Greg Sarris
Greg Sarris, longtime chairman of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, is joining the board of trustees of one of the most notable film organizations in the world—the Sundance Institute. The nonprofit, founded by actor-director Robert Redford in 1981, is renowned for supporting independent cinema and staging the winter-time Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. (In 2027 the festival is relocating to Boulder, Colorado.)
In addition to his leadership of Graton, Sarris is also an author and filmmaker. His book, Grand Avenue, was workshopped in the institute’s screenwriter’s lab prior to being made into a 1996 HBO miniseries. More recently, he’s had an executive producer credit on the 2023 documentary Joan Baez: I Am a Noise.
Sarris is among four new members to the Sundance board, charged with strengthening the institute’s commitment to independent storytellers.
In an announcement of the new board members, Sundance Institute Board Chair Ebs Burnough emphasized Sarris’s “deep understanding of storytelling rooted in his Native American heritage and literary accomplishments.” In addition to Sarris, the other three new board members are television producer David Nevins, marketing executive Blair Ligelis Stein and Scott Frank, whose Oscar-nominated screenplays include Out of Sight and Logan.
Sundance acting CEO Amanda Kelso noted Sarris’s “unique voice and commitment to cultural preservation” in the announcement.
Sarris describes himself as “honored” t contribute to an organization that has had such a big impact on independent cinema.
“Having had the privilege of attending the Sundance Institute Writer’s Lab and collaborating with Robert Redford on the adaptation of my novel Grand Avenue, I have long admired Sundance Institute’s unwavering commitment to amplifying diverse voices and fostering authentic storytelling,” said Sarris.
