Course and Event Registrations Closing Soon!
Jan6
Spotlight
3:00PM - 4:00PM (PST)
The Urgent Hybrid Cinema of Kaouther Ben Hania (THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB)
With: Kaouther Ben Hania and Soheil Rezayazdi
The Urgent Hybrid Cinema of Kaouther Ben Hania (THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB)
January 6, 2026
3:00PM - 4:00PM (PST)
3:00PM - 4:00PM (PST)
With: Kaouther Ben Hania and Soheil Rezayazdi
In this event, Kaouther Ben Hania will discuss how she blurs the line between fiction and documentary to create groundbreaking, often unclassifiable work. The session will include time for an audience Q&A with Ben Hania. Don’t miss your chance to hear from the writer/director behind one of the most socially urgent films of 2025.
Jan8
Advisor Studio
2:00PM - 3:00PM (PST)
Writing a Great Screenplay and Building a Career with John August
With: John August and Erica Elson
Writing a Great Screenplay and Building a Career with John August
January 8, 2026
2:00PM - 3:00PM (PST)
2:00PM - 3:00PM (PST)
With: John August and Erica Elson
In this interactive 60-minute session, August, a frequent advisor at the Sundance Institute Screenwriting Lab, will share indispensable industry insights through both an independent and studio lens. Whether you’re an aspiring screenwriter ready to launch your career or a seasoned professional seeking to gain new industry insights, join us for a presentation that illuminates the path to a successful screenwriting career.
Jan9
Advisor Studio
10:00AM - 11:00AM (PST)
Mastering Film Festival Q&As and Audience Engagement
With: Leonard Cortana and Katherine Street
Mastering Film Festival Q&As and Audience Engagement
January 9, 2026
10:00AM - 11:00AM (PST)
10:00AM - 11:00AM (PST)
With: Leonard Cortana and Katherine Street
In this Advisor Studio, scholar and curator Leonard Cortana will discuss in depth the art and nature of the post-screening Q&A, what filmmakers need to do to prepare, tips on how to steer the conversation to create an enlightening and positive experience, and best practices for creating meaningful connections with the audience.
Directing: Core Elements
Beginner to Intermediate
Instructor: Marie Jamora
You have an interest in directing fiction films, but now you want an expert in the field to help guide you as you take the next step. In this eight-week self-paced course, you will learn about the directing craft, how to assemble and collaborate with your crew, work with actors, and translate work from script-to-screen. Throughout the course, you will have the opportunity to film an assigned scripted scene and get feedback on your work from a Sundance Collab Advisor.
Documentary Filmmaking: Core Elements
Beginner to Intermediate
Instructor: Patrick Shen
You have an idea for a documentary film, but now you want an expert in the field to help guide you as you take the next step. In this eight-week self-paced course, you will learn how to move from concept through post-production with a documentary film. Along the way, you will develop a compelling proposal for potential funders of your project and get feedback on your work from a Sundance Collab Advisor.
Screenwriting: Core Elements
Beginner to Intermediate
Instructor: Trey Ellis
Learn the core elements of writing a screenplay for a feature film, with an accomplished screenwriter as your guide. In this self-paced course, you will develop a new script idea into an outline that can be used to write your first draft.
Film Producing: Core Elements
Beginner to Intermediate
Instructor: Simon TaufiQue
Do you have a short or feature film you plan to produce? In this eight-week self-paced online course, you will learn the fundamental concepts of creative producing for independent fiction films - from development to financing to budgeting and more with an accomplished producer as your guide. Throughout the course, you will have the opportunity to create pitch materials to communicate your project’s vision to funders and key collaborators and get feedback on your work from a Sundance Collab Advisor.
Jan15
Spotlight
10:00AM - 11:00AM (PST)
Laura Poitras on Documenting Seymour Hersh in COVER-UP
With: Laura Poitras and Soheil Rezayazdi
Laura Poitras on Documenting Seymour Hersh in COVER-UP
January 15, 2026
10:00AM - 11:00AM (PST)
10:00AM - 11:00AM (PST)
With: Laura Poitras and Soheil Rezayazdi
Celebrated filmmaker Laura Poitras joins Sundance Collab for a live, online conversation about her explosive new documentary COVER-UP. This hour-long conversation will conclude with an audience Q&A, where attendees will have the opportunity to ask Poitras questions about her extraordinary new work. Don’t miss this chance to learn from Laura Poitras, an honoree of the Academy, BAFTA, DGA, Emmy, Peabody, and Independent Spirit Awards.
