Eugene Hernandez S Sundance Journey

The seeds of this site were sown by a fateful 1993 trip to Park City, where Hernandez and college friend Cheri Barner met Mark Rabinowitz. The experiences they had there, at the height of the booming American independent film market, inspired the concept for IndieWire, which they launched as an email newsletter at the festival two years later. In an oral history for IndieWire’s 20th anniversary, Hernandez explained how the communal experience of Sundance motivated his work:

As Hernandez’s profile has grown in that same community, he has remained a perennial friendly face — a rarity in the entertainment business, at every level — as well as an infectious optimist. That combination ability is particularly welcome now, with Sundance returning in January to an in-person event after two virtual pandemic years and the industry struggles for some measure of hope for the future. IndieWire’s first decade was defined by similar uncertainty, in the midst of the digital boom and the early days of streaming, as filmmakers struggled for some clarity. Hernandez’s kind, inquisitive style provided an essential guide to the chaos. Related Luca Guadagnino to Receive Sundance Film Festival International Icon Award Sundance 2023 Movie Deals So Far: Paramount and Netflix Bite First Related Oscars 2023: Best Documentary Feature Predictions Growing Number of Contenders Makes 2023 Best International Feature Race Less Predictable
He shepherded NYFF through that same challenge, launching his first year as the festival director in the midst of the pandemic in 2020, when he crafted an innovative blend of outdoor drive-in and online experiences that sustained the brand. He was my chauffeur to opening night as we watched Steve McQueen’s “Lovers Rock” from the backseat of his car, and he gave his first festival introduction as director while standing on the grass. From a festival standpoint, that period was both post-apocalyptic and inspirational. Yes, the fragile landscape of festival curation already faced major existential questions. At the same time, we were there, the movies were screening, the filmmakers were creating wonderful work. The ability to support that outcome could not be more suited to the present moment, as Sundance prepares for its 40th edition and the film community needs its support more than ever. Ahead of today’s news, Hernandez shared these photos from his earlier experiences at the festival. Randall Michelson