Opening Night Gala: Celebrating 40 years presented by Chase Sapphire®
Event Details
On January 18, join us at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival’s Opening Night Gala: Celebrating 40 Years Presented by Chase Sapphire®, with additional support by the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation and Acura. This inspiring evening celebrating artists and sharing delicious food and drink will honor notable Sundance alumni Christopher Nolan, Celine Song and Maite Alberdi, as well as former Sundance Institute Board Chair and trustee, Pat Mitchell.
This is a unique opportunity to celebrate the 40th edition of the Sundance Film Festival as we honor our legacy and our mission — to support the future of independent storytelling. By attending this highly anticipated opening night gala, you will kick off the 2024 Festival with a passionate group of like-minded Sundance supporters and the artists we support while contributing to Sundance Institute grants, mentorships, and other critical resources that enable artists to bring their stories to life.
We hope to see you at our 2024 Opening Night Gala: Celebrating 40 Years Presented by Chase Sapphire® at the DeJoria Center in Kamas, Utah, starting at 7:15 p.m. The dinner and program will begin at 8:30 p.m. Shuttle service between the Eccles Theatre in Park City and the DeJoria Center will be available. Valet parking and self-parking will be available at the DeJoria Center. Reserve your table or seat today!
Honorees
Sundance Institute Trailblazer Award – Christopher Nolan
The inaugural Sundance Institute Trailblazer Award will be presented to an individual in recognition of their unwavering dedication and notable contributions to the field of independent film. Christopher Nolan fully exemplifies this legacy. He was celebrated by Sundance two decades ago when his breakthrough film, Memento, screened to great acclaim at the Festival. Memento’s 2001 Sundance debut garnered that year’s Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award and was ultimately nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Memento catapulted Nolan’s career, propelling him from independent films to major blockbusters, including The Dark Knight trilogy and this year’s triumph, Oppenheimer. One of the most acclaimed directors of our time, Christopher Nolan boldly pushes the parameters of cinematic storytelling.
Sundance Institute | Chase Sapphire® Visionary Award
The second annual Sundance Institute | Chase Sapphire® Visionary Award recognizes a notable Sundance Institute alum who is deeply connected to the organization and its programs and has proceeded to establish an extraordinary career that personifies a unique perspective and embodies a commitment to impactful storytelling. This year’s award is being given to an individual who fully embodies our commitment to impactful storytelling: [Name and one line bio of recipient)
Vanguard Awards presented by Acura
The annual Vanguard Awards, presented by Acura, will be given during the evening to honor artists whose work highlights the art of storytelling and creative independence in both nonfiction and fiction. The Vanguard Award for nonfiction will be presented to Maite Alberdi, director of The Eternal Memory (2023 Sundance Film Festival) and The Mole Agent (2020 Sundance Film Festival), and the Vanguard Award for fiction will go to Celine Song, director of Past Lives (2023 Sundance Film Festival). Alberdi and Song join the likes of past honorees such as W. Kamau Bell, Nikyatu Jusu, Ryan Coogler, Siân Heder, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Radha Blank, Lulu Wang, Dee Rees, Damien Chazelle, Marielle Heller, Benh Zeitlin, Boots Riley, and many more.
Sundance Institute Vanguard Award for Philanthropy
The Sundance Institute’s Vanguard Award for Philanthropy honors innovation, originality, and independent spirit as demonstrated through an exemplary commitment to philanthropy and social impact. Pat Mitchell, former Sundance Institute Board Chair and trustee, has exhibited a steadfast, decadeslong commitment to the Sundance Institute’s mission, the issues of women and girls, and global climate change. Throughout her career as an award-winning journalist and producer, her projects have received 34 Emmys, five Peabodys, and two Academy Award nominations, and as a media executive she was the first woman president of CNN Productions and PBS. She broke new ground for women and elevated the role of media for social change.
