Sundance Institute names fellows for summer Labs

The Sundance Institute celebrated 20 years of the Native and Indigenous Film Program in 2014. Photo: courtesy of The Sundance Institute.

PARK CITY, Utah. — The Sundance Film Institute named the artists and projects selected for its first group of signature summer Labs. Twelve fellows were chosen for the Directors and Screenwriters Labs, and 9 fellows participating in the Native Lab.

The Labs are opportunities for writers and directors to develop skills and projects. Portions of this year’s Labs will be offered virtually via Sundance Collab.

During the Directors Lab, filmmakers will focus on directing actors, visual storytelling language of their films, and building pre-production processes. Advisors will lead roundtable discussions, presentations, and one-on-one meetings with fellows.

The Screenwriters Lab will include one-on-one story sessions and support for the development of screenplays.

The Native Lab will concentrate on developing storytellers from Native and Indigenous backgrounds covering feature film, episodic work, and fine-tuning of Artists-in-Residence. Participants will refine their storytelling and technical skills through sessions with advisors and roundtable discussions and explore the indigenization of their crafts.

“We’re thrilled to be launching such a visionary group of filmmakers who have met this year’s challenges with an unstoppable resilience and spirit of collaboration and creativity,” said Feature Film Program Founding Director, Michelle Satter. “Their stories bear witness to the world we’re living in and give voice to characters and worlds that are both deeply personal and universal. We’re excited to provide meaningful and holistic mentorship and connections to these artists and be part of their burgeoning creative and career development as writers and directors.”

“Support for Indigenous storytellers has been part of the Institute’s mission since its founding,” said Indigenous Program Director N. Bird Runningwater. “We’re excited to nurture this cohort of filmmakers and their stories, strengthening the Indigenous lens through which their stories are being told and supporting them along their creative journey to the screen and audiences.”

Fellows and projects selected for the 2021 Native Lab: Miciana Alise (Tlingit) Mia, Too, Doane Tulugaq Avery (Iñupiaq)Mama Dragon, Bryson Chun (Kanaka Maoli) Poi Dogs, Alexandra Lazarowich (Cree) Sweet Home Reservation.

2021 Native Lab – Artist In Residence: Charine Pilar Gonzales and Tommy “Teebs” Pico.

The 2021 Native Lab Fellows will be joined at Lab by the 2021 Full Circle Fellows by: Jamie John (Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians), Sarah Liese (Diné and an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians), and Christina Zuni  (Isleta Pueblo).

Fellows and projects selected for the 2021 Directors Lab: Fancy Dance (U.S.A.) Erica Tremblay and Miciana Alise,  forward (U.S.A.) Cris Gris and Mary Ann Anane, The Macrobiotic Toker (U.S.A.) Tracy Droz Tragos, The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo (Chile) Diego Céspedes, Neon Tilapia (Kenya, U.S.A.)Tony Koros, Parts & Labor (U.S.A.) Cristina Costantini and Jacob Albert, A Real One (U.S.A.) McKenzie Chinn, and Stampede (U.S.A.) Sontenish Myers.

The 2021 Directors Lab Fellows will be joined at the Screenwriters Lab by: White Knuckle (U.S.A.) Xavier Coleman.