The Sundance Institute has announced the appointment of David Linde as chief executive officer – Linde will assume the role effective on 17 February.
As CEO, Linde will lead all areas of the Sundance Institute making up the comprehensive ecosystem of artist labs, grants and fellowships, Sundance Collab, public programmes worldwide, the Sundance Film Festival, and the Sundance Film Festival’s transition to Boulder, Colorado, starting in 2027.
He will “continue to advance the nonprofit’s foundational mission to elevate artist voices and connect their stories with audiences around the world”, Sundance added.
“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 organisation to build on our legacy while advancing our mission for the future.”
“I am honoured to join Sundance Institute as CEO to steward an organisation that is essential to independent artists, the broader creative community, and culture at large,” added Linde.
“I look forward to working alongside the staff, artists, partners and the board to further advance the visionary programmes 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 acclaimed 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 US and Europe while also executive producing multiple titles since he ended his tenure as CEO of Participant in 2024.
Participant was an independent film and television production company dedicated to producing entertainment with social impact – Linde was responsible for leading the company’s overall strategy, content creation, advocacy, operations, strategic investments and acquisitions.
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.
“His proficiency in founding and scaling organisations, combined with his deep and authentic engagement with artists and the industry while prioritising the needs of storytellers and audiences alike, provides a strategic and values-focused perspective to the role,” Sundance concluded.
