![](//www.4rfv.com/images/no_image.jpg)
By Kristin Feeley, Documentary Film Program Interim Director
When a film is well edited the audience won't notice the invisible hand of the editor - the audience is so immersed in the story they're not paying attention to its construction. For nonfiction filmmakers, especially, editing is the heart of storytelling. To quote Walter Murch: The notion of directing a film is the invention of critics - the whole eloquence of cinema is achieved in the editing room.
For over 20 years, the Sundance Documentary Film Program has supported nonfiction editors and placed a spotlight on editing through labs, fellowships, and partnerships to support the next generation of editors. We believe that editing is an art form; editing a nonfiction feature is not a linear path. It's work that demands experimentation, an openness to possibilities and a commitment to keep trying and failing until it works. We know that creating a space that embraces failure and experimentation is a vital part of the creative process. Every summer we gather experienced editors and directors to work with projects-in-process to advance their narratives at a critical point in post-production. This summer, Sundance Institute is providing deep support for one nonfiction project through our Documentary Edit Intensive hosted at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, New York (July 15-19)
The nonfiction project selected for the 2024 Sundance Institute Documentary Edit Intensive is #NunsToo from Emmy Award-winning director-editor Lorena Luciano and producer-cinematographer Filippo Piscopo. #NunsToo explores how, in the shadows of the Catholic Church, nuns have endured unspeakable abuse at the hands of male clergy. But now, a group of courageous women breaks the silence, defying the institution that once silenced them. In a powerful story of resilience, these survivors find their voices, inspiring a movement challenging the very foundations of faith and power.
This year's Intensive advisors are award-winning filmmakers, musicians, and multimedia artists Mike Palmieri and Donal Mosher (The Gospel Of Eureka, October Country), and Emmy-nominated documentary editor Erin Casper (Fire of Love, American Promise).
We were moved by the courage of the film team and film participants making #NunsToo. Lorena and Filippo's extraordinary work required a deep, long-term commitment to honoring the stories of courageous women. Though they are masters of their craft, even experienced filmmakers can benefit from collaboration with other artists. We are our best when we come together in support of bold voices and powerful stories. We will continue to support Lorena and Filippo's vision after the Intensive with creative and strategic support, continuing to uplift the voices centered in their story and the as yet unheard voices to whom the film is dedicated.
2024 Documentary Edit Intensive Fellows:
Lorena Luciano (director-editor) is a fellow of the Sundance Film Institute, IDA Enterprise, and the MacArthur Foundation. An indomitable storyteller, her impactful films resonate with global audiences. Her worldwide distributed work has won Best Directing and Best Documentary awards. Raised in Italy, she lives in New York City with her husband, and film partner, Filippo Piscopo and her two sons.
Filippo Piscopo (producer-cinematographer) is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and 2024 Academy Award-nominated cinematographer of The ABC's of Book Banning. Piscopo intersects his true passion as a film producer with impactful camera work. He has crafted engaging stories featured at film venues such as the Venice Film Festival, IDFA's Central Pitch, and the IFP's Spotlight on Documentaries. Filippo's documentary work, often in collaboration with his wife and film director/partner Lorena Luciano, has been distributed globally.
More from Sundance Institute
06/09/2024
By Jessica Herndon
One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Fes...
06/09/2024
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 22: (L-R) Eugene Grygo, Phoebe Hoffman, Lana Wilson, Michael Kim, and Nikenya Hall attend the 2024 Sundance Film Festival Look Into M...
05/09/2024
By Jessica Herndon
The buzz in Toronto for the next 11 days will be all about t...
04/09/2024
Elliott (Maisy Stella) meets an older version of herself (Aubrey Plaza) in Megan Park's My Old Ass....
03/09/2024
By Lucy Spicer
Did you think Mavis Beacon was a real person?
This is a question that pervades Jazmin Ren e Jones' feature directorial debut, Seeking Ma...
03/09/2024
Asmae El Moudir with her Granny puppet (Marc Sagliocco/Shutterstock for Sundance Film Festival)...
30/08/2024
By Jessica Herndon
The 51st Telluride Film Festival kicks off tomorrow in Color...
29/08/2024
PARK CITY, UTAH JANUARY 22: The cast attends the 2023 Sundance Film Festival Going Varsity in Mariachi premiere at Park Avenue Theater on January 22, 2023 i...
28/08/2024
By Jessica Herndon
There is no denying the Venice International Film Festival i...
28/08/2024
By the Archives team
As the weather starts to cool down, our trivia games are also wrapping up! In this final summer 2024 edition, we're once again shining...
26/08/2024
By Jessica Herndon
Making a film can be unpredictable. Clearance issues may cau...
23/08/2024
[Editor's note: This film has changed its title since this feature originall...
23/08/2024
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 19: Jason Schwartzman and Carol Kane attend the 2024 Sundance Film Festival Between the Temples premiere at the Library Center Theat...
20/08/2024
By Jessica Herndon
Most filmmakers will agree that there is nothing like that i...
16/08/2024
By Lucy Spicer
One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival...
