The DGA hosted receptions in New York and Los Angeles for filmmakers whose projects have been accepted into the 2020 Sundance Film Festival.
Sundance Filmmakers Reception New York
At the Manhattan reception on December 12, DGA Director-member Rashaad Ernesto Green — whose film Premature was nominated for the NEXT Innovator Award at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival — spoke about how the Guild’s flexibility makes it possible to still be an independent filmmaker and protected by the DGA. The reception also featured information from DGA Field Representative Jennifer Peat about how the Guild can work with indie Directors and festival survival tips from Sundance Festival Director John Cooper, Director of Programming Kim Yutani and other Sundance staffers. Attending the reception were DGA Director-members with projects at this year’s Sundance Festival including: Braden King (The Evening Hour), David Bruckner (The Night House), Nanette Burstein (Hillary), Eliza Hittman (Never Rarely Sometimes Always), Heidi Ewing (I Carry You With Me), Julie Taymor (The Glorias), Lana Wilson (Taylor Swift: Miss Americana) and Matt Wolf (Spaceship Earth). Also attending the reception were DGA Director-members Liz Garbus (Who Killed Garrett Phillips?), Matthew Heineman (A Private War) and DGA Assistant Executive Director Michael Berger.
Sundance Filmmakers Reception Los Angeles
In Hollywood on January 9, Cooper and Yutani repeated the festival advisory duties, DGA Senior Manager, Special Events & Independent Organizing Matt Gamarra gave more information about the Guild, and Director Jeff Wadlow (Fantasy Island) discussed the advantages of Guild membership. DGA members with Sundance films at the Los Angeles reception included Greg Barker (Sergio), Janicza Bravo (Zola), Beth Einhorn (The Starr Sisters), Tara Miele (Wander Darkly) and Justin Simien (Bad Hair). DGA Assistant Executive Director Mayra Ocampo was also on hand to answer questions about the Guild.
About the Festival:
The Sundance Film Festival brings original storytellers together for its annual program of dramatic and documentary films, shorts, New Frontier films, installations, performances, panel discussions, and dynamic music events. The 2020 Festival is scheduled to take place January 23 - February 2 in Park City, Utah.