Sundance directors inspire young creatives
In the ever-evolving film industry, young filmmakers are crucial to pushing creative boundaries, amplifying diverse voices and redefining storytelling. These emerging artists bring new life to cinema, ensuring its relevance in a rapidly changing world.
At the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, seasoned and novice directors shared invaluable insights to guide emerging filmmakers on their creative journeys. The Utah Statesman had the opportunity to speak with and listen to award-winning filmmakers to get their advice to young creatives.
James Sweeney, director and star of the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting winning film “Twinless” spoke on the emerging generation.
“They’re the future,” Sweeney said. “It’s a tough time right now in the industry — post-pandemic, post-strikes — and I think we’re all trying to figure out a way to make this sustainable for our industry now and for the next generation.”
Young filmmakers’ commitment to diversity and inclusivity of people and circumstances is a major contribution to the industry currently. They are telling stories that have long been overlooked, giving a platform to underrepresented communities across the globe.
Hailey Gates, director of U.S. Grand Jury Prize winner “Atropia,” said diverse experiences are key to good storytelling.
“Having jobs outside of film is really helpful so you can experience the world in a different way,” Gates said.
Robert Redford, who founded the Sundance Institute in August 1978, has long championed the significance of life experience in filmmaking.
“I’m not sure that [film school is] the answer as much as experience — as much as getting out in the world and seeing what’s going on by firsthand experience,” Redford said during a 2016 press conference.
Many filmmakers emphasized the importance of creating work that resonates personally.
“Find something that you are just so deeply obsessed with that only you can tell the story of,” Gates said.
Katarina Zhu, director and star of “Bunnylovr,” shared a similar sentiment, underscoring the value of personal vision and intuition in the creative process.
“Make something that you would want to see,” Zhu said. “Trust your instincts and your gut.”
According to Geeta Gandbhir, director of the Directing Award: U.S. Documentary winner “The Perfect Neighbor,” resilience and patience are pivotal to success as a young filmmaker.
“It is a tough industry, and you just have to keep trying to knock on doors,” Gandbhir said. “Sometimes, the thing that you love the most, or the vision that you think is best, may not be well received, while the thing that you might not care much about is.”
Resilience was key to the success of many Sundance films this year, including “Zodiac Killer Project,” directed by Charlie Shackleton. This film is the result of a failed documentary and ended up receiving the NEXT Innovator Award.
Shackleton urged aspiring creatives to pursue passion projects and overcome setbacks.
“Hold on to every little idea, however crap, because you might want to come back to it,” Shackleton said. “My film was born of coming back to something that I felt had failed.”
Rohan Kanawade, director of the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic competition winner “Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears),” recounted a director’s brunch at which Amy Redford, Robert Redford’s daughter, spoke.
“She said that, as filmmakers, we trade security for stories, and that really is what it is like,” Kanawade said. “This journey isn’t a secure path — it has its ups and downs — but you just got to ride it.”
Filmmakers are encouraged to continue learning and remain authentic and open to the lessons that come from both the successes and challenges of the filmmaking process.
“Take joy in what you can and always remain open to learning,” Gandbhir said.