Crafting Your Short Film Screenplay
Beginner to Intermediate
Instructor: Asher Jelinsky
Short films are a great way to showcase your voice, talent, and storytelling skill. In this eight-week self-paced online course, you will learn the fundamentals of screenwriting and develop your original story idea into a short screenplay with accomplished filmmakers as your guides. Designated homework assignments are reviewed by a Sundance Advisor and designed to move you closer to your completed short screenplay (5-15 pages).
Rewriting Your Screenplay and Crafting Your Pitch
Advanced
Looking for support to polish your script and prepare your pitch? Revise your feature film screenplay with an accomplished screenwriter as your guide. In this live online, nine-week course designed for aspiring and experienced screenwriters, a Sundance Collab Instructor will offer a comprehensive approach to refining your script and preparing to pitch it to industry professionals.
Directing Actors
Beginner to Intermediate
Instructor: Tessa Blake
In just eight weeks, an accomplished director will give you the tools to transform a script into a roadmap that takes your vision from ideas to final cut. In this introductory level self-paced course, you'll explore and experiment with how to approach your collaboration with actors from auditions to working on set.
Self-Paced Course
Screenwriting: From Outline to First Draft of Your Screenplay
Instructor: Deborah Goodwin
Screenwriting: From Outline to First Draft of Your Screenplay
Intermediate
Instructor: Deborah Goodwin
You’ve got a great idea for a movie and fleshed out an outline for your screenplay. Now, it’s time to start writing that script that gets past gatekeepers and grabs your reader’s attention — whether it’s an assistant, an agent, an executive, a financier, or the talent you want on screen. In this course you will move from outline to completing a first draft of your screenplay (90-120 pages).
TV Writing: Core Elements
Beginner to Intermediate
Instructor: Angela LaManna
Create an outline for your episodic TV pilot idea in eight weeks with an accomplished TV writer as your guide. In this introductory level self-paced course, you will take this important first step for your original pilot script and learn a set of tools to help you ask the important questions of every scene and character that will get you past "stuck" when writing future episodes.
Recently Added Courses and Events
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
Jan15
Spotlight
10:00AM - 11:00AM (PST)
Laura Poitras on Documenting Seymour Hersh in COVER-UP
With: Laura Poitras and Soheil Rezayazdi
Laura Poitras on Documenting Seymour Hersh in COVER-UP
January 15, 2026
10:00AM - 11:00AM (PST)
10:00AM - 11:00AM (PST)
With: Laura Poitras and Soheil Rezayazdi
Celebrated filmmaker Laura Poitras joins Sundance Collab for a live, online conversation about her explosive new documentary COVER-UP. This hour-long conversation will conclude with an audience Q&A, where attendees will have the opportunity to ask Poitras questions about her extraordinary new work. Don’t miss this chance to learn from Laura Poitras, an honoree of the Academy, BAFTA, DGA, Emmy, Peabody, and Independent Spirit Awards.
Jan6
Spotlight
3:00PM - 4:00PM (PST)
The Urgent Hybrid Cinema of Kaouther Ben Hania (THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB)
With: Kaouther Ben Hania and Soheil Rezayazdi
The Urgent Hybrid Cinema of Kaouther Ben Hania (THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB)
January 6, 2026
3:00PM - 4:00PM (PST)
3:00PM - 4:00PM (PST)
With: Kaouther Ben Hania and Soheil Rezayazdi
In this event, Kaouther Ben Hania will discuss how she blurs the line between fiction and documentary to create groundbreaking, often unclassifiable work. The session will include time for an audience Q&A with Ben Hania. Don’t miss your chance to hear from the writer/director behind one of the most socially urgent films of 2025.
Insider Session
Insider Session: Applying to the Sundance Institute Producers Track Programs
With: Shira Rockowitz and 4 more
Insider Session: Applying to the Sundance Institute Producers Track Programs
With: Shira Rockowitz, Maria Caridad Clement, Andrea Alarcón, Kristin Feeley and Katherine Street
Feb18
Spotlight
1:00PM - 2:00PM (PST)
Driving Box Office Success with Joseph Kosinski
With: Joseph Kosinski and Erica Elson
Driving Box Office Success with Joseph Kosinski
February 18, 2026
1:00PM - 2:00PM (PST)
1:00PM - 2:00PM (PST)
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: Finding What Makes a Story Sing with Dana Fox (WICKED: FOR GOOD)
With: Dana Fox 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.
Directing Essentials
Beginner to Intermediate
Includes 2 courses:
- Directing Actors
- Directing: Core Elements
It's time to jump into the director's chair! In this two course bundle, you will learn the essentials of directing; from how to develop and execute a vision your vision for a project to how to communicate and collaborate with actors.
