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Sundance Institute CEO Joana Vicente, who helped deliver the beloved indie movie competition again in particular person after the COVID pandemic shutdown, is stepping down, the nonprofit group introduced Friday.
As a part of the surprising management shake-up, Amanda Kelso, who has served on the institute’s board of trustees for 4 years, has been named performing CEO, taking up the reins from Vicente after simply two and a half years within the position.
Vicente, who beforehand served for 3 years as co-head of the Toronto Worldwide Movie Pageant, didn’t supply any particular purpose for her departure. However, within the wake of the pandemic and final yr’s Hollywood strikes, the group, like the broader unbiased movie group, has been dealing with important monetary challenges; final yr, the institute laid off 6% of its workers.
“Over the previous six years, I’ve had the privilege of main two of essentially the most culturally important organizations for unbiased movie in North America via a few of the most difficult instances for our business,” Vicente mentioned in an announcement. “This journey has been extremely rewarding, and I’m so happy with the work our Sundance group has achieved collectively, championing unbiased storytellers and amplifying their voices.”
Throughout her tenure, Vicente introduced Robert Redford’s 45-year-old competition in Park Metropolis, Utah, again in particular person following two consecutive years of pandemic shutdowns whereas additionally opening it as much as bigger on-line audiences. Underneath her management, the institute created new funding alternatives for underrepresented storytellers and expanded internationally with new festivals in Asia and a not too long ago introduced competition in Mexico Metropolis.
Nonetheless, the panorama for unbiased movie continues to be tough not just for filmmakers however for festivals as effectively, as audiences face an ever larger proliferation of leisure only a click on away. Chatting with The Instances earlier this yr, Vicente acknowledged the problem.
“There’s this realization that the world has modified, that issues are costlier, that expertise has superior,” Vicente mentioned in January at this yr’s competition. “How will we create the optimum mannequin to have this in-person competition that’s not precisely what it was, that wants to determine the way it can have essentially the most affect? It must be responsibly achieved throughout the economic system of implies that we’ve got… The way in which that we used to do festivals must be reexamined.”
Kelso will transition into her position in April, with Vicente remaining via June to function an advisor to her and the board.
“It’s an immense honor to return to steer throughout this pivotal time for arts organizations, and extra particularly, unbiased storytellers,” Kelso mentioned in an announcement. “I imagine within the energy of Sundance and its ongoing affect in nurturing our mission-based work. This work is devoted to the invention and improvement of unbiased artists and connecting them with audiences around the globe.”
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