Tables and Tickets
Advocate Table – $20,000 ($17,950 is a charitable contribution)
DETAILS
- One table for 10 guests for the dinner and program
- Line Listing Recognition in the following locations:
- Event promotional emails distributed to over 5,000 Sundance supporters
- Event webpage on Sundance.org
- On-screen recognition
- On-site digital program
- Sundance Film Festival Catalog*
*If purchased by December 1, 2023
40th Edition Champion Table – $40,000 ($38,155 is a charitable contribution)
DETAILS
- One table with placement towards front of the room for nine guests plus at minimum 1 Sundance artist for the dinner and program
- Logo (or Line Listing if no logo available) Recognition in the following locations:
- Event promotional emails distributed to over 5,000 Sundance supporters
- Event webpage on Sundance.org
- On-screen recognition
- On-site digital program
- Sundance Film Festival Catalog*
*If purchased by December 1, 2023
Ruby Table – $100,000 ($84,885 is a charitable contribution)
DETAILS
- One table with premium placement close to stage for nine guests plus at minimum 1 Sundance artist for the dinner and program
- Opportunity to request the attending artist to be seated at your table
- Logo (or Line Listing if no logo available) Recognition in the following locations:
- Event promotional emails distributed to over 5,000 Sundance supporters
- Event webpage on Sundance.org
- On-screen recognition
- On-site digital program
- Sundance Film Festival Catalog*
- Verbal Recognition during the event program
- Meet and Greet and Photo Opportunity with an honoree at the event (pending artist availability)
- 2 Express Passes for the 2024 Sundance Film Festival
- 10 Tickets to any day one screening at the Eccles Theatre in a reserved section
*If purchased by December 1, 2023
Individual Ticket – $1,750 ($1,545 is a charitable contribution)
DETAILS
- One ticket for the dinner and program
- Line Listing Recognition in the onsite digital program
Presenting Sponsor
Lead Sponsor
Vanguard Award Sponsor
Host Committee
- Ebs Burnough
- Jason Blum
- Nina Fialkow
- Jeanne Donovan Fisher
- Gigi Pritzker
Ruby Tables
- Ebs Burnough and Pierre LaGrange
- Nina and David Fialkow
- Jeanne Donovan Fisher
- Pritzker Pucker Family Foundation
- Susan and Jim Swartz
40th Champion Table
- Zions Bank
Advocate Tables
- Bloomberg
- Blumhouse
- Ann Lewnes
- MTV Documentary Films
- Pop Culture Collaborative
- Reel Friends
- Robina Riccitiello, Spark Features
- Ellen and Mike Rosenberg
About Your Contribution
The Sundance Film Festival is one of the many programs offered by the nonprofit Sundance Institute. Your ticket purchase to the Sundance Film Festival’s Opening Night Gala: Celebrating 40 Years Presented by Chase Sapphire® event includes a contribution to Sundance Institute and directly supports independent artists through resources such as labs, grants, and fellowships. Working to advance the impact of artists and their work in society while introducing audiences to their new work, the Institute seeks to discover, support, and inspire independent film and media artists from the United States and around the world. Through all of its activities, the Institute fosters originality, authenticity, and diversity in storytelling.
Gifts to Sundance Institute are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Contact Information
To reserve your tickets or request additional information, please contact us at (646) 863-5992 or openingnight@sundance.org.
Accessibility and Community Agreement
The Sundance Institute is committed to ensuring our events are as accessible as possible for everyone who attends. If any accommodation would support your full participation in this event, please contact accessibility@sundance.org to describe your specific request. Every effort will be made to accommodate advance requests; requests made within seven days of the event may not be guaranteed.
In alignment with our Community Agreement, we ask you to be intentional with your words (hateful speech or actions will not be tolerated) and be respectful of moderators, artists, and other attendees. See our full Community Agreement to read more or to learn how to report violations. We sincerely thank you for helping us create an inclusive, welcoming environment for all.
The health of Sundance Institute’s artists, audiences, staff, and volunteers remains of the utmost importance to the Institute. If you feel sick, we ask that you stay home. While masks are not required, you are welcome to wear them. Masks will not be provided to all attendees but will be available upon request. Tips on Health & Wellness can be found on festival.sundance.org in How to Fest.
