Park City, UT— The 2007 Sundance Film Festival announced today the topics, participants, times, and locations of the panel discussions taking place during the Festival, which runs January 18-28, 2007 in Park City, at the Sundance Resort, in Salt Lake City, and in Ogden, Utah. The Festival panel discussions stimulate animated debates between filmmakers, industry representatives, journalists, historians, authors, and scholars on a host of topics important to the international filmmaking community.

Festival Panel Discussions are presented in four categories: Panels at Prospector, Events at the Sundance House, Filmmaker Lodge Panels, and New Frontier on Main. Panels tackle topics from art and commerce, documentary and digital to politics and philosophy and culture and craft. This year’s panels feature internationally-known experts including: filmmakers Gregg Araki, Darren Aronofksy, Guillermo Arriaga, Hal Hartley, Tamara Jenkins, Rory Kennedy and Brett Morgen,This American Life creator Ira Glass, cultural observers Adam Gopnik, B. Ruby Rich and Ian Buruma, artists Douglas Gordon and Pierre Huyghe, cosmos explorers Ann Druyan and Brian Greene, “investigative satirist” and original Yippie Paul Krassner, and New Line Cinema co-founder Bob Shaye.

The fast evolving world of film art, moving image installations, and new media art is explored with Mapping The New Frontier, a panel that convenes six important contemporary artists exploring the field. How “Movies that Matter” Can Matter asks what it takes to get important issues out of the movie theater and into the national dialogue. The 21st Century Documentary looks at the rapidly changing arena of documentary film by the industry professionals who don’t just discuss trends but make them. Ira Glass recounts the overhaul of This American Life from radio to television in How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love TV, and in a Salute to Independence, Bob Shaye reflects on 40 years of New Line Cinema.

“Film Culture is what sets a festival apart from our normal way of watching films. It’s the environment one has for engaging ideas with the people who accompany the films, the cutting edge of industry trends, and the music and live performance,” explained Geoffrey Gilmore, Director, Sundance Film Festival. “Ultimately, it’s about the broader experience of culture that surrounds cinema. For the longest time, we’ve been trying to figure out how more people can experience Film Culture at the festival, so it’s exciting that this is the year we’re breaking these discussions out of their venues and into the world with a selection of ten Podcasts.”

PANELS AT PROSPECTOR
A compelling collection of conversations, performances, panel discussions, and eclectic offerings that explore the complex world of independent film and its place in the broader spectrum of contemporary arts. For additional information or tickets, visit www.sundance.org.

Panels at Prospector include:

The Times Did They A-Change?
Saturday, January 20 at 2:30 p.m.
What happened to Counter Culture? Some might argue that its ideological underpinnings have been eroded; others that it’s routinely absorbed by the machinery of mass media. But what does the term really mean and how does it relate to politics, activism, protest, race, culture, music and film? Mike Bonanno (one of the Yes Men), Todd Gitlin (professor, NYU and author of The Sixties: Years of Hope, Days of Rage), Paul Krassner (founding Yippie and “investigative satirist), Brett Morgen (director, CHICAGO 10), Julien Temple (director, JOE STRUMMER: THE FUTURE IS UNWRITTEN), Patricia Zimmerman (professor, Ithaca College) and moderator B. Ruby Rich (film critic and culture theorist).

Mapping the New Frontier
Sunday, January 21 at 2:30 p.m.
As a growing number of art world figures explore the potential of moving images and cinematic forms, a vast New Frontier of visual expression is emerging. With energy and vision, these works reframe traditional notions of image-making and narrative. Douglas Gordon (director, ZIDANE: A 21ST CENTURY PORTRAIT), Pierre Huyghe (director, ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: PIERRE HUYGHE), Paul Chan (director, 1ST LIGHT), Nina Menkes (director, PHANTOM LOVE), Shu Lea Cheang (MOBIOPERA), and moderator Chrissie Iles (Curator, Whitney Museum of American Art).

