Resources
Sundance-created and curated resources to expand your creative practice
Featured
The Hollywood Commission
The Hollywood Commission resources for producers were created to provide all productions with access to state-of-the-art practices, resources, and guidance, including a sample policy to promote safe, equitable, and harassment-free workplaces. Additional resources include minimum system requirements and employer checklists, and template policies and procedures for managing high-risk situations.
View NowThe Video Archives Podcast with Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary
5 Ways to Calculate and Track Your Artistic Progress
Protecting Your Intellectual Property
IFTA’s Practical Guide to Copyright Protection provides a road map to better understand how to protect your works and enforce your rights.
You Are Going to Fail at Filmmaking More Than You Succeed—How to Deal with It
How To Refine A Shooting Script (And Still Adapt On Set)
Here are some things to keep in mind when revising a shooting script on a film set.
In Depth Cine: Using Colour To Tell A Story In Film
This video from In Depth Cine, examines the idea of colour in filmmaking by going through an introduction to colour theory, looking at how filmmakers can create a specific colour palette for their footage and taking a look at some examples of how colour has been used to aid the narrative of different stories.
BlackStar Podcast: Many Lumens - Janicza Bravo on Accountability, Friendship and the Creative Process
In this episode, Artistic Director & CEO of Blackstar, Maori Karmael Holmes, is joined by filmmaker Janicza Bravo. Their chat encompasses everything from accountability and friendship, to Janicza's hands-on creative process and the importance of choosing your battles, to her latest feature ZOLA and a shared childhood obsession with Barbies!
Be A Filmmaker Who Edits: Why So Many High-Profile Directors Edit Their Own Films
The Power of the Still: The Photography Behind the Scenes
From Women In Film - Filling the Gaps: Bringing History Alive on Screen
Part of the 2021 Women In Film TV Summit, this panel of female TV creators and performers focuses on unpacking the layers to developing and portraying historical narratives on TV. Featuring Zackary Drucker (EP & Director of THE LADY AND THE DALE), Joi McMillon (Editor of THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD, Juliet Rylance ("Della" on PERRY MASON), Jurnee Smolett ("Leti" on LOVECRAFT COUNTRY), Amy Ziering (Co-Creator, EP, Writer & Director of ALLEN V. FARROW); moderated by Andria Wilson Mirza (ReFrame Director).
Camera Types: What Kind Should You Use?
Black Film Space Podcast: Mel Jones on Directing
The Black Film Space Podcast is a resource for emerging filmmakers to learn the ins and outs of production from the world’s top Black TV & Film industry professionals. In this episode, Writer-Producer turned Director Mel Jones is interviewed about her directing practice.
Four Camera Moves Every Filmmaker Should Know
Directing Dune: A Conversation with Director Denis Villeneuve, moderated by Director Sam Mendes
7 Tips for Taking the Leap from Short to Feature Films
Filmmakers Andrew Ahn (Driveways, Spa Night), Carolyn Mao (Marvelous and The Black Hole), and Mike Mosallam (Breaking Fast, Brothers) sat down with Black Filmspace’s Lande Yoosuf for Seed&Spark’s latest Lunch&Learn: Shorts to Features to discuss what it takes for short filmmakers to start thinking big — and start making feature films.
Collab Takeaways: Casting Director Avy Kaufman on Three Steps to Finding the Right Cast for a Film or TV Show
Producers and directors often find it helpful to learn from the expertise of experienced casting directors to help them find the right actor for each unique role in a script. Here, casting director Avy Kaufman (The Ice Storm, Succession, King Richard) shares her insights into the process of scouting, auditions and building healthy communication skills with the production team after working on over 300 films and TV shows.
Avy Kaufman
Casting Director
Collab Takeaways: Four Ways to Prep for Your Movie Pitch to Potential Investors
Finding funding is one of the most difficult aspects of a filmmaker's career. Here, Producers Ryan Zacarias (THE MOUNTAIN, GIVE ME LIBERTY) and Jennifer Dana (IT FOLLOWS, THE ASSISTANT) share tips and advice for filmmakers looking to pitch investors and find the money to bring their movies to life.
