David Hinojosa Urges Producers: ‘Fuel Your Own Self-Renewal’ at Sundance!

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At Sundance, producers often shine under the limelight during the initial day of the festival, which is usually the first Sunday, due to the Producers Celebration sponsored by Amazon MGM Studios.

Today’s event took place at The Park venue in Park City, where the morning was marked by a keynote speech from Oscar-nominated producer David Hinojosa. Additionally, two $10,000 grants were awarded to producers whose projects are part of this year’s Sundance festival lineup.

This morning at The Park venue in Park City, the event included a keynote from Oscar-nominated producer David Hinojosa and the distribution of two $10,000 grants to producers whose projects are part of this year’s Sundance festival.

Securing Hinojosa for a speech was quite an achievement, given that the esteemed producer – a former member of Killer Films and co-founder of 2AM Productions – has had an exceptional year. He’s recently worked on Brady Corbet’s Oscar-nominated film, “The Brutalist,” as well as Halina Reijn’s movie featuring Nicole Kidman, titled “Babygirl.” Among his other notable projects are “Bodies Bodies Bodies,” “Brothers by Blood,” “The World to Come,” “Shirley,” “Zola,” “Vox Lux,” and “Beatriz at Dinner.

During his remarks, Hinojosa, an active member of Producers United, recognized some of his colleagues present by giving them a friendly acknowledgment.

In this room, I notice several individuals from Producers United. Typically seen as competitors, they are coming together to tackle a significant issue. By focusing on rectifying disparities across all types of producers, such as wages at the start of their careers and healthcare access, we’re taking charge of our future and ensuring the longevity of this profession. He pointed out the hurdles his field faces, which have been well-chronicled. This combined effort, backed by the Producers Branch of the Academy, the PGA, and the Producer Program at Sundance Institute, showcases the strength that unity holds in our community. The question now is: will we seize this power? It’s our time to make a difference.

It’s “important” that manufacturers understand their “distinctive” role within the industry, he emphasized from the stage, which was also occupied by other speakers like Amanda Kelso and Michelle Satter of Sundance Institute, Kristin Feeley, Shira Rockowitz, and Maria Clement.

His point was clear: Our strength doesn’t merely come from producing films, but from our potential to motivate, provoke thought, and, if you will, rally support for our endeavors. To sustain ourselves, we must take charge. No one else is going to do it for us. As true pioneers, we need to act. We’re fortunate to have a profession that encourages creative innovation. However, I also understand this – we can’t depend solely on the individuals in this room. We need to combine our skills, something that’s hard to quantify or fit into a job description. We must channel all of this energy.

Wrapping up his speech, he urged his colleagues to watch each other’s backs in the constantly evolving world of Hollywood. “In essence, I’m still the same internet enthusiast from Indiana: Bold, chatty, and compact. But now I have this platform and this canvas. A space to utilize my mixed talents, open browser windows, and passions. And most importantly, a collaborative creative group that unites and forms alliances. We need to look out for one another.

As a passionate admirer, I’d like to share some insights about the funding behind the Sundance Institute Producers Program. This program is generously backed by an endowment from the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Charitable Foundation. Furthermore, it receives additional support from esteemed institutions like the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and Amazon MGM Studios.

Today, the awards were given to two exceptional producers. On the fiction side, it was Joe Pirro, who works as head of production at James Schamus’ company Symbolic Exchange, based in New York City. He contributed to Andrew Ahn’s film “The Wedding Banquet.” On the nonfiction side, Danielle Varga received recognition for her work on Brittany Shyne’s project “Seeds.” Previously, she has produced films like Brett Story’s “The Hottest August,” Todd Chandler’s “Bulletproof,” Vicky Du’s “Light of the Setting Sun,” and Rachel Elizabeth Seed’s “A Photographic Memory.

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2025-01-26 23:25