Slamdance Mission Statement

Slamdance is a year-round organization dedicated to new artists from around the world.

Overview

Started in 1995 by a group of upstart filmmakers, Slamdance Film Festival is a year-round organization dedicated to emerging artists and their vision. Slamdance has established a unique reputation for premiering independent films by first-time directors working with limited budgets. At the same time, the Festival has stayed true to its roots by being organized and programmed by active filmmakers. Slamdance films have been picked up for distribution, invited to festivals around the world, won Independent Spirit Awards, the Palme d'Or and an Academy Award, among many other accolades. Slamdance Film Festival alumni include "Memento" director Christopher Nolan (festival award winner "Following"), the Emmy Award winning Russo Brothers ("Pieces"), and "Finding Neverland" and "Monster's Ball" director Marc Forster (festival audience award winner "Loungers"). The 2005 Slamdance opening night film "Mad Hot Ballroom" was acquired by Paramount Classics.

The Festival has successfully established year-round ventures including the Screenplay Competition (winners include The Woodsman and Maria Full of Grace), Best Of Screenings in the U.S., Festival events in China and Poland, the Anarchy Online Film competition, the Dirty Dozen DVD series, and short film productions dubbed $99 Specials. In 2004, Slamdance launched a teleplay competition in conjunction with Fox 21, as well as a Games Competition and the Slamdance Media Group, a company comprised of distribution and talent-management units.

Slamdance Film Festival
By Filmmakers for Filmmakers