The Sundance Institute announced a $3 million gift from The Hearthland Foundation to support the return of its Directors Lab to Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah, according to a October 22 report. The multiyear commitment is one of the largest contributions in the Institute's history.
The funding from The Hearthland Foundation, which was founded by Kate Capshaw and Steven Spielberg, will bolster the Feature Film Program. Additionally, the investment aims to increase fellowships and direct, unrestricted grants to independent artists. The initiative seeks to support emerging voices across fiction, nonfiction feature films, episodic, and emerging media in the U.S. and globally.
Rachel Levin, President of Philanthropy at The Hearthland Foundation, stated that the organization invests in the power of creativity and storytelling to expand the sense of what is possible. Levin noted that the gift will help carry forward the legacy of the Sundance Institute Directors Lab, which provides emerging artists the freedom to find their voices.
Sundance Institute CEO David Linde described the gift as a profound vote of confidence in independent artists and the future of the Institute. Michelle Satter, the Founding Senior Director of Artist Programs at the Sundance Institute, said the support will underwrite the return of the Directors Lab to its historic home at Sundance Mountain Resort. Satter added that the funding will provide vital artist granting and help ensure original stories reach global audiences.
Founded in 1981 by Robert Redford, the Sundance Institute is a nonprofit that provides space for artists to create and thrive through various labs, granting, and mentorship programs. The Institute's signature programs include the Sundance Film Festival and Sundance Collab, a digital community platform for working artists.
