Joana Vicente is leaving the Sundance Institute, where she has actually supervised the not-for-profit and its fabled movie celebration because late 2021. Sundance board participant Amanda Kelso will certainly action in as acting CEO via April, while Vicente will certainly stay as an advisor to Kelso and the board via June.
Vicente pertained to Sundance from the Toronto International Movie Celebration, and got here as COVID had actually pressed the celebration online for 2021 and once again in 2022. Throughout her period, she pioneered a crossbreed style for 2023 and 2024, in which movies would certainly be seen personally in addition to online. Like a lot of events, fundraising has actually been testing as a result of the pandemic adhered to by stress in the bigger economic climate. In June, the Institute given up 11 staffers. Vicente has actually likewise been under stress to establish the celebration up for the long-term and form its vision amidst a difficult landscape for independent movie.
“I look back at the significant work we have accomplished together at the Institute and the herculean task of bringing the Festival back from the pandemic — all while making the Festival more accessible by welcoming a community online,” Vicente created in a letter introducing her leave.“From our first pivot to a digital festival and two successful in-person hybrid festivals, we have cemented Sundance’s position as the best platform for emerging storytellers. Facing extraordinary financial and logistical headwinds coming out of COVID, we came together to find new ways to ensure that our in-person artist labs, the heart of Sundance’s mission, could continue on.”
Her period is fairly brief in Sundance requirements. Previous CEO Keri Putnam invested a years there, while fest supervisor John Cooper tipped down in 2019 after a years.
Sundance Institute board chair Ebs Burnough given thanks to Vicente in a declaration and called her “a true advocate for independent storytellers,” including,“she will continue to positively impact this community.”
Kelso, that has actually formerly acted as acting CEO, stated,“I believe in the power of Sundance and its ongoing impact in nurturing our mission-based work.”
Review Vicente’s letter introducing her separation listed below.
Precious Sundance Area,
After 2 and a fifty percent motivating years, I have actually decided to start a brand-new phase and will certainly be proceeding from my function as CEO ofSundance Institute
Over the previous 6 years, I have had the opportunity of leading 2 of one of the most culturally considerable companies for independent movie in The United States and Canada via a few of one of the most difficult times for our market. This trip has actually been exceptionally fulfilling. I’m so happy with the job our Sundance group has actually achieved with each other, promoting independent writers and magnifying their voices. As I look in advance, I have actually chosen that it is time to discover brand-new chances and journeys while I proceed my long-lasting enthusiasm for sustaining transformative narration.
The board and I are functioning very closely on the management strategy, and I delight in to share that Sundance board participant Amanda Kelso will certainly be going back to supervise the company as actingCEO I will certainly stay on as an expert to Sundance via completion of June, supplying assistance to Amanda and the board and guaranteeing a smooth shift for the company’s ongoing success.
With excellent satisfaction and regard, I recall at the considerable job we have actually achieved with each other at the Institute and the burden of bringing the Celebration back from the pandemic– all while making the Celebration much more available by inviting an area online. From our initial pivot to an electronic celebration and 2 effective in-person crossbreed events, we have actually sealed Sundance’s setting as the very best system for arising writers. Dealing with amazing monetary and logistical headwinds appearing of COVID, we integrated to discover brand-new methods to make sure that our in-person musician laboratories, the heart of Sundance’s objective, might advance.
As a company, over these previous years we have actually had the ability to maintain and increase our assistance of international writers. We have actually discovered methods to provide even more financing chances for independent and imaginative voices. These freshly released fellowships to boost underrepresented writers are influencing the occupations of many. We have actually likewise broadened the possibility for musicians worldwide, with brand-new Celebrations in Asia and the just recently introduced Sundance Movie Celebration CDMX in Mexico City. With each other, we have actually established the Institute up for future development and security to proceed its significant job sustaining musicians and linking their jobs with target markets worldwide.
Much of our job has actually been concentrated on our long-lasting calculated preparation procedure, and I am certain Amanda is the appropriate individual for the task. I am delighted to see what follows.
Throughout my occupation, I have actually been lucky to be sustained by Sundance as a manufacturer, and it has actually been a benefit to lead this amazing company, straight sustaining the objective Robert Redford began again 40 years back. I will certainly for life be your champ and I can not wait to see what you achieve following.
Comfortably, Joana Vicente
