Yesterday morning at Riverhorse on Main Street in Park City, Utah, Film Independent hosted a brunch for all the Fellows who have participated in our Artist Development programs and who are screening their newest films at the Sundance Film Festival: 32 Fellows worked on 19 films  in nine sections of this year’s Festival. They came together, along with other members of the Film Independent community to celebrate their achievements over mimosas.

“We really wanted to shine a light on the filmmakers that we’ve worked with over the years,” Film Independent President Josh Welsh said to the room, “and really, this brunch is for you—it’s for the filmmakers. We’re so excited for you and proud of you, and this is a chance for everyone here to meet you.”

“I think it’s important that everyone who supports Film Independent see that what they do actually turns into people learning, and into films, and into careers,” Board member and Sundance-screening filmmaker (Last Days in the Desert, Premieres) Rodrigo Garcia said. “I think just by virtue of the type of talent that we attract, we attract subject matter that is also integral socially. I think most of the people who have movies here, who have come through the Labs or Project Involve, always bring subject matter that is not only personal to them, but that has something to say.”

“Hyphenate Films owes a lot to Josh Welsh and Film Independent,” said producer and Fellow Catherine Park (Producing Lab 2003). “He connected me to Mora Stephens when she was in the Director’s Lab, and now she has a film (Zipper, Premieres) in the festival.”

Kyle Patrick Alvarez (Someone to Watch 2010, Fast Track 2012) is here with his buzzed-about film The Stanford Prison Experiment, which is screening in the U.S. Dramatic Competition and will have its world premiere today at the grand Eccles Theatre. “I only finished the movie, like, five days ago,” Alvarez admitted, laughing. “No one has seen it. A lot of people are like, ‘I’ve heard this-and-this,’ and I have to be like, no, no, no—no one has seen it. I just want people to go in [with no expectations].”

“Film Independent, what can I say?” Garcia said. “I’m a great believer. I’m glad to be a part of it.”

Mary Sollosi / Film Independent Blogger