AN IDYLLIC PLACE TO LEARN THE ART OF FILM

The institute behind the film festival guides emerging filmmakers in its lab programs.

For most folks, the phrase “Sundance,” besides the famous association with Robert Redford, invokes the annual well-covered film festival in snowy Utah. The larger Sundance Institute, founded by Redford in 1981, also puts on other events, including the new Next Fest in Los Angeles this weekend and a just-announced program in Hong Kong.

Yet arguably one of the most vital programs of the Sundance Institute is one that the public never sees and many people have little awareness of — its filmmaking labs. Though programs are put on throughout the year and around the world, it is the lab programs at the Sundance Resort in Utah that perhaps best capture their spirit, a mix of idyllic location, immersive intensity and creative support, with programs covering areas including directing, screenwriting, producing and documentary filmmaking.

Under the longtime guidance of the founding director of the Feature Film Program, Michelle Satter, the institute has amassed an impressive list of projects and talent that have come through its doors. Just a few who have participated over the years include Paul Thomas Anderson, Quentin Tarantino, Nicole Holofcener, Kimberly Pierce, Darren Aronofsky, Matt Reeves, Gina Prince-Bythewood and many more.

Potential fellows enter the process through an open submission process. Recent festival prize winners such as Damien Chazelle’s “Whiplash,” Ryan Coogler’s “Fruitvale Station” and Behn Zeitlin’s “Beasts of the Southern Wild” all came through the institute’s programs, while diverse films such as Sean Durkin’s “Martha Marcy May Marlene,” Cary Fukunaga’s “Sin Nombre,” Dee Rees’ “Pariah” Haifaa alMansour’s “Wadjda” and Ritesh Batra’s “The Lunchbox” were also shepherded in some way through the Sundance Institute.

Actor Ed Harris shot a role this summer in the feature film “The Adderall Diaries,” adapted and directed by Pamela Romanowsky, whom he met at the labs last year. Harris said this was the first time he’s taken a role from someone right out of the program.

“You really deal with what their problems are,” he said of the process. “It’s just really fun, you’re working in rehearsal, while they’re shooting and in the cutting room. You’re not telling them what to do, you’re asking them questions trying to help them deal with their own shortcomings. I don’t think there’s anything like it.”

Sandria Miller Sundance Institute FELLOW QUENTIN TARANTINO, left, with actor Steve Buscemi on the set of “Reservoir Dogs” at the June 1991 directors lab. Others who have participated in the institute’s labs include Nicole Holofcener and Darren Aronofsky.

Sundance Institute ROBERT REDFORD looks through a camera on the set of “Lightning Bender” with Directing Fellow James Pasternak at the 1984 June directors lab. His Sundance Institute’s lab programs include directing, screenwriting and producing.

Ryan Johnson Sundance Institute CATHERINE HARDWICKE, left, with Fellow Jordana Spiro at the 2014 directors lab. Spiro’s “Skin” won the Women in Film Grant at the 2013 festival.

Clayton Chase Sundance Institute FELLOW HANY ABU-ASSAD on the set of “Paradise Now” with Joseph Gordon Levitt, Patrick Fugit and Shiri Appleby at the June 2003 directors lab.

Fred Hayes Sundance Institute FELLOW BENH ZEITLIN on the set of “Beasts of the Southern Wild” with actor Eddie Rouse at the June 2009 directors lab through the Sundance Institute.

Fred Hayes Sundance Institute ED HARRIS works with Sally El Hosaini at the June 2009 directors lab.

Ali Barr Sundance Institute FELLOW RYAN COOGLER works on “Fruitvale Station” at a 2012 lab.