One Last Run in Park City: How to Ski the Treacherous Slopes of Independent Film at Sundance ‘26

In this episode recorded live from the final Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, GG Hawkins is joined by No Film School’s Ryan Koo and Jo Light to commemorate the end of an era. The trio dives into personal memories, the legacy of Robert Redford, and what the future may hold for the festival as it prepares to relocate to Boulder, Colorado. They reflect on how Sundance has supported filmmakers through its labs, how festival culture shapes careers, and the emotional highs and lows of navigating the indie film landscape. GG also shares behind-the-scenes insights from her recent event at Sundance focused on women in the business of film, while offering a candid look at what it really takes to get a film into a top-tier festival.

In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins, Ryan Koo, and Jo Light discuss...

• What makes Sundance in Park City so special—and why it's bittersweet to say goodbye

• The importance of Sundance's labs and the legacy of Robert Redford

• The emotional impact of community and connection during film festivals

• GG’s first Sundance as a filmmaker with a feature and her reflections on that journey

• Advice for filmmakers on submission strategy and post-production polish

• What types of films stand out at Sundance today: high-concept, star-driven, or uniquely personal

• Highlights from GG’s industry dinner focused on women in the business of film

• Thoughts and hopes for the new Sundance location in Boulder, Colorado

Memorable Quotes:

• “The old rules don’t apply and the new rules haven’t been written.”

• “If it’s not ready, don’t submit yet. Unless Willem Dafoe is in your movie.”

• “You’re already 99.9% past the obstacles just by making a movie.”

• “Robert Redford used his power to help others.”

Guests:

• Ryan Koo

• Jo Light

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