How “Movies That Matter” Can Matter
Monday, January 22 at 2:30 p.m.
How do you get important issues like genocide, climate change, and the prisoner abuse out of the theater and into the national focus? Can film encourage activism and create real change? Sean Fine(co-director, WAR DANCE), Judith Helfand (co-director, EVERYTHING’S COOL), Rory Kennedy (director, GHOSTS OF ABU GHRAIB), Eric Schlosser (author of Fast Food Nation), Gayle Smith (Center for American Progress), Brian Steidle (Global Grassroots), Diane Weyermann (Participant Productions), and moderator Helene Cooper (New York Times).
Copesented by the Center for American Progress.

Salute to Independence: A Conversation with Bob Shaye
Tuesday, January 23 at 5 p.m.
Founded in 1967, New Line Cinema began distributing genre, cult and foreign films from a Greenwich Village apartment. Forty years later, it has grown from a “niche” company to an industry giant. Join co-Founder Bob Shaye for an anniversary conversation about independence, followed by a special screening of the film THE LAST MIMZY. Bob Shaye (co-founder New Line Cinema).

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love TV
“This American Life”: Reloaded
Wednesday, January 24 at 2:30 p.m.
ACT I. Ten years ago, Ira Glass was told about a few “laws of radio.” He mostly ignored them and, with his collaborators on “This American Life,” went on to resuscitate a flagging medium and reinvent storytelling. ACT II. What happens when listeners become viewers? The iconic show makes a move. Do not adjust your TV. You are watching “This American Life” ACT III. Images. The road to a reconceived show was paved with good intentions, failed experiments and lessons learned, which will be discussed. ACT IV. Stories from the new This American Life. Ira Glass (creator and host, This American Life), Chris Wilcha (director) and Adam Beckman (cinematographer).

Space, A Guided Tour
Friday, January 26 at 2:30 p.m.
For something that started off pretty small, the universe has come a long way. A discussion of good days and bad days in outer space, the pioneering spirit of science, and interstellar inspiration. Supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Darren Aranofsky (PI, THE FOUNTAIN), Buzz Aldrin (astronaut, Apollo 11), Ann Druyan (author and CEO, Cosmos Studios), David Sington (co-director, Instituted for String, Cosmology, and Astroparticle Physics, Columbia University), David Sington (director, IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON), Howard Suber (professor, UCLA Dept. Film & Televison), Margaret Wetheim (author, science writer), and Chen Shi-Zheng (director, DARK MATTER).

EVENTS AT SUNDANCE HOUSE
The Sundance House at The Kimble Arts Center offers a host of events ranging from game shows testing the film knowledge of cinephiles to nondenominational lessons in film to discussions and jam sessions with some of the most talented film composers and recording artists.

Events at Sundance House include:

SAYS YOU
Sunday, January 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the Salt Lake City Main Library & Monday, January 22 at 7:00 p.m.
Says You, the game of words and whimsy, bluff and bluster comes to the blustery backdrop of Utah for two shows during the festival. Host Richard Sher and unfathomably brilliant panelists match wits as they broadcast their show from Salt Lake City and Park City.

Film Church with Adam Gopnik
Saturday, January 20 at 2 p.m.
Adam Gopnik has been writing for The New Yorker since 1986. He is a three-time winner of National Magazine Awards for Essays and for Criticism and winner of the George Polk Award for Magazine Reporting. Raised in Montreal, Gopnik lived in Paris from 1995 to 2000, and now lives in New York with his wife and their two children.

Film Church with Sandra Tsing Loh: “Mother on Fire”
Friday, January 26 at 4 p.m. (at the New Frontier on Main)
Sandra Tsing Loh is a formerly sane person who became a mother. Not just a mother, a mother in Los Angeles. Suddenly, a relaxed purposeless life swilling cosmos has been transformed into an epic quest through burning trials.Writer/Performer Sandra Tsing Loh is the author of several award-winning short stories and books.

SUNDANCE CELEBRATES MUSIC AND FILM
Sunday, January 21 at 8:30 p.m.
Join composers and recording artists making an impact on the world of independent film for an evening that celebrates the music featured in this year’s Festival selections. Performers include Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova (ONCE), Scratch Massive (BROKEN ENGLISH), Craig Wedren (THE TEN), and M. Ward (THE GO-GETTER).

