Three days of industry networking, viewing films, and attending panels in Park City create lasting impressions — and valuable connections — for SLA Digital Media Practices (DMP), Communication, and Cinema Studies students.
An opportunity to attend the Sundance Film Festival — the largest independent film festival in the U.S. — is a dream for many creators. This year, DMP collaborated with student-run organizations Green Wave Films (GWF) and Entertainment Business Network (EBN) to take 13 SLA students on a trip to the premier event.
After arriving in Park City, Utah, the students spent three full days watching independent films, attending panels with renowned industry luminaries, and networking with filmmakers and entertainment executives. As part of a curated Sundance experience, the Tulane delegation welcomed Tatiana Bears, co-producer of one of the most buzzed-about films at this year's festival — If I had Legs I’d Kick You from A24 — for an intimate Q+A. Bears shared insight on the complete filmmaking process, from developing and financing a film, to taking it to a premier showcase like Sundance.
“Attending the 2025 Sundance Film Festival was nothing short of transformative,” said Kristine Liang, DMP coordinate major. “Sundance revitalized my purpose as an aspiring filmmaker, showing me how much space there now is for stories like mine. One of the most profound moments was attending the world premiere of BUNNYLOVR, starring the wildly impressive writer/director, Katarina Zhu. I felt that her fearless exploration of sexual shame, internalized racism, and the complexities of Asian-American identity were breathtaking.”
The trip was led by DMP and Communication Professor of Practice Jolene Pinder, Professor of Practice Duane Prefume, and Adjunct Professor Bo McGuire. Pinder is a Sundance | Adobe Women to Watch Fellow this year; an installation, featuring clips of Pinder’s recently produced short film, was available for viewing at the Adobe House on Main Street during the festival. She, along with a few of the students, were able to do a walk-through of the house to see the installation and meet with Andrea Gutierrez from Adobe. During that conversation, Gutierrez encouraged the students to apply for the Sundance Ignite x Adobe Fellowship for filmmakers aged 18-25 — creating a fantastic networking opportunity they can draw upon in the future.
During his time in Park City, DMP coordinate major and GWF co-founder Noah Levine was able to make steps towards securing a post-grad assistant job in LA. “Going to this year’s festival helped me tremendously both in networking and seeing what this industry is all about firsthand,” he shared. “I was able to meet and connect with individuals from companies I’m very interested in, like Netflix and Paramount. This would not have been possible if I had not been at the festival! Sundance was an incredible experience and helped move my career forward.”
“Sundance offered us a rare glimpse into the world of filmmaking that we had yet to see” shared Olive Wheadon, DMP coordinator major and president of EBN. “We left with an even stronger connection to the craft, enriched by the stories, insights, and energy that surrounded us.”
For DMP coordinate major Mackenzie Camp, a chance encounter with a producer waiting in line for the same movie landed her a job interview with Range Media Partners.
Liang concluded, “It’s the ability of even the most niche and esoteric stories to foster compassion and evoke resonance that drives me as a filmmaker. The energy in those theaters felt incredibly rare — resembling that of an unbreakable community rooted in courage and passion. It was everything I love about film — everything I hope to create myself one day. I am endlessly grateful for the opportunity to have been part of it.”
Of his experience on the trip, DMP coordinate major and GWF Production Chair Julian Hewitt added, "As a student filmmaker, the most you can ask for from any university is an opportunity to be exposed to the film industry. Leaving Tulane with a trip to Sundance was not only a perfect ending to my time as a student filmmaker but ended up being one of the best weekends of my life. To walk around with professionals so casually felt extremely natural and made me confident to take my next step into the industry."
