The Short Film Masterclass with Sundance Programmer Mike Plante
Update: 2025-12-03
Description
Welcome back to The Film Dept. Podcast!
In this episode, our hosts met with Mike Plante, producer and senior programmer for Sundance Film Festival, discussing the journey of short films from creation to submission at festivals like Sundance. They explore the importance of choosing the right stories, common pitfalls in filmmaking, and the various avenues available for filmmakers to showcase their work.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
03:20 Mike Plante's Journey in Film
06:14 The Sundance Film Festival Experience
08:58 Submitting Short Films to Sundance
11:32 Common Mistakes in Short Film Submissions
14:25 Distribution Avenues for Short Films
17:12 Advice for New Filmmakers
19:55 Networking and Opportunities in Film Festivals
Watch this episode (and all previous episodes) on UNLV College of Fine Arts Podcasts:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgbLVA87WVDTKLP095pINKBeHXSe6brRn
Email us: thefilmdeptpod@gmail.com
Credits:
HOSTS - Lex de Asis, Matthew Trudeau, Robby Baker
PRODUCERS - Tom Bjelic, Sam Decker
PRODUCERS - Vance Mellen, Theresa Twa
EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY - Adam Paul, Roudi Boroumand
PRODUCTION COORDINATORS- Isa Privetera, Tatyana Odobasic-Cuevas
SOUND CREW - Brandon Aguilar, Hunter Cole, Marcie Gentile
KEY GRIP- William Stanfield
EDITORS - Molly Bilbray-Axelrod, Asher Garduno
For The Beverly:
Kip Kelly, Founding Creative Director | Chief Experience Officer
Alexi Harber, General Manager
Ivy Ergunes, Marketing Manager
To read the hosts' reviews, head over to:
https://thefilmdeptpodcast.substack.com/
Once again, The Film Department has teamed up with the mad geniuses of The Beverly Theater. Imagined by The Rogers Foundation, The Beverly Theater brings cinematic connectivity, novel collaborations, live happenings, cultural portals, and a zest for independent spirits to DTLV. With a mission to stage uncommon cinematic, literary, and live experiences, The Beverly Theater is Las Vegas’ first and only independent film house, storytelling arena, and live music venue.
For the latest screenings and events at The Beverly, visit thebeverlytheater.com The Film Department Podcast is supported by UNLV Film.
At the film department of the University of Nevada Las Vegas, every story has a beginning.With degree programs for undergraduates and graduates, state of the art equipment and facilities, incredible professional internships around the world, and expert guest speakers, students discover the power and potential of cinema as they prepare for the film and television industry… and beyond.
Learn more at UNLV.EDU/FILM UNLV Film. Find your voice. Tell your story
In this episode, our hosts met with Mike Plante, producer and senior programmer for Sundance Film Festival, discussing the journey of short films from creation to submission at festivals like Sundance. They explore the importance of choosing the right stories, common pitfalls in filmmaking, and the various avenues available for filmmakers to showcase their work.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
03:20 Mike Plante's Journey in Film
06:14 The Sundance Film Festival Experience
08:58 Submitting Short Films to Sundance
11:32 Common Mistakes in Short Film Submissions
14:25 Distribution Avenues for Short Films
17:12 Advice for New Filmmakers
19:55 Networking and Opportunities in Film Festivals
Watch this episode (and all previous episodes) on UNLV College of Fine Arts Podcasts:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgbLVA87WVDTKLP095pINKBeHXSe6brRn
Email us: thefilmdeptpod@gmail.com
Credits:
HOSTS - Lex de Asis, Matthew Trudeau, Robby Baker
PRODUCERS - Tom Bjelic, Sam Decker
PRODUCERS - Vance Mellen, Theresa Twa
EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY - Adam Paul, Roudi Boroumand
PRODUCTION COORDINATORS- Isa Privetera, Tatyana Odobasic-Cuevas
SOUND CREW - Brandon Aguilar, Hunter Cole, Marcie Gentile
KEY GRIP- William Stanfield
EDITORS - Molly Bilbray-Axelrod, Asher Garduno
For The Beverly:
Kip Kelly, Founding Creative Director | Chief Experience Officer
Alexi Harber, General Manager
Ivy Ergunes, Marketing Manager
To read the hosts' reviews, head over to:
https://thefilmdeptpodcast.substack.com/
Once again, The Film Department has teamed up with the mad geniuses of The Beverly Theater. Imagined by The Rogers Foundation, The Beverly Theater brings cinematic connectivity, novel collaborations, live happenings, cultural portals, and a zest for independent spirits to DTLV. With a mission to stage uncommon cinematic, literary, and live experiences, The Beverly Theater is Las Vegas’ first and only independent film house, storytelling arena, and live music venue.
For the latest screenings and events at The Beverly, visit thebeverlytheater.com The Film Department Podcast is supported by UNLV Film.
At the film department of the University of Nevada Las Vegas, every story has a beginning.With degree programs for undergraduates and graduates, state of the art equipment and facilities, incredible professional internships around the world, and expert guest speakers, students discover the power and potential of cinema as they prepare for the film and television industry… and beyond.
Learn more at UNLV.EDU/FILM UNLV Film. Find your voice. Tell your story
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