The DGA hosted receptions in New York and Los Angeles for filmmakers whose projects have been accepted into the 2018 Sundance Film Festival.
At the Los Angeles reception on January 4, 2018, Cooper repeated the festival advisory duties, DGA Special Assignments Executive Mayra Ocampo gave more information about the Guild, and DGA Director-member Patricia Cardoso (El Paseo De Teresa) discussed how the Guild can be very supportive of independent filmmakers and provide invaluable protections. Also attending the reception were DGA Director-members with projects at this year’s Sundance Festival including: Susan Bay Nimoy (Eve), Ben Lewin (The Catcher Was a Spy), Morgan Neville (Won't You Be My Neighbor?), Rick Rosenthal (Halfway There), Jessica Sanders (End of the Line) and Marina Zenovich (Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind).
At the New York reception on December 12, 2017, DGA Director-member Derek Cianfrance (The Light Between Oceans), the winner of the 2016 DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials (“Doubts” and “Expectations” Powerade, “Chase” Nike Golf), spoke about how the Guild’s flexibility makes it possible to still be an independent filmmaker and protected by the DGA. The New York reception also featured information from DGA Senior Field Representative Bart Daudelin about how the Guild can work with indie Directors and festival survival tips from Sundance Festival Director John Cooper and other Sundance staffers. DGA members with Sundance films at the Los Angeles reception included Directors Brett Haley (The Hero), Silas Howard (A Kid Like Jake) and Shaka King (LaZercism).
About the Festival:
The Sundance Film Festival brings original storytellers together for its annual program of dramatic and documentary films, shorts, New Frontier films, installations, performances, panel discussions, and dynamic music events. The 2018 Festival is scheduled to take place January 18-28 in Park City, Utah.