Sundance 2013: The Sundance Institute Strikes Strategic Partnerships to Help Filmmakers

3:05 PM PST 1/17/2013 by THR staff

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Since the Institute's Artist Services program launched in January 2011, more than $3.2 million has been raised for nearly 100 projects via Kickstarter.

The Sundance Institute's Artist Services program has struck a raft of key partnerships that will assist filmmakers who intend to pursue an independent release plan.

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“Now more than ever filmmakers need to be creative and entrepreneurial in order to get their stories to audiences. Sundance Institute embraces cross-organizational collaboration in an effort to increase the collective impact on the field; it is in this spirit that we welcome the input of our colleagues to further help us shape the Artist Services program, “ Sundance Institute executive director Keri Putnam said.

”Our hope is that it contributes to the long-term sustainability of independent film careers and a greater diversity of films reaching audiences each year," she added.

The Bertha Foundation, BRITDOC, Cinereach, Film Independent, the Independent Filmmaker Project and the San Francisco Film Society will each select films that they have supported to receive access to best-in-class digital distribution arrangements that have been negotiated by Sundance Institute Artist Services.

The Institute will curate submitted films and work closely each organization, the filmmakers, and exclusive aggregation partner Cinedigm – New Video to develop independent distribution strategies. Furthermore, each organization will work with the Institute to expand educational opportunities to their alumni building on the model of the Artist Services Workshop that takes place each year during the Sundance Film Festival.

And with the addition of new partners Tugg, Reelhouse, VHX, and Vimeo, the Sundance Institute is expanding its suite of digital platforms and tools offered by Artist Services. Current partners include ten digital retailers as well as Kickstarter , GoWatchIt, and Topspin Media.

Tugg is a web-platform that allows filmmakers and fans to create screening events at their local theater. Direct-to-fan platforms Reelhouse, VHX and Vimeo, like longtime Artist Services collaborator Topspin Media, will work with Sundance Institute and its interested supported filmmakers to develop opportunities to sell their films and merchandise directly to end users.

All four new partners will participate in the annual Artist Services Workshop on Monday, Jan. 21, at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

Since the Artist Services program launched in January 2011, more than $3.2 million has been raised for nearly 100 Institute artists’ projects via Kickstarter and more than 40 films are now accessible by the public on a variety of platforms and storefronts.