International film and content company Pulse Films has hired Kira Carstensen as executive producer and president of commercials for its recently launched U.S. division. She will be responsible for driving growth of the company's domestic presence and commercials and branded content business. Carstensen will operate from Los Angeles, base of Pulse's American operations, and work directly with CEO Thomas Benski.
Carstensen comes to Pulse Films after seven years at production company Supply & Demand where, as executive producer and partner, she helmed the commercials division and helped grow the company's roster from four to 16 directors. Carstensen earned a Short Subject Documentary Oscar nomination in 2012 at Supply & Demand for producing the Lucy Walker-directed The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom. EP Carstensen's multidisciplinary experience spans documentary and narrative film, TV and commercials. Her clients have included Chrysler, Cadillac, EA Sports, Mercedes-Benz, Fiat, Activision and Procter & Gamble.
Carstensen's arrival follows Pulse's recently announced U.S. partnership with VICE Media that will see the two companies develop a series of co-produced long-form TV & film projects together. It also follows a global commission by MTV International for an eight-part, U.S.-based docuseries called Sleeping with the Family, as well as successful commercial and branded content campaigns with clients that include Samsung, Adidas, Levi's, McDonalds, Nokia and Sony.
Pulse has produced a number of large-scale, culturally focused projects in America since launching in the market. They include the LCD Soundsystem film Shut Up and Play the Hits (with VICE Media), an official selection at both Sundance Film Festival and SXSW 2012; the Paramount-released Katy Perry: Part of Me 3D, which on release quickly became the fourth-highest grossing music documentary of all time; and the Grammy nominated Blur documentary No Distance Left to Run. Other productions include Who is Dayani Cristal? (winner of Best Cinematography at Sundance 2013, official selection New York Film Festival & San Sebastian), starring Gael Garcia Bernal, 20,000 Days on Earth with Nick Cave and a definitive feature documentary about the Backstreet Boys.
Pulse Films was founded in 2005 in the UK. It has offices in London, Paris, Los Angeles and New York.
Michelle Satter To Be Honored At Sundance Film Festival Gala
The nonprofit Sundance Institute today announced details for the 2025 Sundance Film Festival’s gala fundraiser, Celebrating Sundance Institute, which will take place on Friday, January 24, 2025 at the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley in Utah. The event will be an evening in celebration of Michelle Satter, founding sr. director of artist programs at Sundance Institute, for her longstanding commitment to nurturing artists and cultivating independent film through the Sundance Labs, where visionary artists convene to develop groundbreaking projects through an in-depth creative process, for the past four decades. The annual Vanguard Awards will be presented during the evening to Sean Wang, writer and director of Dìdi, and Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, co-directors of Sugarcane, who premiered their films at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.
The annual gala enables the nonprofit to raise funds to support independent artists year-round through labs, grants, and public programming that nurture artists from all over the world. The 2025 event is made possible with the generous support of Google TV. The Festival will take place from January 23–February 2, 2025, in person in Park City and Salt Lake City, with a selection of titles available online from January 30–February 2, 2025 for audiences across the country to discover bold independent storytelling.
“For over four decades Michelle has been devoted to truly championing independent storytellers,” said Amanda Kelso, acting CEO of Sundance Institute. “She has encouraged artists to own their voice, learn their craft, become fierce leaders, and develop their resilience in our changing ecosystem. Her life-long commitment to supporting artists, especially in underrepresented... Read More