Ryan Coogler, W. Kamau Bell and Nikyatu Jusu celebrated at Sundance’s opening ceremony

Filmmaker Ryan Cooller (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever), W. Kamau Bell (We need to talk about Cosby) and Nikyatu Jusu (take care) has been named the first trio of honorees for Opening Night: A Taste of Sundance — a new annual event for the festival that begins Jan. 19 in Park City, Utah.

The festival launch of Sundance will be an evening honoring inspiring and groundbreaking storytellers whose journeys have been associated with Sundance over the years, while raising funds and awareness for the institute. Proceeds are used to support the Institute’s work throughout the year to elevate new and established independent voices worldwide through artist programs, grants and other initiatives.

At the opening night premiere, Coogler will receive the Visionary Award, while Bell and Jusu will take home the Vanguard Awards for nonfiction and fiction, respectively. The former award was designed to recognize an artist closely associated with the organization and its programs and who has built an exceptional career through a unique perspective and commitment to impactful storytelling. The final award recognizes artists whose work emphasizes the art of storytelling and creative independence.

Additional prize winners will be announced in the coming weeks.

“Kicking off the 2023 edition of the festival with this new celebration is a great opportunity to speak up for the storytellers we support and to support Sundance Institute grants, mentorships, and other important resources that help artists develop their making stories a reality. We look forward to reuniting in Park City to highlight the vision, originality and independent spirit of artists whose careers we have supported,” said Joana Vicente, CEO of Sundance Institute, which is recognizing Ryan with the Visionary Award and his contributions to the industry and institution over more than a decade is a special moment for us and we are equally honored to present both Nikyatu and Kamau with the Vanguard Awards.”

Shared Coogler: “Ten years ago, I was filled with gratitude when I was selected by Michelle Satter and her staff for the 2012 Screenwriting Lab. My experience there gave me an impetus that carried me through a decade of professional work. It is with even deeper gratitude that I accept this honor. The Institute has been an ongoing source of support, resources and access to so many incredible filmmakers, and I pray that it will make an impact for those of us who know the depth of the impact personally, and for the budding storytellers for whom the Institute is intended is, will continue to thrive in the future.”

Bell added, “One of the happiest days in production We need to talk about Cosby was when I told the crew that we had been admitted into Sundance. On a project as thorny and nuanced as our series, there were many days when I thought no one outside of us would understand what we were all trying to do. It’s a great honor to be invited to receive this award for all the work and care the team and I have put into our series.”

Jusu concluded: “I don’t use the term ‘family’ too broadly, but I can safely say that my adoptive community in Sundance has become just that. I’ve had a tortuous, lonely, often excruciating ascent as I’ve pursued my passion for filmmaking over the years, so being embraced by this filmmaking community of hungry fellow artists, material resources, mentorship and, most importantly, access, has I stopped that Fire. to endure this industrial journey. I hope to give back to other aspiring filmmakers as Sundance has so generously given to me. My gratitude knows no bounds.”

Coogler is a writer, director and producer developing his critically acclaimed debut feature Fruitvale station at Sundance as a 2012 Screenwriters Lab Fellow. His film continued to receive additional creative, tactical and promotional support from the Sundance Institute and premiered at the 2013 festival. Fruitvale station won both the American Grand Jury Prize for Dramatic Film and the Audience Award for American Dramatic Film, two of the festival’s highest honors. Coogler was also an advisor to Screenwriters Intensive 2013 and an artist trustee. His latest blockbuster Black Panther: Wakanda Foreveris currently in cinemas.

Bell is the comedian, director and executive producer behind the Showtime documentaries We need to talk about Cosbywhich started at Sundance 2022. He is also the anchor and executive producer of CNNs United Shades of America and New York Times bestselling author, Doing the Work: An Anti-Racist Activity BookWritten with Kate Schatz.

Jusu is a writer, director and assistant professor of film and video, whose short film Suicide by sunlight debuted at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. She made her film debut as a writer and director, starring Anna Diop. take care, which was acquired by Amazon and Blumhouse earlier this year after it became the first horror film to win the Sundance Grand Jury Prize. The film, which is underwritten by the screenwriter, directors, producer and Sundance Institute’s Catalyst Labs, will have a limited release on November 23 before releasing on Prime Video on December 16.

The 2023 Sundance Film Festival takes place January 19-29. More information about the opening night can be found here.