Each year, YoungArts hosts five YoungArts award winners between the ages of 21-25 at Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Led by producer and past YoungArts Film panelist Kimberley Browning, five artists attended panels and workshops, met with established filmmakers and viewed films debuting at the prestigious festival. Read on to learn more about their experience during the week.
What was this experience like for you?
“Arriving in Park City was a magical experience. Knowing this would be the final Sundance Film Festival in Utah made the week feel especially meaningful, like we were part of a moment in history. I loved realizing how much bigger the festival was than film screenings. The panels, workshops and filmmakers everywhere made it feel like a powerful community centered around storytelling that I was honored to be a part of. Because my YoungArts week was held virtually in 2022, this Sundance 2026 trip was my first in-person YoungArts experience, and it exceeded everything I imagined. I was surprised by how quickly I connected so deeply with the other fellow artists in my cohort and with my program mentors. I am so grateful to have formed new friendships that will truly last a lifetime.”
– Ethan Chu (2019, 2022 Film)
“This experience was eye-opening to say the least. Coming from a city like Dallas, it was reigniting in terms of connection and reminding me why I am on this path in the first place. I created some amazing connections and also, just had so much fun! It was much needed and really meant a lot to me.”
– Julian Sol Jordan (2020 Film)
What were some highlights/special moments from the week?
“Some of the most meaningful moments were actually the quiet, in-between ones, standing in long lines with everyone waiting to see films, sharing reactions immediately after screenings and bonding over a collective love for film. Those moments created a strong sense of community. Beyond that, having such close and casual access to filmmakers was unforgettable. Sharing breakfast with directors whose films were premiering at Sundance felt incredibly surreal and humanized the filmmaking process in a powerful way. Speaking directly with festival programmers was another major highlight; learning how they think about curation, risk and storytelling gave me insight into the system behind film festivals that I had never been exposed to before.”
– Alice Estrada (2022 Visual Arts)
How do you think this experience will impact your career/upcoming projects?
“My first experience at the last Sundance Film Festival in Park City was the most magical, especially with YoungArts. Having a village to support and mentor me as an emerging filmmaker fills me with much gratitude. Thank you Kimberley, Bethany, Eloise, Clive and the YoungArts team who made this meaningful experience possible. Especially important to the fullness of this trip was the special group of YoungArts laureates and the industry pioneers I was able to bond with as well as the inspiring films and moderated panels I was able to watch. Attending Sundance with YoungArts gave me the opportunity to make meaningful connections and leave with a better understanding of the indie film industry as I develop upcoming projects and move forward in my career.”
– Samiksha Thakur (2022 Film)
“Sundance Film Festival with YoungArts was an experience that’ll stick with me for the rest of my life. To get to spend time with such incredible artists while receiving a nonstop stream of tailored career support was a magically wonderful combination. I have no doubt the connections I made at Sundance Film Festival 2026 will prove not only immediately beneficial to the projects currently on my slate, but will continue to impact my career for many years to come. Only now do I understand that YoungArts is truly for life, and that kind of community and support is priceless.”
– Gabriel Kahane (2018 Film)