As the biggest independent film festival in the United States, Sundance is always a brand marketing honeypot for companies that sponsor both on-screen and offscreen events. Over the first weekend of Sundance Film Festival 2020, large corporations and popular local brands sponsored exciting, must-attend events and activations to network with Sundance movie talent, filmmakers and other VIPs. These events were a huge hit at the festival.
From gifting suites to film premiere parties and panels, all of these special events helped bring Sundance’s biggest film stars together to celebrate and network. Home Business Magazine got to check out some of the many fabulous fêtes taking place all over Park City, Utah during the festival’s first weekend. Below are some of the events that outshined all others and attracted major A-listers and tastemakers.
WarnerMedia Lodge: Elevating Storytelling with AT&T
Entertainment industry heavy hitters flocked to the WarnerMedia Lodge: Elevating Storytelling with AT&T activation. The WarnerMedia Lodge had a special Variety Studio (presented by AT&T) that featured interviews with major big names like Hillary Clinton, Mila Kunis, Glenn Close, Elle Lorraine, Andy Samberg, Daniel Dae Kim, and Gina Rodriguez. The Lodge also hosted DIRECTV Cinema‘s exciting kickoff party with a special performance by Matt Berninger of The National, as well as cast lunches at a Jon & Vinny’s pop up with star guests like Kerry Washington and James Van Der Beek.
At the WarnerMedia Lodge, David Arquette also hosted a Bootsy Bellows Pop Up that attracted big names like Jaden Smith and Dave Grohl. The WarnerMedia Lodge also hosted cocktail parties for top Sundance films like Welcome to Chechnya and panels for Snowpiercer (with Daveed Diggs and Lena Hall) and Miracle Workers: Dark Ages (with Steve Buscemi and Geraldine Viswanathan). Another must-attend event was the Women in Film for the Voices & Visions: Women of Color Creating the Narrative Panel (with Folake Olowofoyeku, Gina Yashere, Nkechi Okoro Carroll, and Karan Kendrick).
Pizza Hut x Legion M Lounge Park City, Utah
Throughout the first weekend of Sundance 2020, the festival’s top stars stopped by the Pizza Hut x Legion M Lounge to mingle and indulge in tasty slices of pizza. This was the third year that Pizza Hut returned to Sundance as the après ski destination and on-the go fuel for talent and industry. The Pizza Hut x Legion M Lounge’s Red Hut Lodge attracted A-listers like Will Ferrell, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Camila Mendes, Andy Samberg, Kerry Washington, Alec Baldwin, Steve Buscemi, and Aubrey Plaza.
The Red Hut Lodge was a relaxing, intimate space for celebrities and influencers to take a break from film events and snack on hot and tasty slices from Pizza Hut. Attendees also enjoyed signature cocktails and a quiet moment while they waited to get their Getty Portraits taken. Like last year, the Pizza Hut x Legion M Lounge was one of the most popular offscreen destinations for Sundance film talent and filmmakers.
Acura Festival Village
For four consecutive days, the Acura Festival Village was filled with many A-listers, including Sienna Miller, Joe Keery, Ron Howard, Toni Collette, Aubrey Plaza, David Arquette, Gina Rodriguez, and Mila Kunis. These Sundance film cast members came out to The IMDb Studio at Acura Festival Village, where they posed for photos with Acura’s resident Snowman dressed as a director to show support for the film community.
The Acura Festival Village also hosted remarkable panels for top Sundance films. Confirmed guests could take in a fascinating panel for Worth (hosted by The Atlantic) that featured Stanley Tucci, Amy Ryan, and Tate Donovan. Another thrilling panel featured the cast of Spree (hosted by IMDb). The Wall Street Journal also hosted a panel for Palm Springs (a popular Sundance 2020 film), which included Andy Samberg and Camila Mendes.
