Director Richard DeArag๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝs, with a filmography spanning commercials and documentaries, has joined the roster of Hungry Man. He spent part of last year completing and promoting his 3D feature documentary TT3D: Closer to the Edge, about the greatest and most unique motorcycle race in the world, which takes place on the Isle of Man. The film opened to rave reviews in Europe and was nominated as Best Documentary by the British Independent Film Awards….Chemical (formerly Vendetta Post) has added executive producer Jennifer Mersis and creative director Tony Smoller. Lead Flame artist Dan Lorenzini and 3D lead Matthew Stevens are also key members of the expanding company, known for visual effects and collaboration with agencies and directors. Throughout her career, Mersis has enjoyed successful producer tenures at David&Goliath, Traffic and Mullen, working on KIA, Mitsubishi, Ad Council and other national brand campaigns. Smoller is formerly founder/creative director of PublicVFX where he worked on campaigns for Farmers Insurance (directed by Dayton/Faris), Hyundai (Wes Anderson, Tim Godsil and Noam Murro) Lincoln (Lance Acord), Mercedes (Sean Thonson) and Nike (Stacy Wall). In addition to deep advertising experience, Smoller was a creative executive at Paramount Studios. Lorenzini (The Mill, MPC, Prime Focus) and Stevens (Golden Square) are both UK transplants….
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 โ one that could include paying millions of dollars โ 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 โ Cincinnati, Ohio, or Boulder, Colorado โ 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 โ on top of the $1.5 million in funds already approved to lure the Utah festival to its neighboring... Read More