Dreams & Embodiment for the Creative Process With Chloé Zhao and Kim Gillingham
1167 Woodside Ave, 9 a.m.
Presented by Google and 100 Zeros. Zhao and Gillingham will open a space for listening: to dreams, the body, and the subtle inner movements that often guide creative work before it has language. The session will include gentle prompts, guided exercises, and ways for participants to engage with their own inner images and intuitions. This is not a lecture or a performance but “a participatory experience shaped by curiosity, care and conversation.” RSVP encouraged.
The Art of Vulnerability: Mental Health and Neurodivergence in Filmmaking
Heretic Lounge, 625 Main St., 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Discussion featuring the Frank & Louis filmmakers.
Run Amok Conversation
Elvis Mitchell Suite, The Cabin on Main Street, 9:30-10 a.m.
Mitchell moderates a chat with NB Mager, Alyssa Marvin, Patrick Wilson, Molly Ringwald, Margaret Cho and Sophia Torres.
If I Go Will They Miss Me Conversation
Elvis Mitchell Suite, The Cabin on Main Street, 10:10-10:30 a.m.
Mitchell moderates a chat with Danielle Brooks, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Bodhi Dell and Walter Thompson-Hernandez.
Leviticus Panel
Chase Sapphire Reserve Experience, 660 Main St., 10:15-11:00 a.m. (Doors at 9:45 a.m.)
Daily film panels featuring casts breaking down the making of their films. Expected panelists: Adrian Chiarella, Joe Bird, Stacy Clausen and Mia Wasikowska.
UTA Filmmakers Brunch
UTA House, 508 Main St., 10:30 a.m.– 1 p.m.
An annual event that is always a hot ticket, presented this year by Simply. Invite only.
Cinema Café: Salman Rushdie
Cinema Café, Filmmaker Lodge, 550 Main St., 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Hosted by Justin Chang, film critic at The New Yorker.
Documentary Brunch Hosted by Netflix
Private Location, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Netflix team hosts its annual doc gathering. Invite only.
AAPI Leaders + Luminaries Brunch
Park Meadows Country Club, 2000 Meadows Dr., 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Hosted by Rideback RISE and the Asian American Foundation with support from the MacArthur Foundation featuring Norman Chen, Kathy Im, Dan Lin and Clara Wu Tsai.
29th Annual SAGindie Actors Only Brunch
Café Terigo, 424 Main St., 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
SAGindie’s annual invite only brunch for actors co-hosted by Ali Ahn (Take Me Home); Danielle Brooks (If I Go Will They Miss Me); Gayle Rankin (The Incomer); Rob Morgan (Frank & Louis); Tatiana Maslany (The Only Living Pickpocket in New York); Will Price (The Only Living Pickpocket in New York).
Night Nurse Conversation
Elvis Mitchell Suite, The Cabin on Main Street, 11-11:30 a.m.
Mitchell moderates a conversation with Mimi Rogers, Georgia Bernstein and additional cast.
Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop: Activism on Film and the Women Fighting for Change
Acura House of Energy, Swede Alley, 11:15 a.m.
Presented by Acura and Women in Film, the event hosts women filmmakers, activists and creatives in conversation about free speech, protecting equal rights and how the creative process can play a part.
Short Films, Powerful Stories: Filmmaking for Impact
The Box at the Ray, 11:30 a.m.
Presented by MPI Original Films, the conversation will feature producers, writers, directors and activists talking about the power of shorts to entertain, educate and inspire. Featuring the MPO original short The Art of Inflation.
DIFF Explores – Inclusion & Impact in Entertainment
Impact Lounge, Prospector Square, 11:30 a.m.
A panel presented by Impact Lounge and the Diversity & Inclusion Film Festival featuring Impact Lounge founder Heather Mason, Gold House co-founder Bing Chen, Latino Filmmakers Network founder Maylen Calienes, Sundance Institute manager of equity, impact and belonging program Moi Santos, and DIFF founder Sola Fasehun with moderator Larry Laboe, co-founder of NewFilmmakers Los Angeles. Panelists will reveal insight into how filmmakers can navigate the current landscape of entertainment to continue to tell stories that promote representation and champion inclusion.