FILM2MUSIC
Tuesday, January 23 at 7 p.m.
Ninety-four international filmmakers “visually scored”a music track of their choice from composer Kubilay Under’s instrumental album Cinematic. The Catch? No audio besides the original music. The resulting interpretations include live action and animation, narrative and abstract. A jury of renowned filmmakers chose the winners. Join us for a screening of high-lights, followed by a discussion.

ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION: MUSIC AND FILM, THE CREATIVE PROCESS
Wednesday, January 24 at 11 a.m.
What goes into a successful film score? What makes for an effective director/composer relationship? Answers to these questions and more in this inspired roundtable discussion. Panelists include composers Terence Blanchard, BT, George S. Clinton, Peter Golub, Adam Gorgoni, Adam Hollander, Dave Robbins, Anton Sanko, Ed Shearmur; and directors Justin Theroux (DEDICATION), Tom DiCillo (DELIRIOUS), Andrew Wagner (STARTING OUT THE EVENING), and Mike Chill (KING OF CALIFORNIA). Moderated by Doreen Ringer Ross, vice president of film and TV relations at BMI.

MUSIC SHOWCASE
Wednesday, January 24 at 6 p.m.
BMI invites you to an intimate evening of inspired performances- please join us for a great night of music, mingling, and spirits. Cocktails and appetizers will be served, so please arrive early and stay to enjoy performances by Terence Blanchard, Viktor Krauss, Keb Mo, and Michael Penn.

DISCUSSIONS AT THE FILMMAKER LODGE
A casual meeting place and café designed to cultivate dialogue between filmmakers, industry leaders, and the press, the Filmmaker Lodge presents lively panel discussions on a range of current issues. You'll find everything for and about documentary and fiction filmmakers as well as an outreach table with information on services offered by media arts and film industry organizations. The Filmmaker Lodge is supported by Discovery Channel, HBO, and PBS. Open to all Festival credential holders and the general public as space allows. For additional information, visit www.sundance.org.

Discussions at the Filmmaker Lodge include:

International Relations
Saturday, January 20 at 2:30 p.m.
As Sundance extends its search for emerging talent to different parts of the world, the influx of international advisors and fellows to the writing and directing labs has created a rich, new environment in which film projects are developed. Has sharing ideas and engaging with each other’s work allowed
filmmakers to see their own work in different way? Guillermo Arriaga (screenwriter, THE NIGHT BUFFALO), Adam Bhala Lough (director, WEAPONS), Sterlin Harjo (director, FOUR SHEETS TO THE
WIND), Dror Shaul (director, SWEET MUD), Taika Waititi (director, EAGLE VS. SHARK) and moderator Gyula Gazdag (artistic director, Sundance Directors Lab).

History is Made
Sunday, January 21 at 10:30 a.m.
From WWII to race relations to civil war and radical counter-cultures, this year’s docs and narratives defy expectation and break the mold of traditional historical storytelling. Hear from extraordinary filmmakers tackling the challenges of bringing the past to life for a new generation. Steven Okazaki (director, White Light/Black Rain), Marco Williams (director, Banished), Bill Guttentag (director, Nanking), Julie Gavras (director, Blame it on Fidel), Newton Aduaka (director, Ezra), and moderator Ian Buruma (author and historian)

Dude, Where’s My Budget?
Sunday, January 21 at 2:00 p.m.
Producing on a shoestring? How do you access talent, negotiate deals, exploit tax incentives, save pennies but maintain vision. Many a producer has tread this path with nothing but ingenuity and a paperclip. These are their stories. Hear from producers Effie Brown (ROCKET SCIENCE), Andrew Fierberg (BROKEN ENGLISH, NEVER FOREVER), Lisa Muskat (SNOW ANGELS), Galt Niederhoffer (GRACE IS GONE), Janet Yang (DARK MATTER) and casting director Emily Schweber (THE GO-GETTER) and moderator Jake Abraham (STARTING OUT IN THE EVENING).

