UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television (TFT) and the Sundance Institute have announced a historic multi-year agreement that will create a comprehensive pathway for the next generation of independent filmmakers, storytellers and cultural innovators. With an initial phase targeted for launch in September 2026, the collaboration combines Sundance Institute’s unparalleled industry experience and Sundance Collab’s global community of more than 130,000 artists across 177 countries with TFT’s world-class academic excellence, production infrastructure and the living legacy of the L.A. Rebellion.
The Sundance Collab x UCLA TFT Digital Hub is set for launch this fall, giving TFT students access to curated content on Sundance’s digital community platform. Three additional programs are under development and slated to roll out through 2028: the UCLA Bridge Intensive (including a Sundance Film Festival Experience for TFT students in Boulder, Colorado), an annual Summer Summit hosted on UCLA’s campus (Sundance Institute at UCLA), and a co-developed program focused on new technologies, creativity, justice and equity.
“This is what it looks like when the premier institution for independent film comes to the premier public film school and says, ‘Let’s build something together.’” Dean of UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television Celine Parreñas Shimizu, said. “Sundance has always been the place where independent voices are found and championed. TFT has always been the place where those voices are forged — in craft, in method, in authorship. Together, we are committed to independence, innovation, and impact: giving our students a direct pathway from the classroom into the full ecosystem of independent cinema — and the tools to make work that reaches audiences and changes the world.”
Read the full release on the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television website.
