The Sundance Institute announced the addition of Shripriya Mahesh, Lulu Wang and Patrick Gaspard to its Board of Trustees. The trio will now help lead and advise the organisation, working closely with chairman Ebs Burnough and chief executive Joana Vicente.
Mahesh is a founding partner of Spero Ventures as well as an investor, experienced technology executive and filmmaker. Wang is an award-winning writer, director and producer best known for directing the A24 drama Goodbye, which won two Independent Spirit Awards upon its release in 2019, including Best Picture. A leader in government, philanthropy, labor and global diplomacy, Gaspard is president and CEO of the Center for American Progress.
“The new trustees bring valuable deep experience in government and community engagement, technology and digital product development, as well as a deep knowledge of the media, entertainment and storytelling landscape,” Burnough said. “As Sundance’s programs continue to meet the evolving needs of independent artists, we welcome these three new trustees who, together with the board, will continue to strengthen ways to nurture independent storytellers.”
“We are honored to welcome Lulu, Patrick and Shripriya as Trustees to the Board of Directors of the Sundance Institute,” Vicente noted. “Their vision and expertise provide us with innovative leadership to develop as a cultural organization and deepen our commitment to work.”
When asked about her new leadership position, Wang said, “Sundance has played a pivotal role in launching my film career, and I am honored to join the institute’s board of directors to help usher in a new wave of introducing filmmakers with unique voices.”
“The Sundance Institute is one of the best examples of empowering creators and helping them navigate what is a highly challenging industry. It supported creators long before the ‘creator economy’ became a buzzword,” noted Mahesh. “I am thrilled to join the board of directors to support the Institute’s mission to empower and support incredible independent filmmakers around the world.”
“I am pleased to join the Sundance Board, as both an honor and a duty at a time when the work of storytelling is critically connected to the work of democratic inclusion and the protection of rights around the world, ” Gaspard concluded. “Sundance provides an essential foundation for independent artists to embrace full expression as a value in its own right and in service to the community.”
Mahesh, Wang and Gaspard join a board for the institute led by president and founder Robert Redford, and Burnough and vice presidents Sean Bailey and Gigi Pritzker. Other members include Jason Blum, Kimberlé Crenshaw, Philipp Engelhorn, Caterina Fake, Jeanne Donovan Fisher, Robert J. Frankenberg, Donna Gruneich, Cindy Harrell Horn, Uzodinma Iweala, Amanda Kelso, Charles D. King, Lisa Kron, Lyn Davis Lear, Ann Lewnes, Wonya Lucas, Alejandro Ramirez Magaña, Pat Mitchell, Bill Plapinger, Amy Redford, Geoffrey K. Sands, Junaid Sarieddeen, Nadine Schiff-Rosen, Barry Tyerman and Lynette Wallworth.
To date, the board of directors of the non-profit organization behind the Sundance Film Festival is 45% male and 55% female, with 11 of the 31 members identifying as BIPOC.
Writer: Matt Grobar
Source: Deadline
