Hightown) and now with her feature directorial debut, The Fire Inside. She will discuss her creative process, the storytelling tools she brings to every job, and taking on the boxing drama.


“The Fire Inside, in a deceptively brilliant twist on the inspirational sports film, is a humanist story, whose every hard-hitting beat and aching emotion is also truly earned.” - Robert Daniel, Screen International


Written by Barry Jenkins, The Fire Inside tells the true story of Claressa 'T-Rex' Shields, a boxer from Flint, Michigan who trained to become the first woman in U.S. history to win an Olympic gold medal in the sport. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and will be released worldwide on December 25th.


If you would benefit from an accommodation to fully participate in this event, please complete this form,  contact us at (435) 776-7790 , or email us at accessibility@sundance.org to discuss your specific needs. Every effort will be made to accommodate advance requests; requests made within 5 days of the event may not be guaranteed.


Live event registration for Sundance Collab Spotlight Events is free of charge. A recording of this event will be posted to our Video Library the next business day following the event. All registered attendees can watch the recording for two business days after it is posted. After that, on-demand access to the recording can be purchased for $10.

Rachel Morrison, ASC
Rachel Morrison is a director/cinematographer who has built an extensive body of work; channeling each story’s core narrative into arresting imagery and dynamic emotion. For her work on Mudbound, Morrison became the first woman ever to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography. She is also the first woman to lens a Marvel superhero movie, the box office smash Black Panther. In the past few years, Morrison has directed The Morning Show for Apple, Impeachment for FX, and the Mandelorian for Disney Plus. She also helmed the pilot of Starz’ series Hightown which is currently in its third season. Morrison’s Feature debut, The Fire Inside, will be released theatrically this Christmas by MGM. It tells the story of the American dream versus the American reality as experienced by boxing phenom Claressa Shields. Morrison is a mother of two and an avid amateur surfer. more...
Katherine Street
Moderator | Digital Course & Event Producer
Katherine "Kat" Street is an LA-based award-winning filmmaker and Philadelphia native. A cinephile at heart, she writes female-driven stories with complex (oftentimes damaged) main characters, centered around self-discovery, self-love, and belonging. She has written numerous short-form projects, including original shorts, pilots, and features. She wrote and directed the dramatic short film “Cycles,” which received festival recognition in both acting and best romantic short. She also created her award-winning flagship web series "The New Adult,” which is currently streaming on Kweli TV. more...

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