The Sundance Institute Feature Film Program has supported and championed many of the leading independent filmmakers of the past 30 years whose distinctive, singular films have engaged audiences worldwide. The unique vision of each filmmaker is embraced, encouraging a rigorous creative process with a focus on original and deeply resonant storytelling.
The Institute's guiding values of risk-taking, experimentation, and freedom of expression have broadened the program to include American and international artists in a more meaningful and vibrant dialogue across cultural and geographic boundaries. Over the years, the Feature Film Program has evolved to provide in-depth and year-round support to a next generation of filmmakers, from development through distribution, and has become an international model for supporting artists around the world.
Over 400 films supported by the Feature Film Program have been produced including recent award-winners Damien Chazelle's Whiplash, Ryan Coogler’s Fruitvale Station, Benh Zeitlin and Lucy Alibar’s Beasts of the Southern Wild, Sean Durkin’s Martha Marcy May Marlene, Cary Fukunaga’s Sin Nombre, Talya Lavie’s Zero Motivation, Maryam Keshavarz’s Circumstance, Dee Rees’ Pariah, Haifaa Al-Mansour's Wadjda and Ritesh Batra's The Lunchbox.
