The Sundance Institute announced Thursday that David Linde will take over as the nonprofit organization’s new CEO. Linde’s tenure as CEO will begin Feb. 17 after the conclusion of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival — the last festival to be held in Utah.
Linde takes over from interim CEO Amanda Kelso, who has served in the role since the April 2024 departure of former CEO Joana Vicente.
“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,” said Ebs Burnough, board chair of the Sundance Institute. “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.”…