Director Javier Aguilera has joined Bully Pictures for exclusive U.S. representation. Aguilera brings more than 10 years of experience as a director to his new roost with notable work for such clients as Lexus, Virgin Mobile, Toyota, and Volkswagen….Director Andrew Putschoegl has signed with Lookout Entertainment for exclusive commercial representation in the U.S. His comedic short film Hello Caller garnered recognition on the festival circuit, from Slamdance to SXSW. Putshoegl’s latest short, Christmas Is Ruined, stars Wendi McLendon-Covey (Bridesmaids, Reno: 911), Tom Lenk (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Broadway’s Rock of Ages), and James Carpinello (The Mob Doctor, Gangster Squad) and was featured on the front page of Funny or Die during the 2012 holiday season. Putshoegl recently wrapped production on an untitled feature dramedy starring Sean Maher (Serenity, Firefly), Larisa Oleynik (Mad Men, 10 Things I Hate About You), and Sigrid Thornton (The Man From Snowy River). His commercial work features spots for Apple, Autotrader, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, and TiVO….Abby Bernstein has joined Bang Music in New York as a producer and account executive. In her dual roles she will help lead the company into music-driven arenas both inside and outside the traditional advertising and branding worlds as well as manage existing accounts in TV audio postproduction. After graduating from Barnard College of Columbia University, Bernstein immersed herself in New York City’s songwriting scene, gaining acceptance into the Songwriters Hall of Fame Workshop where, in 2010, she took home a Best New Writer Award. At the same time she established her own music publishing company, licensing her original songs to MTV, VH1, ABC and HBO’s smash hit series Girls. Bernstein has taken an active role in many industry organizations including the National Association of Recording Industry Professionals (NARIP), the American Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) and Advertising Women of New York (AWNY). She was first introduced to Bang’s founder Lyle Greenfield at the annual meeting of the Association of Music Producers (AMP) in early 2012….
Utah Leaders and Locals Rally To Keep Sundance Film Festival In The State
With the 2025 Sundance Film Festival underway, Utah leaders, locals and longtime attendees are making a final push — one that could include paying millions of dollars — to keep the world-renowned film festival as its directors consider uprooting.
Thousands of festivalgoers affixed bright yellow stickers to their winter coats that read "Keep Sundance in Utah" in a last-ditch effort to convince festival leadership and state officials to keep it in Park City, its home of 41 years.
Gov. Spencer Cox said previously that Utah would not throw as much money at the festival as other states hoping to lure it away. Now his office is urging the Legislature to carve out $3 million for Sundance in the state budget, weeks before the independent film festival is expected to pick a home for the next decade.
It could retain a small presence in picturesque Park City and center itself in nearby Salt Lake City, or move to another finalist — Cincinnati, Ohio, or Boulder, Colorado — beginning in 2027.
"Sundance is Utah, and Utah is Sundance. You can't really separate those two," Cox said. "This is your home, and we desperately hope it will be your home forever."
Last year's festival generated about $132 million for the state of Utah, according to Sundance's 2024 economic impact report.
Festival Director Eugene Hernandez told reporters last week that they had not made a final decision. An announcement is expected this year by early spring.
Colorado is trying to further sweeten its offer. The state is considering legislation giving up to $34 million in tax incentives to film festivals like Sundance through 2036 — on top of the $1.5 million in funds already approved to lure the Utah festival to its neighboring... Read More