Acura Festival Village also hosted electrifying performances by Los Angeles based duo JOHNNYSWIM (supported by the ELS STUDIO 3D® Premium Audio), Jake Scorr and the English born duo, Ruen Brothers. As the official vehicle and Presenting Sponsor of the festival, Acura MDXs were also seen buzzing through the streets of Park City.
The Blackhouse Foundation’s Sundance Festivities
Marking its 13th successful year at Sundance, The Blackhouse Foundation led the charge for dynamic diversity and cultural influence by spotlighting and honoring a new vanguard of talent with immersive panels, thought-provoking discussions, and a Black Entertainment Critics Kickoff Breakfast. Sponsors for the day’s events included Strayer Studios, Facebook, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, fwd.us, BET Networks, Color of Change, Paramount, and WarnerMedia. This year, STARZ and the Mississippi Film Office were also joined by the Hidden Empire Film Group in sponsorship of the Blackhouse Fellowship Program 2020.
The Blackhouse Foundation works to expand opportunities for Black content creators by providing pathways to opportunities within film, television, digital and emerging platforms. Blackhouse provides opportunities for minority creative to learn about the financial, production, marketing and distribution resources that will raise the profile of their content, while also providing participants with continuing support, community and education.
Canada Goose Basecamp
Open to the public, Canada Goose Basecamp was the perfect space to grab a coffee, try on the brand’s iconic parkas, and learn about their history in front of and behind the camera. There were also enlightening discussions each day. During a conversation for popular Sundance 2020 film The 40-Year Old Version, The Atlantic brought together director, screenwriter, and star Radha Blank and producer Lena Waithe to discuss the movie and share their unique vantage points as black women in the entertainment industry.
There was also a conversation between The Atlantic staff writer Megan Garber, actress Julia Garner and director Kitty Green about The Assistant, a film inspired by #MeToo testimony that depicts the systematic abuses of power in the entertainment industry. Another discussion called “The Female Gaze” (presented by The Bentonville Film Festival Foundation and Film Fatales) brought top female filmmakers together to discuss their creative process, the importance of diverse perspectives in film, and more.
The Retreat To Benefit Project Green
The upper echelon of Hollywood and influencers stopped by this exclusive retreat to network. Founded by executive producers Kim Kreiss and Patryjca Siewert-Towns, Project Green 501c3 protects green space for future generations and donates to existing summer camps and therapeutic programs for underserved kids. At The Retreat, a photo in metal of the view of Mt. Timpanogos from the Sundance Resort and the filming location of “Jeremiah Johnson”, with Robert Redford, was auctioned off to benefit Project Green.
Presented by Muse Holliday, this year’s lounge featured grade-A production sponsors Alive! Expo and Mix Media Entertainment. Attendees also enjoyed sipping on superb beer from Vernal Brewing Company (based in Utah) and Twisted Cedar/CBC BevCo‘s tribally owned wine (wholly owned by the Cedar Band of Paiute Indians) that is operating in 19 states and the District of Columbia. Those who needed a caffeine boost also enjoyed a pick-me-up from Big Island Coffee Roasters (made with beans sourced from Hawaii).
Guests also learned about JC Jewelers‘s fine jewelry inspired by nature, Atlanta Specialty Woods‘s extraordinary reclaimed and specialty wood products, Excelsior Candles, and Angela Horton, LLC’s luxe cashmere fashions. Other top sponsors included Icelandic Water, NFP entertainment specialty group (who provided customized solutions for film producers’ insurance needs), Be Fit Body Boutique, Joan T Alpern CENTURY21, Stein Posner, Author Teresa Sorkin (The Woman In The Park), and Fleur de Bee Productions & Design.
LatinX house
The Latinx House, an initiative founded by Mónica Ramirez, Olga Segura and Alex Kondracke Martinez, hosted invite-only parties, inspiring brunches, and informative panels during Sundance 2020 Weekend 1. In addition to celebrating filmmakers and creators in the Latinx community, important discussions took place focused on the impact of immigration policy, gender equity, economic justice and civic engagement, and the importance of telling their stories through a diverse and represented lens.
