The competitive film industry is filled with talented individuals waiting for a big break. With so many players in the game, it can be hard to get the recognition needed to make your film career your sole source of income. The Sundance Film Festival, a nonprofit founded by Robert Redford 40 years ago and known globally as a destination for artistic discovery, aims to help change this. While many hope this film festival extends its success for years to come, the recent departure of CEO, Joana Vicente, raises concerns for the future of Sundance.
As a crucial component of Hollywood, the Sundance Film Festival is a pivotal player in discovering and showcasing new and impressive independent films and emerging filmmakers. Stirring up scandal at this year’s film festival were provocative directors and chatty actors at press conferences, who were curious about the circumstances leading to Vincente’s short-lived Sundance career. The Sundance Institute recently announced that Vicente would be exiting her position, and the Sonoma International Film Festival, held in California’s wine country, was also buzzing with theories.
Many indie filmmakers remarked seeing Eugene Hernandez, the current director of the Sundance Film Festival, accompanied by his two predecessors. These were John Cooper, who left in 2020, and Tabitha Jackson, who departed in 2022. All three individuals were in attendance to screen films and network when the news of Vicente’s departure, after less than 3 years, spread.
Many are curious to know what happened – but neither Vicente nor the Sundance Institute have given a specific reason for her departure. Both parties have emphasized that it was Vicente’s decision to step down, with a spokesperson for Sundance calling Vicente a “tremendous asset” who helped expand international versions of this film festival and bring Sundance back from the challenges they faced through the pandemic.
The former CEO herself stated in a press release on March 22, “After two and half inspiring years, I have made the decision to begin a new chapter.” Vicente left her previous position as the executive director of the Toronto International Film Festival, taking this role with the Sundance Institute near the end of 2021. This was in an effort to help with the transition of all-virtual festivals, which the Institute had hosted for 2020 and 2021.
Vicente was a noted asset to the festival during her time as director. Revenues during the pandemic shrank drastically by $34 million, but with Vicente’s help, 2022 saw the Institute’s revenue grow beyond their pre-pandemic numbers, generating $58.6 million and setting an extraordinary digital rollout. Vicente also helped the Institute reduce their liabilities by $2 million.
But the question on many minds is why Vicente would leave after such a short period. Industry insiders reported that the CEO was often scrutinized by the Institute’s board of trustees, mentioning that this board is known as polite, but a handful. Further curious individuals point to Vicente’s fundraising abilities, as the CEO is ultimately responsible for securing corporate dollars and drawing in private donors.
With Vicente’s departure, the organization is now facing obstacles, and the regular festival theaters near Park City have recently stopped listing showtimes on their websites and may be closing – directly impacting the location of next year’s film festival. Many ambitious industry members rely on Sundance to add marketing value and showcase their films, making Sundance a critical player in maintaining the film industry ecosystem.