Big Girls Don’t Cry Conversation
Elvis Mitchell Suite, The Cabin on Main Street, 11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Mitchell moderates a conversation with Rain Spencer, Noah Taylor and Paloma Schneiderman.
Beyond Pay Equity: Evolving the Economy of Care Onscreen and Beyond
Acura House of Energy, Swede Alley, 12:15 p.m.
Presented by Acura and Women in Film, the conversation will host women filmmakers talking with experts about how stories focused on care can impact the way forward. More intel here.
Leviticus Conversation
Elvis Mitchell Suite, The Cabin on Main Street, 12:30-1 p.m.
Mitchell moderates a conversation with Adrian Chiarella, Joe Bird, Stacy Clausen and Mia Wasikowska.
Portrait Presents: The Real Path to Audiences Now — Beyond Sales Agents and Streamers + From Headline to Hollywood — Turning Real Stories into IP Gold
United Airlines Lodge on Main Street, 1 p.m.
Back to back panels presented by United Airlines. The Real Path to Audiences Now: Beyond Sales Agent panel will feature Abramorama’s Karol Martesko-Fenster, Theorem Media’s Douglas Dicconson, United In-Flight Entertainment’s Nisha Thakkar, and Together Films’ Sarah Mosses with moderator Dana Harris Bridson of IndieWire. The From Headline to Hollywood: Turning Real Stories into IP Gold panel will host Switchboard Magazine’s Celia Aniskovich, Universal Television Alternative Studio’s Liz Yale Marsh,
Boardwalk Pictures’ Lana Barkin, and director and producer Alexandra Kern with moderator Saba Hamedy, NBC News Culture and Trends Editor. RSVP required.
From First Break to Lasting Impact: Building Creative Pipelines in Film & Media
Filmmaker Lodge, 550 Main St., 1:30-3 p.m.
A panel presented by NewFilmmakers Los Angeles, Alliance of Women Directors, Shine Global and Creating Creators. Panelists include Gianfranco Fernandez-Ruiz, filmmaker and ambassador of NFMLA, Kylie Eaton, executive director of AWD, Alexandra Blaney, co-CEO and creative director of Sine Global and Jessica Just, CEO and co-founder of Creating Creators. The chat will be moderated by Sola Fasehun of the Distribution Collective and Fashehun Films.
Emerging Voices: Crafting Shorts with Antigravity Academy & Dolby Creator Lab
The Box at the Ray, 2 p.m.
Presented by Antigravity Academy, the conversation hosts three filmmakers whose short films were developed through Antigravity Academy’s Short Film Studio in partnership with Dolby Creator Lab and will be premiering at the festival. The filmmakers will share how their projects evolved from early concept to a Sundance world premiere. Carlos Lopez Estrada and Amanda Schneider will co-moderate a discussion with Gabriela Ortega, Amandine Thomas and Gerardo Coello Escalante.
ASCAP Music Café
Acura House of Energy, Swede Alley, 2 p.m.
The ASCAP Music Café at the Sundance Film Festival celebrates an essential creative collaboration with live performances by an array of artists and songwriters alongside conversations with the composers and filmmakers behind some of the fest’s films. More intel here.
The Only Living Pickpocket in New York Conversation
Elvis Mitchell Suite, The Cabin on Main Street, 2-2:30 p.m.
Mitchell moderates a chat with the film’s John Turturro and Noah Segen.
The Weight Conversation
Elvis Mitchell Suite, The Cabin on Main Street, 2:30-3 p.m.
Mitchell moderates a chat with Ethan Hawke, Padraic McKinley, Austin Amelio and Julia Jones.
The Nightingale of Iran: A Live Show and Panel
Impact Lounge, Prospector Square, 3 p.m.
The Nightingale of Iran co-creators Danielle Dardashti and Galeet Dardashti will appear alongside Common Era’s Yonah Schiller and National Geographic Society’s Rachael Strecher at a live show and panel celebrating Jewish and Muslim shared culture.
Chapman @ Sundance
Handle, 136 Heber Ave., 3-5 p.m.
Chapman University hosts a gathering of alumni, guests and industry insiders for an afternoon soiree. Registration required.
CAPE Presents Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience at Park City 2026: The Final Edition
Alpine Distilling, 364 Main St., 3-6 p.m.
The Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience, in partnership with Asian American Media Alliance, CAPE, David Magdael & Associates, Kollaboration, Laarni Rosca Dacanay, and Visual Communications are hosting a final bow. Food will be provided by Savage Fish, a Pasifika women-owned business whose founders were born and raised in Hawaii.
American Hardcore and SLC Punk Conversation
Elvis Mitchell Suite, The Cabin on Main Street, 3:15-3:45 p.m.
Mitchell moderates a chat with Matthew Lillard and Paul Rachman.
Guillermo Del Toro Conversation and Cocktail Party
Elvis Mitchell Suite, The Cabin on Main Street, 4-5:30 p.m.
Mitchell moderates a chat with the Frankenstein filmmaker.
Film Fatales presents: From Script to Screen, Making Movies in the Current Climate
United Airlines Lodge on Main Street, 4 p.m.
Presented by United Airlines, the panel hosts filmmakers who directed feature films premiering at Sundance including Josephine Decker (Chasing Summer), Liz Sargent (Take Me Home) and NB Mager (Run Amok). Moderated by Imani Davis of American Cinematheque. Seating is limited and pre-registration is required.
From Short to Feature: Inside the Highways Lab Directors Program
Filmmaker Lodge, 550 Main St., 4 p.m.
Presented by Rideback Rise, Highways Lab and Adobe, the panel hosts four filmmakers who will share their recent experiences creating short films as part of the lab while developing their new feature projects. Olga Segura will moderate the chat with Aitch Alberto, Ana Maria Hermida, Aristotle Torres and Omar S. Kamara.
Designing Story Through Sound with Filmmakers Beth de Araújo and Josef Kubota Wladyka
The Box at the Ray, 4:30 p.m.
An in-depth conversation on creative sound design and music in cinematic storytelling with directors Beth de Araújo (Josephine) and Josef Kubota Wladyka (Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!). Both films are recipients of the Dolby Creator Lab Grant and will premiere at Sundance. Hosted by Glenn Kiser of Dolby Creator Lab, the discussion is designed to offer “a rare look at how advanced sound and picture technologies can elevate independent storytelling.” More intel here.
Sundance Chess Match of the Century
Private location, 5-6:30 p.m.
Rory Kennedy and Mark Bailey invite for an epic battle between Judit Polgar and Alec Baldwin: “2 players, 1 blindfold, 0 mercy.” In celebration of the Sundance selection Queen of Chess.
Musical Performance by DJ Cardi
Acura House of Energy, Swede Alley, 8-11 p.m.
A DJ set from DJ Cardi to close out the night.
Once Upon a Time in Harlem Premiere Party
Dropbox House, 501 Main St., 9 p.m.–12 a.m.
Post premiere bash hosted by Dropbox and featuring “special guests” for light bites, drinks and dancing with a DJ.
MACRO Foundation Cocktail Reception
UTA House, 508 Main St., 2-4 p.m.
Invite only.
Knife Film Reception
UTA House, 508 Main St., 4:30-7 p.m.
Presented by UTA and Jigsaw. Invite only.
The Musical Premiere Party
Arby’s Cinema Center, Loma, 900 Main St., 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Celebration for Giselle Bonilla’s film starring Will Brill, Gillian Jacobs and Rob Lowe. Sponsored by Hendricks Gin, Sommsation, Peroni, Neaū water and Bernier.
Kemo Sabe
268 Main St., 6-9 p.m.
The PBM Princess and Kemo Sabe are hosting a red carpet event special screening of Side Effects May Include with celebrity guest appearances by Brandi Glanville and Jon Gosselin (who will be DJing). Other expected guests: Rachel Strauss, Lisa Barlow, Meredith Marks, Matthew Lillard, Whitney Rose, Phaedra Parks and more. Cocktails curated by High West Whiskey, appetizers and Kemo Sabe’s cowboy hats.
HBO Documentary Films
Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Hotel Park City, 2001 Park Ave., 7-10 p.m.
The annual invite-only bash that typically is one of the fest’s hot tickets.
Rock Springs Premiere Party
Chase Sapphire Reserve Experience, 660 Main St., 9-11 p.m.
A celebration for the film that stars Vera Miao, Kelly Marie Tran, Benedict Wong, Jimmy O. Yang and Fiona Fu.