Sundance Veteran John Cooper Joins Northern California’s True West Film Center as Artistic Director

John Cooper, who previously led the Sundance Film Festival, has recently been appointed as the Artistic Director for the True West Film Center.

In her role as artistic director, Cooper will concentrate on shaping and executing the artistic blueprint that encompasses all our programs, such as education, film showings, and the annual True West Film Festival. This new position is announced as the True West Film Center gears up to relocate to the James Redford Campus, which features a three-screen cinema and educational facilities set to debut this summer in Healdsburg, California – a picturesque wine country town nestled north of San Francisco.

Executive Director Kathryn Philip expressed great pleasure in introducing John to True West as our fresh Artistic Director. With a long career behind him, Cooper has shown remarkable skills in artistic direction, curation, and a strong commitment to nurturing independent filmmakers. As we prepare to unveil our cinemas and extend our programs to reach more Sonoma County residents than ever, I am ecstatic that we will embark on this journey with the expertise and sharp intuition of Cooper.

For over three decades, Cooper played a pivotal role in the independent film scene of America through his work at the Sundance Institute. He eventually ascended to the position of festival director from 2010 to 2020. While there, he initiated the Art House Convergence and oversaw the expansion of satellite events for the festival in cities like New York, Los Angeles, London, and Hong Kong. Prior to his tenure at Sundance, Cooper served as the head of Outfest, an annual film festival in Los Angeles that showcases LGBTQ+ films, from 1995 to 1998.

Cooper expressed his gratitude for becoming part of the True West team at such a crucial time. Having been an advocate for art house cinemas, he understands the power that movies hold in uniting people. He is motivated and energized by this chance to foster a lively film culture in the North Bay.

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2025-02-10 23:16