The Sundance Institute, the nonprofit organization which puts on the annual Sundance Film Festival, has begun a formal search for a new chief executive officer, Variety can report exclusively.
Board member Amanda Kelso has served as interim CEO since the April 2024 exit of Joana Vicente, a seasoned festival leader whose departure after nearly three years sent a jolt through the independent film world.
The Sundance board of trustees has engaged third-party firm Russell Reynolds to find candidates “with a demonstrated track record in strategic planning, organizational and community engagement, and effective fundraising,” Sundance Institute board chair Ebs Burnough told Variety.
The role will also require managing and scaling Sundance’s year-round artist development programs, which produce work that often feeds festival programming and has helped send indie writers, directors and producers to mainstream Hollywood. Most of all, the job description stresses, the incoming CEO must “honor our history — rooted in our mission of fostering new voices in independent storytelling — and apply that to supporting the next generation of artists.”
Kelso, who started as a board member, will remain acting CEO until a replacement is found. She’ll keep her seat and serve as a transitional advisor after a candidate is chosen. Kelso, whose resume includes stints at Instagram and Google, oversaw last year’s selection of Boulder, Colo. as Sundance’s new home starting in 2027. The executive is already deep in planning next January’s edition of Sundance, which will mark an emotional farewell to its founding host Park City, Utah.
“I’m honored to have guided the organization through the transition of the Sundance Film Festival to the new location starting in 2027, all while upholding the institute’s long-term sustainability and growth,” said Kelso. “This transition has been personally rewarding as we have secured an exciting future for independent storytelling, and our plan ensures the future CEO will be set up for success.”
Burnough added that the board was “sincerely grateful to Amanda for stepping in during this defining period and for her significant leadership in preparing the organization for the opportunities our future holds.”
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From Variety US