Stephanie Ornelas

By Stephanie Ornelas When Octavia Spencer and Sandra Oh spoke at the “Women Breaking Barriers” panel during the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, they had a lot to say about what it means to rise above in the filmmaking industry as women actors-turned-producers. “Everyone has value,” said Spencer. “And w…

By Stephanie Ornelas No question, drones are impacting the way many filmmakers approach cinematography today. Whether in television, biopics, documentaries, or shorts, drones in more recent years have allowed artists from all walks of life to capture amazing shots. But perhaps the question isn’t: “H…

By Stephanie Ornelas The 2022 Cannes Film Festival is in full swing, and our eyes are on Sundance Film Festival alums Shaunak Sen (All That Breathes) and Charlotte Wells (Aftersun) as major distributors announced their acquisitions. HBO Max recently acquired All That Breathes, which premiered during…

By Stephanie Ornelas There’s no doubt that Indigenous cinema has blossomed over the years, with award-winning films like The Wild Indian, The Territory, and The Headhunter’s Daughter captivating viewers everywhere. Now, audience members who want to relive the Indigenous cinematic experience within the 2022 Sundance shorts program can, by visiting one of seven independent theaters

By Stephanie Ornelas Sometimes you have to let art speak for itself. As 2022 Sundance Film Festival favorites hit theaters and streaming sites, several new releases tackle issues surrounding reproductive rights. It was a clear theme this year when filmmakers Audrey Diwan, Tia Lessin, Emma Pildes, an…

[pictured: Half the Picture] Eight Sundance Festival Premieres About Women’s Rights to See on Women’s Equality Day By Stephanie Ornelas Today is International Women’s Equality Day, selected in honor of the 1920 certification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote…

As we continue our Doctober series celebrating 20 years of the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program (DFP), we’re highlighting the 20 completed documentary short films that were supported through our Documentary Short Program. Through grants and labs, these initiatives are designed to expand support to creators of short films to deliver authentic, thought-provoking projects.

By Stephanie Ornelas Building an enduring, evolving community for independent storytellers from all walks of life is crucial for an organization like Sundance Institute — and that means having the right leaders in place who will guide the institution in the right direction. To continue carrying out this mission, the Institute is adding to its Sundance Institute is adding to its Board of values-based leaders by appointing three new members to its Board of Trustees. Lulu Wang, Patrick Gaspard, and…

[Above: Maggie Gyllenhaal and Steve Zahn host the 2003 Sundance Film Festival Awards] By Stephanie Ornelas We here at the Sundance Institute have been thinking about our past a lot and realized that it’s pretty darn easy to make the case for every single Sundance Film Festival earning the title of B…

Five world premiere feature films and four award-winning films from previous Sundance Film Festivals have just been added to the 2023 program. These projects are adding some cinematic magic to an already stellar lineup of films. Among the nine additional screenings rounding out the slate are five world premieres that include trailblazing documentaries and electrifying Five world premiere feature films and four award-winning films from previous Sundance Film Festivals have just been added to the…