UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television and Sundance Institute Announce Landmark Collaboration to Develop the Next Generation of Independent Storytellers

Multi-year affiliation unites the world's premier independent film organization with California's leading public film school, beginning fall 2026

LOS ANGELES, [July 14, 2026] - UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television (TFT) and the Sundance Institute today announced a historic multi-year agreement that will create a comprehensive pathway for the next generation of independent filmmakers, storytellers, and cultural innovators. With an initial phase targeted for launch in September 2026, the collaboration combines Sundance Institute's unparalleled industry experience and Sundance Collab's global community of more than 130,000 artists across 177 countries with TFT's world-class academic excellence, production infrastructure and the living legacy of the L.A. Rebellion - the most significant movement in American independent cinema.

The Sundance Collab x UCLA TFT Digital Hub is set for launch this fall, giving TFT students access to curated content on Sundance's digital community platform. Three additional programs are under development and slated to roll out in through 2028: the UCLA Bridge Intensive (including a Sundance Film Festival Experience for TFT students in Boulder, Colorado), an annual Summer Summit hosted on UCLA's campus (Sundance Institute at UCLA), and a co-developed program focused on new technologies, creativity, justice and equity.

This is what it looks like when the premier institution for independent film comes to the premier public film school and says, Let's build something together.' Sundance has always been the place where independent voices are found and championed. TFT has always been the place where those voices are forged - in craft, in method, in authorship. Together, we are committed to independence, innovation, and impact: giving our students a direct pathway from the classroom into the full ecosystem of independent cinema - and the tools to make work that reaches audiences and changes the world.

- Celine Parre as Shimizu, Dean, UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television

At UCLA, we strive to connect knowledge with humanity in ways that expand opportunity, deepen understanding and serve the public good. The arts are indispensable to that mission, offering powerful ways to explore the human experience, foster empathy and bring people together across perspectives. Through this collaboration with the Sundance Institute, the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television will create new opportunities for students, artists and audiences to learn from one another, advance the art of storytelling and extend UCLA's impact across California and around the world.

- Julio Frenk, Chancellor, University of California, Los Angeles

We're excited to launch this groundbreaking collaboration with UCLA TFT that advances Sundance Institute's core mission of championing independent voices, driving innovation, and expanding educational access for transformative storytellers. This collaboration connects Sundance Collab - our global online platform for visionary creators - with UCLA's distinguished legacy of artist development. Together, we're creating an unprecedented pipeline to amplify independent voices and evolve the future of storytelling and connected audience engagement.

- Michelle Satter, Founding Senior Director, Sundance Institute Artist Programs and Sundance Collab

The University of California exists to serve the people of California and the world. This partnership takes two of the most powerful forces in independent storytelling and puts them in the same room, on the same campus, working toward the same mission. The Regents are proud to support this bridge between education and industry. What Sundance Institute and TFT are building together is nothing short of an incredible opportunity for UCLA, and I believe it will become a national model for what film education and industry can and should be.

- Greg Sarris, UC Board of Regents and Sundance Board

Over the next year, UCLA TFT and Sundance will further define and refine a series of proposed collaboration components including, but not limited to, the following:

Digital Hub - Targeted Launch Fall 2026 (September 2026)

A co-branded UCLA TFT microsite within the Sundance Collab platform with the goal of providing all TFT students, faculty, and staff on-demand access to expert classes, curated content, industry insights, and guided pathways that address the hidden curriculum of film education. Targeted to expand UCLA-wide in 2027.

UCLA Bridge Intensive + Sundance Film Festival Experience in Boulder, Colorado - Targeted Launch 2027

A hybrid program supporting TFT students' transition from education to professional practice, beginning in senior year and continuing through graduation. May include online seminars; alumni mentorship; professional development in pitching, distribution and representation; and direct access to Sundance Collab programming - including a curated cohort experience at the Sundance Film Festival in Boulder, Colorado.

Summer Summit of Sundance Institute at UCLA- Targeted Launch Summer 2027

An annual in-person convening hosted on UCLA's campus for emerging filmmakers and creative leaders, focused on career navigation, creative technology and building global audiences. Planned first as a one-day gathering designed to evolve into a signature two-day event, the Summit is intended to become a flagship annual convening connecting UCLA, Sundance Institute, alumni and industry.

Co-Developed Program - Targeted Launch 2028

A joint online program intends to explore literacy in new technologies for film and theater makers rooted in the L.A. Rebellion legacy that is distinctively TFT's. It would reach Sundance Collab's global community while meeting TFT's standards of academic rigor, inclusive excellence, and

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