Sundance Film Festival Director Tabitha Jackson to depart

Tabitha Jackson led the Sundance Film Festival through the pandemic-era. Photo: Sundance Institute

PARK CITY, Utah — Sundance Institute CEO Joana Vicente announced Tuesday that Sundance Film Festival and Public Programming Director Tabitha Jackson is leaving the nonprofit.

Jackson is expected to leave following the institute’s film festival in London this month.

“Being part of driving forward the mission and purpose of the Sundance Institute has been a deep privilege and a profoundly meaningful part of my life,” Jackson said.

“This incredible organization has only increased my unshakeable belief in artists as a transformative societal force and, in this complex and challenging historical moment, a force more necessary than ever. Going forward, working with and for artists and their freedom of creative expression will continue to be my guiding light.”

Vicente will lead the festival’s development and planning in the interim, with a public search for the next director currently underway.

Jackson joined Sundance in 2013 as the director of the documentary film program. She was named festival director in February 2020, just before the Covid-19 pandemic hit the U.S.

She led Sundance through two virtual affairs, while also making history at this year’s Academy Awards with Best Picture winner CODA and Best Documentary winner Summer of Soul, which both premiered at the 2021 festival.

It was also announced on Tuesday that Sundance Director of Programming Kim Yutani, who has been with the organization since 2006, will be joining the institute’s senior leadership team. She will now manage industry and artist relations, and will work closely alongside Vicente in the planning of the next festival.

“We are grateful to Tabitha and her contributions to the Sundance mission over the last eight and a half years as a leader at the organization,” Vicente said.

“She helped lead the Sundance Film Festival through the ongoing pandemic, helping transform it for the future, all while keeping independent artists as our north star. There is no doubt that she has left her indelible imprint on the organization. She leaves us with the Festival never more vital than during this time of great change in our industry and in a place to continue to make a meaningful contribution to culture.

“I look forward to leading the Festival in the interim and working more closely with Kim and our exceptional team of film programmers. The strength and experience of our existing Festival leadership and programming team means there is no shortage of talent to continue forward with the work we are doing for next year’s Festival.”

The 2023 Sundance Film Festival will be a hybrid event, both online and in Park City from Jan. 19 to Jan. 29.