Sundance Expands Support for Indie Producers

LOS ANGELES: The creative producing initiative from the Sundance Institute is designed to support emerging independent producers in both the narrative and documentary fields, helping to provide assistance through labs, grants and long-term advisor relationships.

Part of the initiative is the re-created Creative Producing Summit (formerly the Independent Producers Conference). Held July 24 to 26 at the Sundance Resort in Utah, the summit is an invitation-only event for up to 40 producers and directors. Industry professionals, producers and directors will focus on narrative producing, documentary producing and the state of the independent film industry. Also, 20 panelists from the independent film industry will be on hand for one-on-one meetings, round-table discussions and case-study reviews.

The Feature Film Creative Producing Lab, a five-day event for narrative producers, takes place from July 20 to 24. The event is designed to foster a producer’s creative instincts in all stages of film production and to evolve communication and problem-solving skills. New for this year, the Documentary Film Creative Producing Lab takes place July 22 to 24. Invited producers are picked from a pool of Sundance Documentary Fund grantees to participate in one-on-one consultations, pitch trainings and presentations aimed at honing the craft of creative documentary producing.

"The vitality of independent producers is crucial to the quality and abundance of independent cinema, and we are committed to deepening the Institute’s support with the expanded Creative Producing Initiative," said Anne Lai, the producer in residence for the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program. "We believe this expansion will not only support the next generation of independent producers, but renew the community of veteran producers committed to the vibrancy of independent film."