Park City, Utah - Sundance Institute today announced the participants for its weeklong Producers Lab, taking place July 25 - 29, and the participants in the Producers Summit, August 2 - 5, both taking place digitally on Sundance Co//ab. Five fiction film and five nonfiction producers and their projects have been selected for the Producers Labs, and more than 50 industry leaders and 65 independent filmmakers will participate in the Producers Summit. Under the leadership of Creative Producing and Artist Support Director Shira Rockowitz and Documentary Film Program Deputy Director Kristin Feeley, the Institute's Producers Program champions the current and next generation of producers across fiction and nonfiction film and encompasses a year-round series of Labs, Fellowships, granting and events.
The Labs support emerging independent producers and engage the community of veteran producers who sustain the vibrancy and vitality of independent film. Under the guidance of advisors, the Labs allow fellows to deepen the creative potential of their projects, develop their creative instincts and evolve their storytelling, communication and problem-solving skills at all stages of their project. The fellows continue on through the Producers Summit and receive ongoing year-long mentorship, creative support, and networking opportunities with industry.
This year's advisors include fiction producers Mollye Asher (Academy Award winner, Nomadland), Amy Lo (Nancy), Paul Mezey (After Yang), Laura Rister (The Tale), and nonfiction producers Violeta Bava (Azor) Jannat Gargi (Vice Studios), Andrea Meditch (Fathom), and Tracy Rector (Nia Tero). The Producers Summit brings together diverse sectors of the industry including financiers, packaging agents, distributors, and domestic and international sales representatives with emerging and mid-career producers for a revolving series of conversations around critical issues facing the field and producer sustainability. The program includes curated talks, one-on-one meetings, roundtables and a keynote conversation with Hasan Minhaj exploring the critical role of bold, personal storytelling.
The Fellows and projects selected for the 2021 Feature Film Producers Lab are:
Caity (U.S.)
Producing Fellow: Katie White
While managing her familys local haunted house with her alcoholic father, Paul, 16-year-old Caity navigates the evaporating space between childhood and adulthood and discovers a fantasy of intimacy in another teenage employee, Hannah.
Katie White is a creative producer. Her work includes the award winning film Best Summer Ever (SXSW 2021), hailed as a Critics Pick' by The New York Times, and praised widely for its groundbreaking inclusivity. She recently produced the queer comedy Bridesman, Grindr's first foray into narrative series. Katie is the co-founder of the Eastside Women's Film Club, a volunteer with SELAH, and member of the DPA, membership and inclusion committee.
Fancy Dance (U.S.)
Producing Fellow and Mark Silverman Honoree: Deidre Backs
Following the disappearance of her sister, a Native American hustler kidnaps her niece from her white grandparents and sets out for the state powwow in the hopes of keeping what's left of their family intact.
Deidre Backs worked at Alexander Payne's development company on The Descendants and next on Nebraska after transitioning to production. Her first foray into independent film was as an associate producer on Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter with the Zellner Brothers. Deidre then served under Daniel Lupi on Spielberg's Bridge of Spies and Ready Player One, and Jordan Peele's Us. Most recently, she produced the short film, Little Chief, which premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival.
The Incredible Heist of Hallelujah Jones (U.S.)
Producing Fellow: Duran Jones
During a season of extreme gun violence in Compton, California, a precocious book thief who hears the voices of his dead parents finds out that his familys long-lost novel is being auctioned off. With the help of the neighborhood matriarch, a 100-year-old Black woman, he concocts a plan to steal it back.
Duran Jones is a graduate of Hampton University, Scripps Howard School of Journalism, and an accomplished independent rapper/ songwriter with a keen sense of storytelling. Now a Producing Fellow at the American Film Institute Conservatory, his goal is to tell truthful stories for people of color that impact our global community. Jones is also a graduate of the 2020 PGA Power of Diversity workshop.
The Plutonians (U.S.)
Producing Fellow: Shao Min Chew Chia
When the scientific definition of the word planet threatens to exclude Pluto, ninth planet expert Alvin Gibbs swoops into a sleepy international astronomy conference to save it, bullying others to cover his fear that his lifes labor may ultimately be worthless.
Shao Min Chew Chia began her career as a producer for a current affairs program on Channel News Asia. Since then, she has produced multimedia for international sporting events, commercials, music videos, short films, and documentaries. Her work as a writer, producer, and director has screened at film festivals including Berlin and San Sebastian, and has been supported by The Spike Lee Production Fund and European Short Pitch. She has a bachelor's degree from Harvard University and graduated from the NYU master's program in filmmaking as an Ang Lee Scholar.
Sundown Town (U.S.)
Producing Fellow: Austin Sepulveda
When Loretha learns that her grandmothers health has taken a downward turn, she returns home to the deep south with her naive boyfriend Sam. As mysterious encounters begin to unearth long held prejudices, Lo's scarred past comes to light when she discovers a dark secret hidden in her own hometown.
Austin Sepulveda obtained his Bachelor's Degree from The Pennsylvania State Univer
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Park City, Utah - Sundance Institute today announced the participants for its weeklong Producers Lab, taking place July 25 - 29, and the participants in the Producers Summit, August 2 - 5, both taking place digitally on Sundance Co//ab. Five fiction film and five nonfiction producers and their projects have been selected for the Producers Labs, and more than 50 industry leaders and 65 independent filmmakers will participate in the Producers Summit. Under the leadership of Creative Producing and Artist Support Director Shira Rockowitz and Documentary Film Program Deputy Director Kristin Feeley, the Institute's Producers Program champions the current and next generation of producers across fiction and nonfiction film and encompasses a year-round series of Labs, Fellowships, granting and events.
