Every year, the Sundance Film Festival becomes a gathering place not just for filmmakers and audiences, but for the producers whose behind-the-scenes work makes bold, independent storytelling possible. At the 2026 Sundance Film Festival Producers Celebration, presented by Amazon MGM Studios and held at The Park in Park City, Utah, that vital creative role took center stage. The event brought together producers from across the festival’s lineup to recognize excellence, collaboration, and resilience within the independent film community.
At the heart of the celebration were the Sundance Institute | Amazon MGM Studios Producers Awards, which honored two standout producers whose films are premiering at the 2026 festival. Apoorva Guru Charan received the Fiction Producers Award for Take Me Home, while Dawne Langford was honored with the Nonfiction Producers Award for Who Killed Alex Odeh?. Each award included a $10,000 grant, underscoring a shared commitment to supporting producers at critical stages of their creative journeys.
A Keynote Rooted in Connection and Curiosity
The celebration featured a keynote address by acclaimed producer Shane Boris, whose career reflects Sundance’s spirit of artistic risk-taking and human-centered storytelling. Known for his work on Navalny, Fire of Love, and The Edge of Democracy, Boris spoke candidly about his unconventional path into producing and the values that continue to guide his work.
Rather than framing producing as a position of authority, Boris described it as an act of listening. He shared how his early instinct to connect deeply with people, to recognize creative sparks, and to nurture those sparks into something larger became the foundation of his producing philosophy. This emphasis on curiosity and trust resonated strongly with the room, many of whom have built careers navigating uncertainty alongside filmmakers.
Boris also reflected on the collaborative nature of producing, highlighting how shared effort and mutual support help transform ideals into tangible films. He acknowledged the challenges facing independent creators today, noting that what sustains him is the company he keeps—fellow producers who create space for growth, resilience, and shared purpose. His keynote closed with an encouraging reminder that uncertainty is not a failure, but a fundamental part of the creative process, one that demands grace, patience, and courage.
Recognizing Fiction and Nonfiction Excellence
The Amazon MGM Studios Fiction Producers Award was presented to Apoorva Guru Charan, producer of Take Me Home, which is premiering in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at Sundance 2026. Based in Los Angeles, Guru Charan has quickly established herself as a powerful voice in international and independent cinema. Her feature debut, Joyland, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022, earning the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize and later winning the Independent Spirit Award for Best International Feature.
With Take Me Home, Guru Charan continues to demonstrate a commitment to emotionally resonant storytelling and bold creative choices. The project previously won the AT&T Untold Stories prize at the Tribeca Festival, and its Sundance premiere marks another milestone in a rapidly evolving career shaped by thoughtful risk-taking and global perspective.
The Amazon MGM Studios Nonfiction Producers Award was awarded to Dawne Langford for Who Killed Alex Odeh?, which is premiering in the U.S. Documentary Competition. Langford has built a career dedicated to socially engaged documentary filmmaking, producing work that confronts injustice, memory, and collective responsibility. Her past projects include The Body Politic, which aired nationally on PBS’s POV in 2024 and received an Emmy nomination, as well as Check It and Kandahar Journals.
Who Killed Alex Odeh? continues Langford’s long-standing commitment to truth-seeking and accountability through documentary storytelling, making her recognition at Sundance especially meaningful within the nonfiction community.
A Community-Centered Celebration
Beyond the awards and keynote, the Producers Celebration highlighted the collaborative ecosystem that sustains independent film. Speakers from the Sundance Institute, including Michelle Satter, Kristin Feeley, Shira Rockowitz, and Maria Clement, reflected on the evolving role of producers and the importance of mentorship, equity, and long-term support. Rachel Kiner-Lucas, Senior Acquisitions Executive at Amazon MGM Studios, also joined the conversation, reinforcing the importance of partnerships that respect creative independence while expanding opportunities for distribution and visibility.
The event served as both a recognition of achievement and a reaffirmation of values—connection, trust, and persistence—that define the independent filmmaking world. It reminded attendees that producers are not merely facilitators, but creative partners who help stories survive uncertainty and reach audiences intact.
Sustaining the Future of Independent Film
The Sundance Institute Producers Program, which supports emerging and established producers through labs, grants, and mentorship, continues to play a crucial role in this ecosystem. Backed by long-term philanthropic and industry support, the program reflects Sundance’s belief that strong producers are essential to the health and longevity of independent cinema.
As the 2026 Sundance Film Festival unfolds, the Producers Celebration stands as a moment of pause and reflection—a chance to honor those who labor quietly behind the scenes, navigating risk and possibility so that powerful stories can exist at all. In a rapidly changing industry, the event reaffirmed that community, collaboration, and courage remain at the heart of independent filmmaking.