Vimeo, the leading video experience platform, has partnered with the 2025 Sundance Film Festival as the official sponsor of the Short Film Program. The collaboration marks a significant moment for short filmmakers, as the program will showcase carefully curated fiction, nonfiction, and animated shorts from domestic and international creators.
The festival, scheduled for January 23 to February 2, 2025, in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, will also offer online screenings of select titles from January 30 to February 2, making independent storytelling accessible to audiences nationwide.
“Sundance Film Festival and Vimeo have always been a shared home of a new generation of filmmakers,” said Philip Moyer, CEO of Vimeo, highlighting the platform’s commitment to emerging storytellers.
In a notable development for short filmmakers, Vimeo will host an exclusive panel titled “From Sundance Film Festival to Staff Picks: How Shorts Break Through The Noise” on January 25. The session, scheduled from 4:30-5:30 p.m. MT at The Box at The Ray, will feature Vimeo’s Curation team sharing invaluable insights into their selection process and offering guidance on how filmmakers can gain visibility in today’s competitive digital landscape.
The platform’s influence on emerging talent is evident in this year’s festival lineup, with six feature filmmakers making their debuts after being previously featured in Vimeo Staff Picks. Furthermore, 29 Staff Pick alumni will present new work at the 2025 festival, demonstrating Vimeo’s role in nurturing emerging talent.
Derick Rhodes, Vice President of Community at Vimeo, emphasized the platform’s long-standing commitment to short films: “For 17 years, we’ve uplifted and supported the short film community, and this sponsorship is a further testament to that commitment.”
The partnership extends beyond the festival, with Vimeo planning to support regional screenings in various cities throughout the year, including New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Dallas. These events aim to strengthen the short film community and provide additional platforms for the celebration and recognition of short-form content.
This sponsorship follows Vimeo’s first user conference, Vimeo REFRAME, which brought together creators from various creative and corporate backgrounds to celebrate video content.