Bicoastal/international Station Film has signed director Gabriel Olson for U.S. representation. Olson’s work includes GM, Coke Zero, Nike, Toyota, Nokia, Babies R Us, Foster’s Beer and Best Buy. After graduating from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, Olson worked as creative assistant and protégé of Malcolm Venville before joining Ogilvy & Mather, Singapore, to write web content for Coke Zero. Both experiences furnished Olson with invaluable insight into the creative process before he transitioned into directing full time….Passion Pictures has signed Cannes Gold Lion-winning directors Musuta for representation worldwide. Musuta is a creative partnership comprising Jopsu Ramu and Timo Ramu who use their expertise in film, design and art direction to produce striking visual content across all media for international brands and advertising agencies. Based in and between Helsinki and Tokyo, Musuta sports credits that include idents for Finland’s Channel 4, Issey Miyake Perfumes, Nokia and Finnair….BRW USA, Los Angeles has signed Slovakian director Roman Valent for his first U.S. commercial representation. His work includes such brands as T-Mobile, Suzuki and Wüstenrot. Valent studied Visual Media in Vienna before beginning his career in the entertainment industry as a film editor. He next transitioned to an AD role, later taking the director’s seat in 2001 for international commercials, film and television projects. His first spot, which he wrote, directed and produced, was for Kawasaki in 2003. The project garnered over 13 international awards and nominations including a Cannes Shortlist, a Cresta Award and a Silver Award at the Golden Drum International Advertising Festival. In addition to working on over 150 international commercials, the Prague-based helmer has also directed numerous short films…Vic Palumbo, executive VP, director of integrated production at Deutsch LA has been named one of the agency’s partners. He has overseen commercially successful and critically acclaimed spots such as “The Force” and “The Bark Side” for Volkswagen and “Michael” for PlayStation. He has also led production on Deutsch LA’s growing digital activities. While leading both the content and digital production departments at Deutsch, his team produced the VW “Mini Darth” 2011 Super Bowl effort which has become the most watched automotive commercial of all time on YouTube, won a Gold Lion at Cannes and became one of the most awarded spots of the year. And VW’s “The Dog Strikes Back” and “The Bark Side” have been successes this year, and are currently nominated for the primetime commercial Emmy. Prior to Deutsch, Palumbo was the director of integrated production at Fallon, Minneapolis. His clients included BMW, Holiday Inn and Travelers. Before landing at Fallon, he produced campaigns for Nike during his six-year stay working at Wieden+Kennedy in Portland. Over the course of his career, his productions have earned seven Emmy nominations, including Nike’s “Move” directed by Jake Scott of RSA which won the Emmy in 2002….Christian Morrisey has joined Amber Music to head up A&R and promotions. In his new role, Morrisey will be looking for new unsigned acts to work on commercials. He will also be looking after ticket allocation to gigs and via the Amber blog keeping everyone up-to-date on what’s new and hot on the music scene. He brings experience and knowledge gained through his work at Rolling Stone magazine as well as Beggars Banquet Group, where he was involved in licensing….
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