John Cooper Named Director of the Sundance Film Festival

Continuing, Cooper didn’t anticipate major staffing changes, though he said he will take a look at how the workload is allocated within the operation. The current programming team includes senior programmers Shari Frilot, Trevor Groth, and Caroline Libresco, as well as programmers John Nein and David Courier. “I think this is one of the best staffs we’ve ever had in any given year,” said Cooper who singled out additional praise for Sundance’s operations staff.

“We need to be responsible to artists and filmmakers foremost, and not just the ones we’ve worked with,” he added. “We need to pay attention to trends that are changing in the film world, industry and press. We also need to be responsible to artists whose work are now living on the web.”

Cooper joined the Sundance Institute in 1989 and has been recognized by the organization for playing a “pivotal role in both the evolution of Sundance Film Festival and the development of the Sundance Institute’s new initiatives.” In recent years, he has helped spearhead the development of New Frontier on Main, the festival’s section spotlighting the intersection of contemporary artists with technology and the moving image in addition to launching short film distribution programs through relationships with iTunes, Netflix and Xbox 360 platforms.

Last year, John Cooper was instrumental in engaging Blue State Digital, architects of President Obama’s groundbreaking online campaign, to connect with the Institute’s film and theater alumni, enhancing donor communication, and the recruitment of new Institute and festival supporters. In addition to programming the late Sundance Institute at BAM series,  Cooper has spearheaded ‘The Sundance Institute Art House Project,’ a national initiative of 18 art houses from across the country designed to connect regional audiences to the Sundance’s films and filmmakers.

“When we established the Festival, it was always with two goals in mind: supporting new artists and inspiring new audiences,” commented Sundance president and founder Robert Redford in a statement. “Cooper has never lost sight of these goals. He brings to the position an infectious enthusiasm as well as a deep understanding of the Sundance brand and culture. Forward thinking, he is a natural choice of succession to lead the Festival into the 21st century.”

“The Trustees and I are very pleased that Cooper has agreed to serve as the festival’s new director,” added Ken Brecher, Executive Director of the Sundance Institute in a statement. “To have such an innovative leader who is very much in tune with the needs and interests of today’s filmmakers is invaluable.”