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Sundance 2025 Interviews: First-Time Producers

An illuminated movie theater marquee just before total sunset.Photo by Joelle Tamayo

This year, Filmmaker sent all first-time Sundance feature film producers a questionnaire to complete ahead of their film’s festival screening. We also sent out a single question for feature directors to answer as well as questionnaires for editors and cinematographers.

Below, find links to individual first-time Sundance feature producer responses, which will be updated daily during the festival.

“Budget a Worst-Case Scenario and Then Do Better”: Producers Ivan Unkovski and Ivana Shekutkoska on DJ Ahmet

“Don’t Be Afraid to Speak Up and Set the Tone”: Producer Pierre M. Coleman on Ricky

“It Came Down to Me Not Wanting to Miss Out on the Trip”: Producer Asma Chiboub on Where the Wind Comes From

“You Have to Create a Strong Duo”: Producer Dominique Barneaud on GEN_

“If You’re in the Room, Your Voice Matters”: Producer Shannon Moss on East of Wall

“We Prioritized Story Over Logistics”: Producer Grant Ellison on Sunfish

“Everyone in the Indie world is Full of Passion”: Producer Julie Waters on Oh, Hi!

“Moviemaking on a Hyper-Condensed Timeline”: Producer Laurel Thomson on Serious People

“Sudden Twists and Turns Are What Support the Core Idea”: Producers Sara Khaki & Mohammadreza Eyni on Cutting Through Rocks

“The Onus Always Comes Back to Producers’ Creativity”: Producer Colleen Cassingham on Life After

“Respect Goes a Long Way”: Producer Erin Williams-Weir on Never Get Busted

“We Had to Turn Everything Upside Down”: Producer Mads-August Hertz on Sauna

“The Censorship Our Librarians Face is One We Will Face in Our Field”: Producer Janique L. Robillard on The Librarians

“I Just Wanted to Make Art with My Friends”: Producers Luke Patton & Joe Camerota on Didn’t Die

“Only Four Weeks for Prep — Including Casting — and 16 Days to Shoot the Entire Film”: Paolo Maria Pedullà on Producing Mad Bills to Pay (or Destiny, dile que no soy malo)

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