Course Bundle
TV Writing: From Idea to Pilot
Includes 2 courses: TV Writing: Core Elements, TV Writing: From Outline to First Draft of Your Pilot
TV Writing: From Idea to Pilot
Beginner to Intermediate
Includes 2 courses:
- TV Writing: Core Elements
- TV Writing: From Outline to First Draft of Your Pilot
You’ve got a great idea for a TV series. Now, it’s time to start writing. In this sequence of courses, you will learn a set of tools and go from idea to outline to completing a first draft of your original pilot (<60 pages).
Course Bundle
Screenwriting: From Idea to Screenplay
Includes 2 courses: Screenwriting: Core Elements, Screenwriting: From Outline to First Draft of Your Screenplay
Screenwriting: From Idea to Screenplay
Beginner to Intermediate
Includes 2 courses:
- Screenwriting: Core Elements
- Screenwriting: From Outline to First Draft of Your Screenplay
You’ve got a great idea for a movie. Now, it’s time to start writing that script. In this sequence of courses, you will learn a set of tools and go from idea to outline to completing a first draft of your original screenplay (<120 pages).
Trending Courses and Events
Screenwriting: Core Elements
Beginner to Intermediate
Instructor: Trey Ellis
Learn the core elements of writing a screenplay for a feature film, with an accomplished screenwriter as your guide. In this self-paced course, you will develop a new script idea into an outline that can be used to write your first draft.
Scripting and Pitching Your Documentary
Beginner to Intermediate
With: Mark Monroe and Xan Aranda
In this four-week course, Mark Monroe reveals the strategic art of shaping hundreds of hours of raw footage into compelling cinema. This course builds upon a previous Sundance Collab Master Class and features exclusive insights and conversations with established documentary storytellers Morgan Neville (Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Piece By Piece), Geeta Gandbhir (The Perfect Neighbor), and Kavery Kaul (The Bengali).
Writing Horror for Film & TV (On Demand)
Intermediate
With: Mariama Diallo, Avra Fox-Lerner, Owen Egerton, DuBois Ashong, Jake Yuzna and Chloe Okuno
Documentary Filmmaking: Core Elements
Beginner to Intermediate
Instructor: Patrick Shen
You have an idea for a documentary film, but now you want an expert in the field to help guide you as you take the next step. In this eight-week self-paced course, you will learn how to move from concept through post-production with a documentary film. Along the way, you will develop a compelling proposal for potential funders of your project and get feedback on your work from a Sundance Collab Advisor.
Directing: Core Elements
Beginner to Intermediate
Instructor: Marie Jamora
You have an interest in directing fiction films, but now you want an expert in the field to help guide you as you take the next step. In this eight-week self-paced course, you will learn about the directing craft, how to assemble and collaborate with your crew, work with actors, and translate work from script-to-screen. Throughout the course, you will have the opportunity to film an assigned scripted scene and get feedback on your work from a Sundance Collab Advisor.
Directing Actors
Beginner to Intermediate
Instructor: Tessa Blake
In just eight weeks, an accomplished director will give you the tools to transform a script into a roadmap that takes your vision from ideas to final cut. In this introductory level self-paced course, you'll explore and experiment with how to approach your collaboration with actors from auditions to working on set.
TV Writing: Core Elements
Beginner to Intermediate
Instructor: Angela LaManna
Create an outline for your episodic TV pilot idea in eight weeks with an accomplished TV writer as your guide. In this introductory level self-paced course, you will take this important first step for your original pilot script and learn a set of tools to help you ask the important questions of every scene and character that will get you past "stuck" when writing future episodes.
Self-Paced Course
Screenwriting: From Outline to First Draft of Your Screenplay
Instructor: Deborah Goodwin
Screenwriting: From Outline to First Draft of Your Screenplay
Intermediate
Instructor: Deborah Goodwin
You’ve got a great idea for a movie and fleshed out an outline for your screenplay. Now, it’s time to start writing that script that gets past gatekeepers and grabs your reader’s attention — whether it’s an assistant, an agent, an executive, a financier, or the talent you want on screen. In this course you will move from outline to completing a first draft of your screenplay (90-120 pages).
