Windrider Forum
at Sundance Film Festival
The vision for the Windrider Institute was launched in 2004.
Co-founders John and Ed Priddy joined Will Stoller-Lee from Fuller Theological Seminary and filmmaker/author/educator Dr. Craig Detweiler, to explore the possibilities of an immersive educational experience at the Sundance Film Festival – with the idea that the Sundance Film Festival could provide a dynamic learning laboratory for students, as Christians, to engage in a cultural dialogue as it takes shape.
In 2005, Fuller Theological Seminary and Biola University, participated in the inaugural Windrider Forum at Sundance with the assumption that they would simply be guests at the festival, and that their spiritual conversations would be of little interest to the Sundance filmmakers and the broader public.
Many films viewed at Sundance were a visually potent picture of the filmmaker’s heartfelt search for answers – and as we brought these filmmakers back to the Windrider Forum classroom, we shaped our Q&A approach to honor their craft, listen to their stories, and find thoughtful, spiritual themes in their work.
“Screening our film at Windrider was unlike any other festival experience we’ve had. I think we’ve felt more appreciated as artists here than we have at any other festival in the country.”
— Destin Daniel Cretton, Director/Writer, Sundance Award winner
TODAY, the Windrider Forum is recommended and sought out by Sundance filmmakers who often credit it as…
“One of the most meaningful conversations of their time at the festival.”
— Barbara Stepanksky, Trojan Cow, Award winning filmmaker
1500
students
17
universities & seminaries
200
participants annually
There is no other immersive experience quite like the Windrider Forum at Sundance
FOR THREE REASONS …
THE UNSURPASSED VALUE OF PARTICIPATING IN A WORLD-CLASS FILM FESTIVAL AND THE EXCEPTIONAL ACTIVITIES IT PROVIDES, SUCH AS:
- The 125+ FILMS selected by Sundance programmers that will shape our cultural conversations and form the foundation of the Windrider Forum curriculum.
- The organic and unrehearsed classroom conversations with SUNDANCE FILMMAKERS that reveal important insights to both sides.
- The SUNDANCE INSTITUTE’S stellar industry PANEL SESSIONS that host THE leading voices in cinema, story, documentary, technology, distribution, and music, along with numerous other hosted presentations.
- The IMMERSIVE COMMUNITY environment of film enthusiasts, industry professionals, and independent filmmakers that facilitate unprecedented learning and networking opportunities.
OUR EVENT IS UNSURPASSED BY THE COLLABORATIVE LEVERAGING OF MULTIPLE WORLD-CLASS PARTNERS, SUCH AS:
- The contributions of FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, our leading partner.
- The 12+ PARTICIPATING UNIVERSITIES, each overseeing its own academic credit and course delivery, and their contributing professors.
- The inclusion of the WINDRIDER INTERNATIONAL STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL and its award winning filmmakers who are imbedded in to our community for the week, providing award-winning short film screenings, filmmaker Q&A’s, plus undergrad class intensives.
- The broader WINDRIDER FORUM CONFERENCE of participating industry professionals, alumni, supporters, and academic and cultural leaders that join us annually for the Windrider Forum.
OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOCAL PARK CITY COMMUNITY IS FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR SUCCESS!
- The Windrider Forum is done for a relatively low amount of hard cost dollars but the financial impact of the local Park City community’s “gifts in kind” makes for a world-class event in public space!
Watch Films
Filmmaker Q&A
