Fostering Cinematic Visionaries: A Landmark Partnership for Future Filmmaking

A Groundbreaking Alliance to Empower Emerging Talent

UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television and the prestigious Sundance Institute have forged a comprehensive collaboration designed to nurture and advance the careers of future filmmakers and narrative artists. This significant agreement aims to blend the robust academic environment of UCLA with the Sundance Institute's profound expertise in artist development.

Synergizing Academic Rigor with Global Reach

Commencing in September, this five-year partnership will strategically combine UCLA's extensive academic resources with the Sundance Institute's invaluable industry experience. A key component of this alliance is the integration with Sundance Collab, an expansive international community boasting over 130,000 artists from 177 countries, thereby amplifying the reach and impact of their collective efforts.

Launching Innovative Digital and Experiential Programs

The collaboration will kick off with a dedicated Digital Hub, which is slated for full UCLA-wide implementation by 2027. This hub is designed to equip TFT students and staff with essential resources, effectively addressing the often-unseen aspects of film education. Additionally, three more transformative programs are in development for a 2028 launch: an annual Summer Summit hosted at UCLA, the UCLA Bridge Intensive offering TFT students an immersive Sundance Film Festival experience in Boulder, Colorado, and a unique co-developed initiative focusing on new technologies, creative innovation, social justice, and equity.

A Vision for the Future of Storytelling

Celine Parreñas Shimizu, Dean of TFT, expressed her enthusiasm, stating that this partnership represents a pivotal moment where a leading independent film institution unites with a premier public film school to construct a shared future. She emphasized that while Sundance has consistently identified and championed independent voices, TFT has been instrumental in shaping these voices through rigorous training in craft, methodology, and unique authorship, solidifying a powerful foundation for the future of cinematic narrative.