Ryan Zacarias
Producer
The Director's Cut: A DGA Podcast
Brought to you by the Directors Guild of America, "The Director's Cut" will bring you the behind-the-scenes stories of today's most talked about films. Each episode features a different director interviewed by one of their peers, leading to revealing conversations about the grueling, but rewarding process of bringing their films to life.
Collab Takeaways: Directing Actors: Judith Weston’s Guide to Successful Relationships On Set
Judith Weston has been coaching directors on working with actors for nearly 30 years. Here, Weston shares insights for up-and-coming directors on the importance of establishing meaningful relationships with actors through auditions, rehearsals and filming and maintaining honest communication throughout the process.
Judith Weston
Hispanic and Latino Representation in Film: Erasure Behind the Camera (Report)
Chicana Director's Initiative
1in4 Coalition's 10 Ways To Support Disability Representation in Hollywood
1IN4 is an intersectional coalition of disabled creatives currently working in Hollywood focused on long-term institutional shifts to increase employment and authentic representation of disabled people. This resources outlines 10 ways film professionals can start supporting disability representation in Hollywood.
FICM Mexican Filmmaker Directory
Film Fatales Directors Database
A directory of directors for Film Fatales.
Collab Takeaways: The Power of Cinematography: DP Kirsten Johnson Shares Her Filmmaking Philosophy
Kirsten Johnson
Filmmaker
Sundance London: Directors in Conversation
Nikole Beckwith
How the Year's Biggest Movies Layer in Meaning with Symbolic Composition
The Future of Horror Is Female: Watch Karyn Kusama, Jennifer Reeder, and Prano Bailey-Bond Talk Genre’s Future
Collab Takeaways: How Filmmakers Create New Worlds With Music and Sound
Music and sound design are two of the most powerful tools available to film directors. In their Master Class on Building Your Story Soundscape with Music and Sound, Sundance Institute’s Director of Film Music Peter Golub and Glenn Kiser, Director of the Dolby Institute, lead a conversation with award-winning practitioners on how composers and sound designers work with directors to build the world of a film and shape its story and overall message.
Peter Golub
Director, Film Music Program
Collab Takeaways: Crucial Questions to Ask Yourself When Beginning a Documentary Film
Dawn Porter
Filmmaker
Listen to James Cameron and Steven Spielberg Talk About Their Favorite Moments in Sci-Fi
James Cameron and Steven Spielberg discuss their favorite moments in sci-fi, with insights into writing and directing sci-fi.
Collab Takeaways: How to Fail at Filmmaking (and Why You Must)
Heather Rae
Producer
Collab Takeaways: Let Your Career Catch You Off Guard: Chloé Zhao on Navigating the Film Business
Chloé Zhao
Writer / Director / Producer
WIF Speaker Series: Black Muslim Women in Media
Yes, You Can Get Film Distribution Without a Producer—Here's How
2019-2020 DGA Episodic TV Director Inclusion Report
American Film Market: Sessions Video Library
13 Filmmakers Share the Advice You Need to Direct an Indie Feature
Resources for Black Filmmakers: A Guide
This guide is a compilation of funding sources, professional organizations, and more to help Black filmmakers succeed.
IDA's Breaking It Down: The Documentary Interview
Part of IDA's Gettin' Real 2020 Conference, this panel features five talented documentary filmmakers discussing how trust and personal connection between creators and protagonists are keys to expanding the cinematic voice of the documentary interview.
4 Lessons on Being a First-Time Director from a First-Time Director
Ghetto Film School's Virtual Speaker Series
Walking the Wire: A Conversation on the Director Producer Partnership
Latinx Directors Database
Featured in honor of Latinx Heritage Month, the Latinx Directors Database, an initiative created by Latinx directors Alberto Belli, Aurora Guerrero, Joel Novoa, and Diego Velasco, is a resource dedicated to showcasing a community of talented Latinx directors with the experience to direct film, TV and commercial content. Studios, networks, producers and showrunners can use this database to find and hire Latinx directors. All Latinx directors with 1 episode of streaming or TV, a distributed feature, or a short that has participated in a top tier film festival, can sign up for free to be included in the database.