Entertainment News: Sundance X Chicago Launches Historic Weekend

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CHICAGO – On June 28th, 2024, two titans of film and filmmaking – Chicago and the Sundance Institute of Park City, Utah – launched a collaborative weekend that signaled a cooperation that has expansion plans. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson was on hand for remarks, as well as Eugene Hernandez, the Director of the Sundance Film Festival.

The event at the Chicago Cultural Center began the three-day event, which includes a weekend filled with Midwest premieres of films, panel discussions on pivotal topics in the independent film industry, and exclusive presentations and master classes by Sundance Institute staff. For details, click SUNDANCExCHICAGO.

Sundance X Chicago: Mayor Brandon Johnson
Photo credit: Joe Arce for HollywoodChicago.com

As a champion and curator of independent stories, the nonprofit Sundance Institute provides and preserves the space for artists in film and episodic storytelling to create and thrive. Actor Robert Redford founded the Institute in 1981 to foster independence, risk-taking and new voices in American film. In addition to the Sundance Film Festival, the Institute hosts many public programs in the U.S. and internationally, like the X Chicago activities, to create community around independent storytelling.

By PATRICK McDONALD Editor and Film Critic/Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com