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Anne Lai is currently Director of Creative Producing and Artist Support at Sundance Institute, where she will continue until she joins SFFILM in March. In that role, she has focused on discovering and nurturing emerging independent producers, screenwriters, and directors through their first or second feature films. She launched and led the Institute’s first lab dedicated to producers, re-imagined an annual summer convening of filmmakers and industry known as the Creative Producing Summit, and tailored creative and strategic support for filmmakers coming out of the renowned Directors, Screenwriters, and Creative Producing Labs year-round. Additionally, Lai led curation of fiction features for Sundance Institute’s Catalyst Forum, a gathering that connects potential investors to films at a pivotal moment in their financing launch, and oversaw the Institute’s first Asian American Fellowship for screenwriters. Most recently, she helped design and oversaw Talent Forum, a three-day program during the Sundance Film Festival that provides a curated group of Institute-supported projects access to with industry, advocates, and community to move their projects forward.
Filmmakers supported by Lai’s work include Lulu Wang with The Farewell, Boots Riley with Sorry To Bother You, Joe Talbot with Last Black Man in San Francisco, Eliza Hittman with Beach Rats, Geremy Jasper with Patti Cake$, Daniels with Swiss Army Man, Marielle Heller with Diary of a Teenage Girl, writer/director Susana Fogel and producer Jordana Mollick with Life Partners, Ryan Coogler with Fruitvale Station, Ritesh Batra with The Lunchbox, and co-writer/director Benh Zeitlin and producers Dan Janvey and Josh Penn with Beasts of the Southern Wild.
Prior to Sundance Institute, Lai served as Vice President of Production at Scott Free, the film and television company founded by film directors Ridley and Tony Scott. She worked on films including Gladiator, Hannibal, Black Hawk Down, RKO 281, and Tristan & Isolde. She was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, attended the University of Michigan and received her degree in film production from the University of Southern California.
“The staff and I are very excited to have Anne join us at SFFILM,” said SFFILM’s Director of Programming Rachel Rosen. “Her depth of experience guiding artist development and artist education programs and her experience working with big budget productions, independents, and non-profits will be essential as we continue to integrate our presentation, artist development, and education programs. The diversity and quality of films that she has nurtured to fruition reveal that she shares SFFILMs values and passion for a wide range of films, filmmakers, and audiences.”
Lai joins the organization in the midst of preparation for the 63rd San Francisco International Film Festival (April 8–21), and during an exciting period of expansion for each of the organization’s key activities. She will take on the completion of SFFILM’s current strategic plan, which includes goals related to developing audiences that reflect the full demographics of the Bay Area and solidifying new artist development initiatives.
SFFILM Festival is the longest-running film festival in the Americas and an extraordinary showcase of cinematic discovery and a major cultural event in the Bay Area. The annual lineup features marquee premieres, international competitions, new media work, live performances, and scintillating artist talks. The 2019 Festival featured 209 screenings of 163 films from 52 countries at eight venues in San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley, with upwards of 125 filmmakers in attendance.
SFFILM Presents a robust slate of public programs throughout the year, including red carpet premiere events, advance member screenings, and in-depth film series. With diverse offerings and a commitment to excellence in world cinema, SFFILM is the leading year-round home of great film events in the Bay Area. Highlights include high-profile event screenings of Academy Award contenders at the world-famous Castro Theatre; Hong Kong Cinema, an annual survey of new work from one of the world’s most exciting filmmaking hubs; and Doc Stories, which showcases bold new documentary films as well as conversations with leaders in the field.
SFFILM Makers provides significant financial and creative resources to independent filmmakers through a variety of grants, fellowships, residencies, and advisory services. Since 2009, SFFILM has granted over $7.5 million to more than 200 film projects in various stages of production. Highlights include the SFFILM Rainin Grant and the SFFILM Westridge Grant, which together comprise the largest granting body for narrative feature films in the US, and the FilmHouse Residency program, which makes office space available and provides creative support to independent filmmakers.
SFFILM Education reaches more than 15,000 students, and teachers, and families each year. These innovative learning programs help students from kindergarten through college develop media literacy skills, cross-cultural awareness, and a lifelong appreciation of movies. Highlights include The Art & Science of Lucasfilm, designed to demonstrate the intersection of art and science in the entertainment industry, and Filmmakers in the Classroom, a program that provides on-site professional development for teachers who want to integrate media making and viewing into their curriculum.
To request an interview, contact Bill Proctor at bproctor@sffilm.org.
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