Meet & Greet: Today’s Top Documentary Commissioners
Monday, January 22 at 10:30 a.m.
Visit the Filmmaker’s Lodge for a rare opportunity to hear what U.S. and international documentary networks and cablers are looking for in documentary. Sign up for small group sessions and hear from top commissioning producers at HBO, A&E, Discovery Networks, PBS strands, TV2, BBC, LOGO, and elsewhere. Sign up begins Saturday, January 20th at the Filmmaker Lodge—space is limited.

The Coming of Age Story
Monday, January 22 at 2:00 p.m.
For independent filmmakers who were coming of age in the 90s as the independent movement was coming of age itself , and trying to maintain creative energy while mitigating an unwieldy, ever-evolving industry was a challenge. How do you process that and still know who you are? Gregg Araki (director, SMILEY FACE), David Gordon Green (director, SNOW ANGELS), Hal Hartley (director, FAY GRIM), Tamara Jenkins (director, THE SAVAGES) and moderator Fran Kuzui (TOKYO POP, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER).

Save Your Film: Film Preservation 101
Tuesday, January 23 at 10:30 a.m.
Despite it cultural value, the heritage in American independent film is in trouble, suffering chemical decomposition, neglect, and changing library ownership. Even digital carries it own dilemmas. So, if you want to ensure that your film endures for future generations, join our panel of filmmakers and archivists as they explain why cool storage and low humidity are hot. Leonard Maltin (critic and film historian), Rob Epstein (THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK), Phil Feiner (president, Pacific Title and Art Studio) moderator Robert Rosen (dean, UCLA School of Theater, Film & Television).

New World Order: Opportunities in Documentary Funding
Tuesday, January 23 at 2 p.m.
How does public broadcasting funding work? What about private equity? And who is investing in docs to create change? Here to discuss new initiatives and continuing opportunities are a cross-section of producers investing in the future of documentary. Jason Kliot (HDNet Films), Ted Sarandos (Netflix), Eddie Wong (Democracy Alliance), and moderator Andrea Meditch (Discovery Docs)

Nimrod Nation
Wednesday, January 24 at 2 p.m.
In the remote town of Watersmeet on Michigan's Upper Peninsula, life during the long winter months revolves around two things: hunting and its high school basketball team, the Nimrods. “Nimrod Nation”, an original eight-part documentary series conceived by Oscar-nominated director Brett Morgen and executive produced by Morgen, Adam Pincus, and Kevin Proudfoot, debuts on Sundance Channel in Fall 2007. Brett Morgen (director, CHICAGO 10) and Bennett Miller (CAPOTE).

The Burden of Representation
Thursday, January 25 at 11 a.m.
Whether it’s speaking on behalf of all Native Americans or all Asian Americans or all gays, the burden of representation can weigh a lot. Join an openly gay Palawano Islander, a Jewish Maori, a Seminole Okie and a host of others whose films step outside “conventional” representation and explore what it means to speak for one’s self rather than an entire community. Sterlin Harjo (director, FOUR SHEETS TO THE WIND), Auraeus Solito (director, TULI), Taika Waititi (director, EAGLE VS. SHARK) and moderator Heather Rae (TRUDELL).

Nine Lives: When Documentary is Adapted
Thursday, January 25 at 2 p.m.
Docs have long been based on books, but now feature films and television content are being created out of optioned documentaries. How do filmmakers pursue this path, what are the challenges, and what do you do when you get an inquiry about about your film’s rights? Marc Weiss (Consultant, David E. Kelley Productions) Tendo Nagenda (Plan B Productions), Annie Sundberg (co-director, THE DEVIL CAME ON HORSEBACK) and moderator: Sean Farnel (Hot Docs Festival).

