Cooper upped to Sundance Director (SCR, VAR, THR, IW)

By Nancy Tartaglione-Vialatte

At midnight (PST) on the dot, media outlets began reporting that John Cooper has been named Director of the Sundance Film Festival in the wake of Geoff Gilmore's departure last month. Cooper is a 20-year Sundance veteran who previously served as director of creative development for the Sundance Institute and director of programming at the festival.

Cooper will be responsible for leading programming and strategic growth and will oversee such activities as content production, online initiatives and key national and international partnerships.

"I feel good, I'm optimistic. It's a huge change for me, but it's also not a huge change," Cooper told indieWIRE.

Since 1989, Cooper's Sundance enhancements have included the New Frontier on Main, a fusion of contemporary art, technology and film; distribution of shorts via iTunes, Netflix and Xbox 360; and the Sundance Institute at BAM series. He also initiated a national program to expose arthouse theaters to Sundance films and filmmakers.

The new director "brings to the position an infectious enthusiasm as well as a deep understanding of the Sundance brand and culture," founder Robert Redford said.

In choosing Cooper, The Hollywood Reporter notes, Sundance opted for continuity over what might have been a more jolting outside hire.

Related Links

John Cooper steps up as director of Sundance Film Festival (SCR)
Sundance promotes John Cooper (VAR)
John Cooper named head of Sundance fest (THR)
John Cooper Named Director of the Sundance Film Festival (IW)