David Linde, former CEO of Participant and a veteran executive with experience at Universal Pictures and Focus Features, has been named the new CEO of the Sundance Institute. Linde will oversee all aspects of the non-profit, including artist labs, grants, fellowships, Sundance Collab, global public programs, and the renowned Sundance Film Festival. He will also guide the festival’s transition to Boulder, Colorado, beginning in 2027. Linde is set to begin his new role on February 17, 2026, following the conclusion of the upcoming festival.

Joana Vicente, the previous CEO, stepped down in 2024, with board member Amanda Kelso serving as acting CEO during the interim period. Ebs Burnough, Board Chair of the Sundance Institute, commented, “For over 40 years, Sundance Institute has stood at the intersection of artistic excellence, audience impact, and industry significance by playing a formative role in shaping the careers of filmmakers and uplifting independent work globally. Following a period of interim leadership, we are pleased to appoint David Linde as our permanent CEO. Throughout his career he has demonstrated exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and a shared commitment to independent voices. David brings a rare combination of industry fluency, social cause management, and deep commitment to artists, positioning the organization to build on our legacy while advancing our mission for the future.”

Linde expressed his enthusiasm for the new role, stating, “I am honored to join Sundance Institute as CEO to steward an organization that is essential to independent artists, the broader creative community, and culture at large. I look forward to working alongside the staff, artists, partners, and the board to further advance the visionary programs and Festival, while ensuring that bold, original storytelling continues to thrive and that the Institute’s truly central role for creative storytellers and their champions endures.”

Linde previously led Participant for eight years, overseeing impactful films such as “Spotlight” and “Roma” until the company’s closure in 2024. His earlier career includes leading acquisitions at Miramax, where he managed international distribution for films like “Pulp Fiction” and “The English Patient.” He co-founded Good Machine, executive produced titles such as “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” and “Y tu Mama Tambien,” and later co-founded Focus Features, which earned 11 Oscars for films including “The Pianist,” “Lost in Translation,” and “Brokeback Mountain.” By 2006, he was promoted to co-chairman of Universal Pictures.

Since leaving Participant, Linde has consulted for film and media companies in the U.S. and Europe and has continued to executive produce various projects. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the American Film Institute, the Board of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts North America, and the Board of Directors of Film Independent. He has also served two terms on the Board of Directors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, including as Treasurer.

The 2026 Sundance Film Festival, which begins next week, will be the last held in Park City, Utah, before the event moves to Boulder, Colorado, in 2027.

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