21st Century Documentary: Notes on the Evolving Doc Form
Friday, January 26 at 10:30 a.m.
Documentary is breaking all the old rules, and heading out to uncharted territory from hybrid docs and interactive non-fiction to theatrical docs and cell phone docs. Hear from leading documentary professionals from across the doc spectrum talk about what they see for documentary in the new century. Diane Weyermann (Participant Productions), Laura Michalchyshyn (Sundance Channel), Jennifer Fox (director, FLYING: CONFESSIONS OF A FREE WOMAN), and moderator Nancy Buirski (Full Frame Festival)

Sundance Institute in Process: Supporting Filmmakers Year Round
Friday, January 26 at 2 p.m.
The Sundance Film Festival is 10 extraordinary days every January, but the Sundance Institute supports film and theatre artists year-round. Hear from filmmakers who have become a part of the Sundance
Labs through the Documentary Fund and the Native Initiative. Jon Else (director, WONDERS ARE MANY), Billy Luther (director, MISS NAVAJO), Jason Kohn (director, MANDA BALA), Ricki Stern &

Annie Sundberg (director, THE DEVIL CAME ON HORSEBACK), Judith Helfand/Dan Gold (director, EVERYTHING’S COOL), and Petr Lom (director, ON A TIGHTROPE)

Brown Bag Lunch at the Filmmaker Lodge
Sunday, January 21 and Tuesday, January 23 at 1:30 p.m.
New this year: grab lunch and join DFP Director Cara Mertes for informal meet and greets with festival doc programmers (Sunday) and leading documentary funders (Tuesday). Updated info at www.sundance.org

PANELS AT NEW FRONTIER ON MAIN
New Frontier on Main explores the craft of filmmaking by offering the opportunity to engage in a dialogue with industry leaders and filmmakers, participate in workshops for hands-on experience, or just to share ideas. It is open to filmmakers, Festivalgoers, and anyone with a curiosity to learn more about the ever-evolving convergence of art and technology. Open to all Festival credential holders and the general public as space allows. For additional information, visit www.sundance.org.

Panels at New Frontier on Main include:

Art & Technology on the New Frontier
Friday, January 19 at noon
Emerging media technologies and infusions from the fine art world are fueling exciting new notions of cinematic form. Join artists and innovators of Sundance’s New Frontier section and beyond for a discussion of how the blending of fine art and technology is shaping the modern landscape of visual expression. Moderated by Ruby Lerner, executive director of Creative Capital and featuring: Lincoln Schatz (CLUSTER), Ricardo Rivera(KLIP//COLLECTIVE), Jennifer Reeves (director, LIGHTWORK I), Steven Sacks (bitforms gallery), R. Luke DuBois (PLAY) and Lynn Hershman Leeson (STRANGE CULTURE).

Independent Videogaming: A New Medium for Filmmakers
Saturday, January 20 at noon
Like independent film, the "independent games" space is now engaging in provocative approaches to real-world issues that promote social change. A nascent economy for addressing artistic expression and politics through gaming is taking shape; this panel addresses the role of filmmakers and activists in this movement, as well as avenues to new funding and content models. Moderated by Heather Chaplin (author, Smartbomb; The Quest for Art, Entertainment, and Big Bucks in the Videogame Revolution) and featuring: Suzanne Seggerman (Games for Change), Eddo Stern (videogame artist), Asi Burak (ImpactGames (Peacemaker)), Eric Zimmerman (gameLab), and Connie Yowell (the MacArthur Foundation)

The Business of Web 2.0: Media and the Net Now
Sunday, January 21 at noon
YouTube, MySpace, Revver, Technorati…it’s hard to imagine a more significant revolution since the dawn of the Internet. Now that user-participation has triumphed and the methods of communication democratized, a radical new landscape for media is inevitable — come hear leaders of the Web 2.0 world describe the future. Moderated by Kara Swisher (The Wall Street Journal) and featuring: Michael Rymer (Director/Producer, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA),Mark Jeffrey (PopCurrent), Shawn Gold (MySpace), Suzie Reider (YouTube), Jeremy Allaire (Brightcove.com) and Steve Starr (Revver.com).

