Features, filmmakers, and fandom—the Sundance Film Festival was in full force for its triumphant 2023 return. And, Shutterstock was front and center to capture it all!
Each January, storytellers and audiences flock to the Sundance Film Festival—heating up the snowy streets of Park City, Utah with daily screenings, panel discussions, and, of course, parties! This year, Shutterstock was there as your eyes and ears.
“Sundance is one of the first major events of the year, and from a live assignment and editorial standpoint, it’s important for us to be onsite with our amazing team of photographers, videographers, and editors to see and work with our existing clients, meet potential new clients, and capture compelling content at one of the largest film festivals in the world,” says Andrea Collins, Shutterstock’s Director of US Entertainment Assignments.
“Seeing our logo all over Park City and having our photographers and videographers onsite at so many of the festival’s most exciting events made me so proud to be part of the Shutterstock team!”
From the Sundance 2023 Big Names collection: You can license these images via Jack Dempsey/Shutterstock, Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock, Charles Sykes/Invision/AP/Shutterstock, AFF-USA/Shutterstock, Charles Sykes/Invision/AP/Shutterstock, Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock, Jack Dempsey/Shutterstock, Casey Flanigan/imageSPACE/Shutterstock, and Michael Hurcomb/Shutterstock.
After moving to a virtual format in 2022, the Sundance Film Festival picked right back up with in-person events in 2023, with a multi-day celebration spanning January 19 to 29.
This year, Shutterstock had (winter) boots on the ground—leading the conversation, photographing the most buzzworthy red carpets and celebrities in-studio, and partnering on live assignments for brands like Audible, Hartbeat, and Vulture.
Didn’t make it to the festival? We’ve got your VIP pass with an insider recap of the hottest highlights and photos you may have missed!
Capturing the Moment
If you didn’t pass through the Shutterstock Sundance Film Festival Portrait Studio presented by Canon, were you even at Sundance?
With over 100 portraits taken of top celebrities including Anne Hathaway, Emilia Clarke, Harry Hamlin, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tiffany Haddish, Daisy Ridley, and more, Shutterstock’s portrait studio was one hot ticket!
You may have caught many of these moments online in publications like People or Entertainment Weekly, but you’ll only see all the incredible shots here!
From the Shutterstock Sundance 2023 Best of Portrait Studio presented by Canon: You can license these images via Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock, Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock, Taylor Jewell/Invision/AP/Shutterstock, Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock, Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock, Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock, Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock, Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock, and Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock.
Opening Lines of Dialogue
Moderated by Shutterstock’s Global CRO Jamie Elden, and featuring Aiden Darné, Global Head of Shutterstock Studios, Jon Weidman and Dan Bradley the filmmakers of NYC high school soccer story “We Are King”, celebrity photographer Miles “Diggzy” Diggs, and Keenan MacWilliam, director and multidisciplinary artist, Shutterstock’s panel discussion “Documentaries Today: How Authentic Content Has Reeled in New Audiences” took place in front of a packed house of festival attendees.
“One of the key driving words that is coming out of this is authenticity,” Elden kicked off the conversation. “Gen Z, they’re watching things that resonate with them, that they can lean into.”
Centered on the younger audience’s growing thirst for real-life stories, the Shutterstock-hosted panel talk looked at how the creative process is changing, which technologies are accelerating production, and how to keep truth at the center of the story—setting the stage for the next generation of documentary filmmaking.
Mixing and Mingling
The Sundance Short Film Program Awards presented by Shutterstock and Shutterstock Magic Hour in partnership with Canon gave filmmakers and attendees the chance to defrost and unwind.
One of the largest and consistently most popular Sundance events, The Annual Shorts Party welcomed 300 filmmakers—including the short film teams—and creators to enjoy photo activations and prizes.
Later at Magic Hour, VIPs were invited to the Park City Museum for a preview of the future of 3D content.
From the Sundance 2023 Atmosphere: You can license these images via Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock, Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock, Michael Hurcomb/Shutterstock, Andrew H. Walker/Shutterstock, and Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP/Shutterstock.
That’s a Wrap
We can’t talk Sundance without shining a spotlight on all the cozy-chic fashion to pass our lenses. From Teyana Taylor’s Thom Browne khaki puffer sash to Algee Smith’s couldn’t-be-missed-on-the-slopes colorblock, the stars proved ski resort wear serves just as much fashion as function.
From Sundance 2023 Fashion: You can license these images via MJ Photos/Shutterstock, Charles Sykes/Invision/AP/Shutterstock, Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock, Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock, Mark Von Holden/Shutterstock, Michael Hurcomb/Shutterstock, Jack Dempsey/Shutterstock, Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock, and Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock.
License these cover images via Andrew H. Walker/Shutterstock, Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock, Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP/Shutterstock, Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock, Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock, Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock, Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock, and Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock.
