Yessian, a global music production and licensing company, has secured hello tomorrow, headed by partners Mary Eiff and Michelle Stuart, to handle sales on the East Coast. Yessian is also represented by Susan Titus on the West Coast, Ann Asprodites in the South and Mo Butler, Marni Halliburton and Helen Kaye in the Midwest….Lorraine Fearon has joined Framestore‘s Integrated Advertising division as new business manager, a role in which she will draw on her experience of working with top brands and directors, as well as her network of advertising contacts to raise VFX house Framestore’s profile within the industry. Joining from HLA in London, Fearon has in-depth knowledge of the industry, having represented directors such as Simon Ratigan and John Hardwick, and working on advertising campaigns for brands such as Honda, Sony and M&S….Integrated creative studio Decon, based in New York, has hired Jessica Passoff as director of marketing and sales. She earlier worked in-house at GARTNER, Sound Lounge and Hungry Man as an East Coast rep…..DP Eric Robbins most recent feature The Sacrament premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and is now again available via Paradigm….
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