Jan8
Advisor Studio
2:00PM - 3:00PM (PST)
Writing a Great Screenplay and Building a Career with John August
With: John August and Erica Elson
Writing a Great Screenplay and Building a Career with John August
January 8, 2026
2:00PM - 3:00PM (PST)
2:00PM - 3:00PM (PST)
With: John August and Erica Elson
In this interactive 60-minute session, August, a frequent advisor at the Sundance Institute Screenwriting Lab, will share indispensable industry insights through both an independent and studio lens. Whether you’re an aspiring screenwriter ready to launch your career or a seasoned professional seeking to gain new industry insights, join us for a presentation that illuminates the path to a successful screenwriting career.
Crafting Your Short Film Screenplay
Beginner to Intermediate
Instructor: Asher Jelinsky
Short films are a great way to showcase your voice, talent, and storytelling skill. In this eight-week self-paced online course, you will learn the fundamentals of screenwriting and develop your original story idea into a short screenplay with accomplished filmmakers as your guides. Designated homework assignments are reviewed by a Sundance Advisor and designed to move you closer to your completed short screenplay (5-15 pages).
Jan6
Spotlight
3:00PM - 4:00PM (PST)
The Urgent Hybrid Cinema of Kaouther Ben Hania (THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB)
With: Kaouther Ben Hania and Soheil Rezayazdi
The Urgent Hybrid Cinema of Kaouther Ben Hania (THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB)
January 6, 2026
3:00PM - 4:00PM (PST)
3:00PM - 4:00PM (PST)
With: Kaouther Ben Hania and Soheil Rezayazdi
In this event, Kaouther Ben Hania will discuss how she blurs the line between fiction and documentary to create groundbreaking, often unclassifiable work. The session will include time for an audience Q&A with Ben Hania. Don’t miss your chance to hear from the writer/director behind one of the most socially urgent films of 2025.
Feb18
Spotlight
1:00PM - 2:00PM (PST)
Driving Box Office Success with Joseph Kosinski
With: Joseph Kosinski and Erica Elson
Driving Box Office Success with Joseph Kosinski
February 18, 2026
1:00PM - 2:00PM (PST)
1:00PM - 2:00PM (PST)
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.
Introduction to Visual Storytelling
Beginner
Instructor: Hana Kitasei
With an experienced filmmaker as your guide, you will leave the course with a deeper understanding of cinematic language and the confidence to apply these techniques to your own projects. Through in-class analysis and exercises, you’ll understand the key concepts around composition, lenses, color, lighting, and camera movement to evoke specific feelings and immerse your audience in your world.
On Demand Course
Developing the Narrative Foundation of Your Screenplay (On Demand)
Instructor: David Schwab and 6 more
Developing the Narrative Foundation of Your Screenplay (On Demand)
Beginner to Intermediate
With: David Schwab, Destin Daniel Cretton, Howard Rodman, Mira Nair, Sterlin Harjo, Tamara Jenkins and Trey Ellis
The challenge of writing a feature-length screenplay isn’t starting - it’s choosing the right idea and then sustaining dramatic tension for two hours. The story demands a central dramatic problem powerful enough to drive the entire script, and finding the perfect conflict is often the hardest part of the journey. In this On Demand course, veteran screenwriter David Schwab provides the essential process for testing your ideas and building narratives that truly last.
Jan9
Advisor Studio
10:00AM - 11:00AM (PST)
Mastering Film Festival Q&As and Audience Engagement
With: Leonard Cortana and Katherine Street
Mastering Film Festival Q&As and Audience Engagement
January 9, 2026
10:00AM - 11:00AM (PST)
10:00AM - 11:00AM (PST)
With: Leonard Cortana and Katherine Street
In this Advisor Studio, scholar and curator Leonard Cortana will discuss in depth the art and nature of the post-screening Q&A, what filmmakers need to do to prepare, tips on how to steer the conversation to create an enlightening and positive experience, and best practices for creating meaningful connections with the audience.
Introduction to Directing
Beginner
Instructor: Rachel Raimist
With an experienced film director as your guide, this four-week course will provide you with a fundamental understanding of the craft. By looking at scenes from existing films, discussing different directing techniques, and analyzing case studies, you will learn the director's visual language and the tools they have available to them. Whether you are preparing to direct your first film, transitioning from another industry position into directing, or generally have an interest in directing, this course will provide you with an entry point into the art of filmmaking.
TV Writing: From Outline to First Draft of Your Pilot
Intermediate
Instructor: Angela LaManna
You’ve got a great idea for a TV series and you have fleshed out an outline for your pilot. Now, it’s time to start writing that script that grabs your reader’s attention - whether it’s an agent, an executive, or a showrunner. In this course you will move from outline to completing a draft of your original pilot (under 60 pages).
Directing Actors (On Demand)
Beginner to Intermediate
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