The Mill in L.A. has added Kim Wildenburg as executive producer for its Mill+ content and design team. She has worked with such noted directors as Fredrik Bond, StyleWar, Noam Murro, Rupert Sanders, Olivier Gondry, Daniel Askill, Todd Mueller and Kylie Matulick. Wildenburg has 15-plus years of producing experience. Previously she worked with Psyop, Fin Design, Method, and Paranoid US….The Cavalry Productions has signed director Bryce Gubler for both commercial and digital work. Gubler has spent the last four years in Europe, directing spots, digital and docs for Nike, Canon and Red Bull….Absolute Post and sister company, Blind Pig, have promoted Nick Hayes to exec producer and Melissa Stephano to head of production. Both are based in Absolute/Blind Pig’s NY office and will report to Absolute founder/CEO Dave Smith who’s in London. Haynes was a founder of the NY office in 2007 and has since led VFX and motion graphics on varied projects, including Coldplay’s “Atlas,” from The Hunger Games: Catching Fire soundtrack, and Guinness’ “Basketball,” a spot from BBDO NY which blurs the lines between athletes and para-athletes. Stephano, upped from sr. producer, has among her credits John Legend’s “Made to Love” video….Editor Mikkel EG has joined Rock Paper Scissors’ NY staff. Mikkel EG is known for his collaborations with Adam Hashemi, Martin Werner, Academy director Martin de Thurah, and Girl with the Dragon Tattoo screenplay writer Nikolaj Arcel….NY-based Cause & [Effect] has added Jenn Dewey as exec producer of its commercial division. With 15 years of postproduction experience, Dewey joins after most recently holding the role of sr. producer at Method Studios….Re-recording mixer Kevin O’Connell has joined Todd-Soundelux. Based at Todd-AO’s facility in Santa Monica, O’Connell will combine his role as re-recording mixer with a senior-level creative position, providing oversight on issues related to feature film business development, client services, creative talent and strategic initiatives. With a career spanning four decades, O’Connell’s work has been recognized with 20 Academy Award nominations….
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