The space hosted a kick-off party alongside Netflix on Friday evening to celebrate Latinx talent with filmmakers and creators. Latinx House also served as the official after-party for Siempre, Luis on Saturday evening. There were also various panels taking place at The Latinx House throughout the weekend, including a riveting conversation with America Ferrera and a panel with TIME’S UP featuring Eva Longoria. Another must-attend event was The Latinx House’s Sunday Night Party celebrating the cast of Blast Beat, with star guests like Wilmer Valderrama and Diane Guerrero.
Canon Creative Studio
Just like last year, Canon put on their renowned Canon Creative Studio for Sundance’s greatest stars and filmmakers. The activation hosted a fabulous “Magic Hour” networking session (co-hosted by IMDbPro) for entertainment industry influencers to mingle and collaborate on projects. There was another Magic Hour co-hosted by Adorama Rental Co., as well as a panel discussion with American Cinematographer. Attendees could also get professional head shots taken for their portfolio courtesy of Michael Ori.
On Sunday, the studio also hosted their “Raise Your Glass With Canon” annual toast to cinematographers of the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Co-hosted by American Cinematographer, the party brought the top influencers and filmmakers of Sundance 2020 together to toast to the festival in style. This fabulous lounge was sponsored by Stella Artois beer and High West Distillery (of Park City, Utah).
Adobe’s Bingo-Themed Interview Series
This year, Adobe returned to Park City at the IndieWire Studio, celebrating the creativity within all of us. Adobe brought a Bingo-themed interview series and talked to some of the biggest names at the festival about creativity and inclusion. Stars that came through included Lin-Manuel Miranda, Kerry Washington, Sienna Miller, Gina Rodriguez, Evan Rachel Wood, Wilmer Valderrama, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Toni Collette, Stanley Tucci, Rachel Brosnahan, and more. For every “Bingo,” Adobe donated 25 scholarships to Sundance Ignite’s learning platform for aspiring filmmakers.
The Creative Coalition
The Creative Coalition nonprofit, nonpartisan organization is dedicated to educating, mobilizing, and activating its members on issues of public importance. The organization had a major presence at the festival and hosted must-attend events like the YoHo Chillax Reception celebrating Young Hollywood and Generation Z members. The Creative Coalition also held an invite-only Voices of Impact Dinner hosted by actor and President of The Creative Coalition Tim Daly, and CEO of The Creative Coalition Robin Bronk. Sponsored by Novo Nordisk, it bought together a select group of executives, talent, and influencers.
HBO, TBS, and TNT’s Our Stories to Tell 3-Day Pop Up
HBO, TBS, and TNT collaborated to put on a weekend-long pop up experience empowering and celebrating diverse voices, creatives, and talent. The weekend featured various programming that supported ongoing initiatives and highlighted highly anticipated original content. Confirmed guests attended special events, meaningful panel conversations with on-screen and behind-the-scenes talent, and more to showcase ongoing initiatives that authentically engage African American, Asian American, LGBTQ+, and Latinx audiences.
One event was an après ski happy hour hosted by Human By Orientation, HBO’s platform that celebrates all orientations and gender identities. Another event was a Lowkey Insecure Dinner, an intimate dinner in celebration of the upcoming season of Insecure set to premiere April 12 on HBO. Issa Rae, Yvonne Orji, Prentice Penny, Jay Ellis, and Alexander Hodge participated in a panel moderated by Elaine Welteroth.
Other events included an “Unfolding Narrative” intimate discussion (in partnership with Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience) with high-profile talent from HBO and TBS. Entertainment stars like Suzy Nakamura (Avenue 5, HBO) and Alexander Hodge (Insecure, HBO) shared their perspectives on visibility and diversity in front of and behind the scenes within the entertainment industry.
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