Sundance Institute announces 12 annual doc film Fellows

The Fellows in alphabetical order are: Erin Casper (editing Fellow), Michelle Chang (editing), Keiko Deguchi (editing), Carol Dysinger (directing), Gayle Ferraro (directing), Michal Gabor (editing), Robin Hessman (directing), Tomas Kudrna (directing), Mona Nicoara (directing), Jonathan Oppenheim (editing), Laura Poitras (directing), and Garret Savage (editing).

The six selected projects are:

All That Glitters (Czech Republic/Kyrgyzstan) – examines the impact of democracy on a former Soviet state at an economic, political and religious crossroad;

Camp Victory, Afghanistan (US/Afghanistan) – looks at efforts by US National Guardsmen to train the nascent Afghan National Army;

Muhammad Yunus Banks On America (US) – follows microfinance pioneer and 2006 Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus as he sets up credit programmes around the world;

Our School(Romania) – follows efforts to integrate Romanian Roma gypsies in Transylvania into local schools;

Release( US/Yemen) – the fateful encounter between two man in 1996 leads them to Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay, and the US Supreme Court. Second in the New American Century trilogy chronicling America after 9/11; and

Russia’s Pepsi Generation(working title) (US/UK) – profiles the last of the Soviet era children whose sheltered lives underwent profound change following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The immersive Lab experience partners film-makers with creative advisors who this year include Kate Amend, the editor of Into the Arms Of Strangers; and Grizzly Man and Roman Polanski: Wanted And Desired editor Joe Bini.

“The annual Doc Edit and Story Labs are central to our programme’s support for creative non-fiction film-makers and commitment to the art form,” Sundance Documentary Film Programme director Cara Mertes said.