Linde to lead Sundance Institute as festival moves to Colorado
The Sundance Institute will have a new leader as its marquee event transitions from Utah to Boulder, Colorado.
David Linde will become CEO of the nonprofit organization following the final Utah edition of the Sundance Film Festival that ran Jan. 22-Feb. 1 in Park City and Salt Lake City. His appointment is effective Feb. 17.
The Sundance Institute board said that as CEO, Linde will lead all areas of the institute, an ecosystem of artist labs, grants and fellowships, Sundance Collab, public programs worldwide and the Sundance Film Festival.
“He will continue to advance the nonprofit’s foundational mission to elevate artist voices and connect their stories with audiences around the world,” the institute board said in its announcement of Linde’s appointment.
“For over 40 years, Sundance Institute has stood at the intersection of artistic excellence, audience impact and industry significance by playing a formative role in shaping the careers of filmmakers and uplifting independent work globally,” said Ebs Burnough, Sundance Institute board chair. “Following a period of interim leadership, we are pleased to appoint David Linde as our permanent CEO. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated exceptional leadership, strategic vision and a shared commitment to independent voices. David brings a rare combination of industry fluency, social cause management and deep commitment to artists, positioning the organization to build on our legacy while advancing our mission for the future.”
“I am honored to join Sundance Institute as CEO to steward an organization that is essential to independent artists, the broader creative community and culture at large,” said Linde. “I look forward to working alongside the staff, artists, partners and the board to further advance the visionary programs and festival, while ensuring that bold, original storytelling continues to thrive and that the Institute’s truly central role for creative storytellers and their champions endures.”
A longtime advocate for artist-driven storytelling, Linde has collaborated with directors and creatives on numerous award-winning films and has built and led teams across the independent and studio sectors. He has been consulting for film and media companies in the U.S. and Europe while also executive-producing multiple titles since he ended his tenure as CEO of independent film and television production company Participant in 2024. His prior professional experience includes roles as chairman of Universal Pictures, co-founder of Focus Features, partner at Good Machine, and CEO and owner of Lava Bear Films.
Linde also serves on the board of trustees of the American Film Institute, the board of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts North America, and the board of directors of Film Independent. He served two terms on the board of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, including a stint as its treasurer.
The Sundance Institute, founded by actor Robert Redford in 1981, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to discovering, supporting and empowering independent film, theater and media artists around the world. It nurtures artists through year-round labs, mentorships and over $3 million in grants. The institute is best known for hosting the annual Sundance Film Festival, which has introduced new, independent cinema to audiences in Utah since 1978. The festival will make a permanent move to Boulder beginning with its 2027 season. This year’s festival ended on Sunday night, and Utah Business Journal will have a wrapup story about the event and how the Park City business community feels about its leaving in our Feb. 9 issue.