Mark Sitley has joined Euro RSCG MVBMS, New York, as executive creative director of production. He was formerly director of production, North America, for Fallon, Minneapolis and New York….Director Johan Kramer has signed with bicoastal/international Chelsea Pictures for U.S. representation. Kramer, a founding partner of agency KesselsKramer, Amsterdam, will remain involved in the ad shop….Director Stuart Macleod has signed with Cine/DRSA International, New York, for spotwork…. Josianne Cote has been promoted to executive producer at Rex Edit, the Venice, Calif.-based house owned by cutter Bill Marmor. Cote, who had been a producer at Rex for the past two years, succeeds Allison Nunn, who sold her interest in the shop and is pursuing other business interests, according to Marmor. Additionally, Benjamin Foushee has been upped to assistant editor….Visual effects designer Julie Watkins has returned to R!OT Manhattan. Watkins, who was most recently with Spontaneous Combustion, New York, had previously been with R!OT Manhattan from 1999-’01….Michael Apted, a feature filmmaker (Coal Miner’s Daughter, Gorillas in the Mist) and documentarian (Incident at Oglala) who directs commercials via bicoastal GARTNER, has been elected president of the Directors Guild of America (DGA). He succeeds Martha Coolidge, who did not seek re-election. Coolidge was, however, named first VP of the guild….
Breakout Films and Major Takeaways From This Year’s Sundance Fest
Film wasn't the only thing on people's minds at this year's Sundance Film Festival, which comes to a close Sunday in Park City, Utah ( and online ).
The effects of the wildfires in Southern California loomed large, as did the bittersweet knowledge that this year will be the second to last Sundance based in Park City. Some films offered an escape from reality; others were a pointed reminder of the domestic and international political landscape, from transgender rights to the war in Ukraine.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the 41st edition of the festival.
The effects of the Southern California fires were deeply felt
The wildfires were still burning in parts of Los Angeles when Sundance began last week and reminders of its devastation were everywhere, even on screen. Max Walker-Silverman's "Rebuilding," starring Josh O'Connor as a cowboy who loses his ranch in a wildfire and forms a community with fellow survivors in a FEMA camp, hit close to home for many.
Filmmakers Meena Menon and Paul Gleason lost their home in Altadena where they filmed some of their zombie apocalypse movie "Didn't Die." Sundance artist labs head Michelle Satter lost her Palisades home as well. Satter had an audience of Sundance Institute donors in tears early in the festival while accepting an honor at a fundraising gala.
"It's a deeply devastating time for us and so many others, a moment that calls for all of us coming together to support our bigger community," Satter said. "As a friend recently noted, and I have to listen to this, 'Take a deep breath ... We lost our village, but at the end of the day we are the village.'"
The festival's move to another city dominated conversations
It was a topic... Read More