Community Voice and Social Networking
Monday, January 22 at noon
Social networking and user-generated content are hallmarks of a new interaction between community and technology that is changing the way we organize and define ourselves. Driven by tech-savvy youth and the promotion of self, a new computer-based “clip culture” is changing the way we think about media and it’s role in society. Moderated by Chris Anderson (Editor-In-Chief, Wired Magazine) and featuring: Ken Rutkowski (Kenradio.com),Katy Chevigny (Arts Engine, Inc.),Rex Wong (DAVE Networks, Inc.), Jon Alpert (DCTV), and Michael Terpin (Terpin Communications).

Case Study Panel: BROKEN ENGLISH by Zoe Cassavetes
Tuesday, January 23 at noon
Take a behind-the-scenes look into the process and production of the world premiere Competition feature by debut filmmaker Zoe Cassavetes. Join filmmaker, producers, cast, and crew as we explore the genesis of the project, the funding, the production technology, and the plans for the future. An intimate portrayal of independent digital filmmaking in action; this discussion will be lead by Jason Kliot, producer and co-president of HDNet Films.

Rights Licensing in the New Era of Distribution
Wednesday, January 24 at noon
Internet platforms, video-on-demand, mobile devices, and indie film pay-per-view are no longer a dream – they are the reality of the new world of distribution. Hear major players, service providers, and filmmakers tackle the issues that surround today’s licensing/distribution opportunities. Moderated by Scott Kirsner (Variety), Diane Robina (President, Comcast – Sony Networks), Tracy Mercer (Clickstar), Orly Ravid (Wolfe Releasing), Jean Prewitt (Independent Film & TV Association (formerly AFMA)) and David Straus (Without A Box).

Production Technology 2007
Thursday, January 25 at noon
The emergence of solid-state image acquisition and low-cost High Definition solutions offers today’s filmmakers an exciting new threshold of image clarity and flexibility. This panel assembles accomplished directors, cinematographers, and tech specialists to offer insights on the state of the art. Moderated by Jean Oppenheimer (film critic and contributor to American Cinematographer) and featuring: John Galt (Panavision Digital Imaging), Lynn Hershman Leeson (director, STRANGE CULTURE), Andrew Wagner (director, STARTING OUT IN THE EVENING), Lisa Weigand (DP, CHASING GHOSTS), Thomas Kist (DP, INTERVIEW), and Nancy Schreiber (DP, THE NINES).

FESTIVAL SPONSORS
The 2007 Sundance Film Festival sponsors help sustain Sundance Institute's year-round programs to support independent artists, inspire risk-taking and encourage diversity in the arts. This year's Festival Sponsors include: Presenting Sponsors — Entertainment Weekly, Volkswagen of America, Inc., HP, Adobe Systems Incorporated, and AOL; Leadership Sponsors—American Express, Delta Air Lines, and DIRECTV; Sustaining Sponsors—ABSOLUT®, Aquafina, Blockbuster Inc., CESAR® Canine Cuisine, KRUPS, L’Oreal Paris, The New York Times, Ray-Ban, Sony Electronics, Inc., Stella Artois®, Turning Leaf Vineyards, and the Utah Film Commission.

Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is the premier showcase for U.S. and international independent film. Held each January in Park City, Sundance Resort, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, Utah, the Festival is a core program of the Sundance Institute, a nonprofit cultural organization founded by Robert Redford in 1981.

Presenting 125 dramatic and documentary feature–length films in nine distinct categories and over 70 short films each year, the Sundance Film Festival has introduced American audiences to some of the most innovative films of the past two decades. The official website of the Sundance Film Festival, www.sundance.org shares the Festival experience beyond the streets of Park City with a global audience through the streaming of short films, filmmaker interviews, and current news and box office information.

Sundance Institute:
Dedicated year–round to the development of artists of independent vision and to the exhibition of their new work, Sundance Institute celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2006. Founded by Robert Redford in 1981, the Institute has grown into an internationally recognized resource for thousands of independent artists through its Film Festival and artistic development programs for filmmakers, screenwriters, composers, playwrights and theatre artists. The original values of independence, creative risk–taking, and discovery continue to define and guide the work of Sundance Institute, both with U.S. artists and, increasingly, with artists from other regions of the world.