An Emersonian’s Guide to Sundance 2025
By Design, the latest film by writer/director/producer Amanda Kramer ’02, will screen at this year’s Sundance Film Festival alongside two dozen features, shorts, documentaries, and series that were created in part by Emerson alums.
Starring Juliette Lewis, By Design tells the story of a woman who becomes a chair and finds herself more popular. The film was executive produced by Jason Beck ’97, and Carl Stewart ’20 was key grip. It will screen as part of Sundance’s NEXT program, which showcases “pure bold works distinguished by an innovative, forward-thinking approach to storytelling.”
The festival runs January 23-February 2 in and around Park City, Utah.
Pat Scola ’08 was cinematographer on Lurker, a feature about the line between fandom and obsession screening in the Premieres program, which features world premieres of highly anticipated films. Ian T. Barbella ’07 was first assistant: additional (camera and electrical).
Four alums worked on Kiss of the Spider Woman, Bill Condon’s reimagining of the 1985 film starring Jennifer Lopez and Diego Luna and premiering at Sundance, including Sasha Veneziano ’98 (co-producer), Ric Schnupp ’08 (re-recording mixer), Lisa Sene ’10 (additional camera operator), and Sam Reynolds ’18 (data wrangler).
Abby Ellin, MFA ’95 and Sean Bradley ’04 are executive producers of Speak, screening in the U.S. Documentary Competition. Speak follows five high school students competing in one of the world’s largest public speaking competitions. In the same category, Marissa Torres Ericson ’12 executive produced André is an Idiot, about a man learning to die happily.
In the Documentary Short program (and also filed under “learning about death”), Yuxan Ethan Wu ’19 directed, produced, shot, and edited Death Education, about a high school teacher in China who introduces a class that teaches students about death. And in the Short Film category, Patrick Koitzsch ’20 executive produced Somebody Cares, about a middle-aged deadbeat who struggles to come up with his own ransom money.
Several alums worked on Sorry, Baby, a film about trauma and healing screening in the U.S. Dramatic Competition: Alison Cupples ’03 (pre-production coordinator), Benjamin Fee ’04 (additional set dresser), Chhoyang Cheshatsang ’09 (actor playing Thomas), Jared Detsikas ’11 (sound mixer), Suja Ono ’14 (set director), Allison Nicole Tucker, MA ’15 (additional 2nd second assistant director), Jez Insalaco ’16 (key costumer), and Chris Stavre ’16 (additional set dresser).
Additional Emerson alums who contributed to Sundance films include:
U.S. Dramatic Competition
Kyle Daly ’13 was A camera first assistant on Omaha.
Jared Canfield ’12 was an actor (Adam) in Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake).
Yona Prost ’03 was a script supervisor and Jannette Bloom ’08 was an actor (Actress) on Twinless.
U.S. Documentary Competition
Henry Winkler ’67, LHD ’78 was featured in Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore.
Premieres
Kyra Bosell ’16 was art director on If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.
Vinny Castellini ’16 was 2nd second assistant director (additional photo) on Last Days.
Juliana Hartman ’20 was an associate producer on SALLY.
Christopher Consoli ’23 was a production assistant on Move Ya Body: The Birth of House.
Midnight (horror, thrillers, etc.)
Conrad Krendel-Clark ’16 was a swing (camera & electrical) on Touch Me.
Alex Lim ’10 was a first assistant A camera on Opus.
Episodic
Taylor Westerfield ’15 was ADR recordist, dialogue editor on Hal & Harper.
Elise Ahrens ’16 was editor on Bucks County, USA.
Pat Fitzgerald ’11 was colorist on Bulldozer.
Amy DePaola, MFA ’17 (and an affiliated faculty member at Emerson Los Angeles) was an associate producer on Chasers.
Documentary Short Film
Mark Kaplan ’70 is co-producer of Hold Me Close.
Short Film
Haley Vigil ’14 was costume designer on Azi.
Mariano Dongo ’17 was first assistant director on We’re Not Done Yet.
Did we miss anyone? Let us know at alumni@emerson.edu
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