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Chloé Zhao, Michelle Satter and Ryan Coogler attend Celebrating Sundance Institute: A Tribute to Founder Robert Redford Event at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. © 2026 Sundance Institute | photo by Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock |
Where the 2026 Oscar-Nominated Directors got Their Start |
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This awards season, four of the most talked-about names in cinema share more than Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, they share a creative origin story shaped by the Sundance Institute Labs. Chloé Zhao, whose film Hamnet received recognition, and Ryan Coogler, whose horror Sinners gained nods, first crossed paths more than a decade ago as emerging artists in the labs. They’re joined by two 1993 fellows: Paul Thomas Anderson, earning nominations for One Battle After Another, and Guillermo del Toro, honored for his reimagining of Frankenstein.
Go inside the creative process of the 2026 Oscar-nominated directors who got their start at Sundance Institute Labs, and hear from the filmmakers on how they approach storytelling, authenticity, and collaboration. “I try to live through the people I capture on screen,” Zhao tells us. “I try to make sense of who I am through them.” As awards season continues to unfold, we’re also spotlighting more Sundance Institute–supported Oscar nominees across our site and social channels.
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| READ THE STORY |
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Everything That Made the 2026 Festival Unforgettable |
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From opening day to the final screenings, the 2026 Sundance Film Festival was incredible. Revisit it all (or catch what you missed), with our definitive guide to everything that made this year’s Festival momentous. We’ve gathered all of our Fest stories in one place, so you don’t have to go searching. Check out features that took you inside premieres and events, interviews that introduced the filmmakers behind the work, and watchlists spotlighting the projects across the lineup. |
| EXPLORE THE STORIES |
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Join us in Boulder for the 2027 Sundance Film Festival |
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Kicking off January 21–31, 2027, the Sundance Film Festival will bring visionary film and episodic premieres, conversations, and special events to Boulder, Colorado. Discover original voices, engage with a rich arts scene, and experience the future of independent cinema. Explore official venues and plan ahead. Lodging for the 2027 Fest is now available at lodging.sundance.org. |
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March Releases |
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Out this month in Sundance Film Festival and Institute–supported films, catch five films that premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, including Audience Award: U.S. Documentary winner André is an Idiot, a surprisingly funny and undeniably touching film about a man dying from Stage 4 colon cancer, the post-incarceration coming-of-age drama, Ricky, which earned Rashad Frett the Directing Award: U.S. Dramatic at the Fest, zombie apocalypse film Didn’t Die, and sci-fi erotica Touch Me. Plus, see 2026 Fest premieres The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist, a film that tries to make sense of what’s going on with AI, and paranormal podcast horror undertone. |
| GET THE RUNDOWN |
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Support Bold Voices, Get Exclusive Perks |
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Be part of what makes independent film thrive. Becoming a Sundance Institute member means directly supporting the artists and programs that bring gripping, original stories to life. Along with backing the next generation of filmmakers, members enjoy exclusive perks, including a Sundance Institute–supported short film delivered to your inbox each month, 20% off merch, and presale access to Festival tickets and passes. Stay connected, inspired, and help shape the future of indie storytelling. |
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Dive Into New Courses and On-Demand Sessions From Oscar Nominees and Innovators |
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Dive into New Courses and On-Demand Sessions From Oscar Nominees and Innovators
Copy: From Concept to Cut, Shape Your Story with These Fresh Online Courses. |
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Creating the Horror in Your Screenplay: March 9–April 5. Discover the core principles of cinematic horror and develop compelling characters, build suspense, and create deeply unsettling scares with screenwriter Owen Egerton (Blood Fest, Mercy Black).
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Location Scouting for Independent Film and Television: March 11. Veteran producer and location scout Gerry Kim (To Be Takei) will reveal how to evaluate a location’s visual potential, understand the technical challenges it presents, navigate the ins and outs of location agreements, and more.
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Rewriting Your TV Pilot and Crafting Your Pitch: March 18–May 17. Writer-producer Emmylou Diaz (Jane the Virgin, Station 19) will offer a comprehensive approach to refining your pilot, creating a deck for your show, and preparing a compelling pitch to industry professionals.
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We brought creative minds together for Story Forum: Exploring Art and Innovation at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. Now you can relive, or discover for the first time, the full lineup of in-person and online discussions on AI, XR, and the future of storytelling for free. Stream now.
Also on-demand, revisit sessions with several Oscar-nominated filmmakers who’ve offered a behind-the-scenes look at their craft, like our Conversations from the Labs featuring Sinners writer-director Ryan Coogler and composer Ludwig Göransson, and Mastering Performance with Sentimental Value writer-director Joachim Trier. Plus, go behind the scenes with Geeta Gandbhir (The Perfect Neighbor) as she explores using body-cam footage as a cinematic tool, and with Mohammad Eyni and Sara Khaki (Cutting Through Rocks (اوزاک یوللار)) as they reveal how they shaped seven years of footage into their powerful film.
For more on our Sundance Collab courses and online events, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on our new IG, TikTok, and Facebook channels. |
| EXPLORE SUNDANCE COLLAB |
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© 2025 Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Institute, P.O. Box 684429, Park City, UT 84068, United States |
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