News

Forty-four Bruins have involvement in 22 projects that are being shown at the upcoming Sundance Film Festival, which takes place Jan. 18-28, 2018, in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah. As it has for the past two decades, UCLA TFT will host its annual reception, this year on Sunday, Jan. 21, to celebrate the cinematic accomplishments of its community. Additionally, alumnus Michael Stuhlbarg has been named one of five jurors of the festival's U.S. Dramatic Competition.

U.S. DRAMATIC COMPETITION

Justin Begnaud (M.F.A. ’10), financing consultant, The Kindergarten Teacher
Charles D. King (Executive Board), producer, Sorry to Bother You
Coco Kleppinger (B.A. ’05, M.F.A. ’08), casting assistant, Burden
Akin McKenzie (B.A. ’02), production designer, Wildlife
Nick Moceri (M.F.A. ’10), executive producer, The Kindergarten Teacher

U.S. DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION

Allison Anders (B.A. ’86), herself, Hal
Alexander Payne (M.F.A. ’90), himself, Hal
Lynn Stalmaster (B.A. ’49, M.A. ’52), himself, Hal

PREMIERES

Jack Black, actor, Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot
Silas Howard (M.F.A. ’10), director, A Kid Like Jake
Anne Lane (B.A. ’10), actress, Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot

DOCUMENTARY PREMIERES

Amy Adrion (M.F.A. ’09), director/producer, Half the Picture
Patricia Cardoso (M.F.A. ’94), herself, Half the Picture
Eve Cohen (M.F.A. ’08), additional cinematography, Half the Picture
Cat Deakins (M.F.A. ’12), additional cinematography, Half the Picture
Jennifer Dean (B.A. ’95), herself, Half the Picture
Ava DuVernay, herself, Half the Picture
Alex Gibney, producer, Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind
Maria Giese (M.F.A. ’94), herself, Half the Picture
Jennifer Gittings (M.F.A. ’12), additional cinematography, Half the Picture
Paige-Elizabeth Gresty (M.F.A. ’17), researcher, Half the Picture
Kate Hackett (M.F.A. ’09), editor, Half the Picture
David Harris (M.F.A. ’07), producer, Half the Picture
Caroline Libresco (M.F.A. ’01), herself, Half the Picture
Gina Prince-Bythewood (B.A. ’91), herself, Half the Picture
Soraya Selene (M.F.A. ’11), cinematography, Half the Picture
Olivia Silver (M.F.A. ’17), assistant camera, Half the Picture
Penelope Spheeris (B.A. ’69), herself, Half the Picture
Emily Taylor-Mortorff (B.A. ’05), production coordinator, Half the Picture
Jeanne Tyson (M.F.A. ’12), additional cinematographer, Half the Picture

SPOTLIGHT

Aurelia Abate (M.F.A. ’02), visual effects producer, The Death of Stalin
Alex O’Flinn (M.F.A. ’09), film editing, The Rider

NEXT

Tony Rettenmaier (B.A. ’12), additional production assistant, Search
Alan Pao (B.S. ’99), associate producer, A Boy, A Girl, A Dream.
Sheila Vand (B.A. ’06), actress, We the Animals

MIDNIGHT

Nate Bolotin (M.F.A. ’07), producer, Mandy

INDIE EPISODIC

Judy Phu (M.F.A. ’12), director of photography, This Close
Davita Scarlett (M.F.A. ’13), writer, Leimert Park

SHORTS

Heyjin Jun (B.A. ’12), cinematographer, Wyrm
Joenique C. Rose (Professional Programs ’13), producer, Emergency
Floyd Russ (B.A. ’06), director/screenwriter, Zion

NEW FRONTIER

Alethea C. Avramis (M.F.A. ’12), co-producer, BattleScar
Eric F. Martin (M.F.A. ’12), editor, Dinner Party
Sarah Yarkin (B.A. ’15), actress, Dinner Party

SUNDANCE COLLECTION AT UCLA

UCLA Film & Television Archive and Sundance partnered in 1997 to create the Sundance Collection at UCLA, established to preserve long-term access to independent film production. This important initiative is celebrated at the festival each year with special From the Collection screenings, which highlight important works protected as part of the landmark collaboration. This year, there will be a 20th anniversary screening of Smoke Signals (1998), with director Chris Eyre in attendance. During An Evening With Todd Haynes, the celebrated indie filmmaker will chat with producer and frequent collaborator Christine Vachon about his films.

EOS WORLD FUND

UCLA TFT alumnae Julie Dash (M.F.A. ’85) and Nina Menkes (M.F.A. ’89) have been named the first recipients of funding by the EOS World Fund for their new films Minotaur Rex and Cypher, respectively. In celebration of the launch of the EOS World Fund, on Friday, Jan. 19 at the festival, Menkes will present “Sex and Power: The Visual Language of Cinema,” followed by a panel discussion with Menkes, Dash and moderator Rachel Watanabe-Batton.

Posted: January 5, 2018
Updated: January 17, 2018