14/08/2024
(Photo by Suzanne Cordeiro/Shutterstock for Sundance Film Festival)
By Patty Consolazio
This film might hold the world record for speed tear-jerkers.
In one ...
14/08/2024
Pictured top row (L-R): Adam Piron, Kapena Liu, Sky Hopinka, Billy Roehl; bottom...
12/08/2024
Julian Brave NoiseCat hugs Chief Willie Sellars as the Sugarcane film team takes the stage following the premiere of the documentary January 20 at the 2024 Su...
09/08/2024
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 21: (L-R) India Donaldson and Lily Collias at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival Good One premiere at The Ray Theatre. (Photo by Suzann...
08/08/2024
By Lucy Spicer
One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival is having a front-row seat for the bright future of independent filmmaking. Whi...
07/08/2024
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 23: (L-R) Jesse Moss and Tony Gerber attend the 2024 Sundance Film Festival War Game premiere at Prospector Square Theatre on Januar...
05/08/2024
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 18: (L-R) Rich Peppiatt, Jessica Reynolds, Liam g hAnnaidh, JJ Dochartaigh, Naoise Caireall in, Simone Kirby, and Fionnuala Fla...
02/08/2024
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 19: Sean Wang attends the 2024 Sundance Film Festival D di ( ) premiere at The Ray Theatre. (Photo by Robin Marshall/Shutterstock f...
02/08/2024
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 21: (L-R) Mikko M kel , Ruaridh Mollica, and James Watson attend the 2024 Sundance Film Festival Sebastian premiere at the Library C...
01/08/2024
The rebellious trio comprising the Irish band Kneecap play themselves in Kneecap, winner of an audience award at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival....
01/08/2024
LOS ANGELES, CA, August 1, 2024 - The nonprofit Sundance Institute today announced the 2024 grant recipients for the Sundance Institute Documentary Fund, suppor...
31/07/2024
By the Archives team
As you try to keep cool in the summer heat, our Sundance Institute trivia game continues to sizzle! As a follow-up to our June game, we...
30/07/2024
Fellows, staff, and mentors at the 2024 Directors Lab. (Photo by Shayla Blatchford)...
26/07/2024
by Ianeta Le'i
I honestly don't remember the first time I met Bryson Ch...
26/07/2024
(L-R) Louise (Karen Gillan) and Antonina (Margaret Sophie Stein) strike up an un...
24/07/2024
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 20: (L-R) Quentin Laurent, Sarvnik Kaur, and Koval Bhatia attend the 2023 Sundance Film Festival Against the Tide premiere at the Eg...
23/07/2024
By Lucy Spicer
One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival is having a front-row seat for the bright future of independent filmmaking. Whi...
19/07/2024
Six cities selected to move forward in the next phase of the process...
18/07/2024
Today the nonprofit Sundance Institute announced the artists selected to participate in the Sundance Institute Trans Possibilities Intensive, a three-part event...
17/07/2024
by Sundance Collab team
Showrunner Glen Mazzara (The Walking Dead, The Shield) thinks that writing for TV has one rule: Cool people doing cool stuff every epis...
17/07/2024
By Bailey Pennick
One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festi...
17/07/2024
With limited-edition summer merch out now and our Early Bird Ticket Sale happeni...
15/07/2024
By Kristin Feeley, Documentary Film Program Interim Director
When a film is wel...
13/07/2024
Jeff Zimbalist, Ivan Beerkus, Angela Nikolau, and Maria Bukhonina at the premiere of Skywalkers: A Love Story at The Ray Theatre in Park City, Utah, on Januar...
11/07/2024
The Hoover family embarks on an eventful road trip to California for a junior beauty pageant in Little Miss Sunshine....
10/07/2024
Year-round Program Offers Pivotal Support to Women Filmmakers
PARK CITY, UTAH, July 10, 2024 - The nonprofit Sundance Institute announced today the eight wom...
09/07/2024
TICKETS ON SALE JULY 23: WWW.SUNDANCEFFASIA.COM
TAIPEI, TAIWAN, July 9, 2024 - G2Go Entertainment and the nonprofit Sundance Institute reveal the lineup of 1...
08/07/2024
Priscilla Miranda and director Ella Glendining attend the 2023 Sundance Film Festival Is There Anybody Out There? Premiere at Prospector Square Theatre on Jan...
06/07/2024
Kate Jean Hollowell's Say Hi After You Die took home the Short Film Jury A...
03/07/2024
By Lucy Spicer
One of the most exciting things about starting each year with th...
01/07/2024
Daredevils Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus ascend to dizzying heights in Jeff Zimbalist's documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story....
29/06/2024
Fred Hechinger, June Squibb, and Clark Gregg at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival....
28/06/2024
PARK CITY, UTAH JANUARY 20: (L-R) Erica Tremblay, Crystle Lightning, Isabel Deroy-Olson, and Lily Gladstone attend the 2023 Sundance Film Festival Fancy Danc...
28/06/2024
Kate Jean Hollowell's Say Hi After You Die took home the Short Film Jury A...
26/06/2024
By the Archives team
Let the summer games begin! While we wait a few more weeks for the Paris Olympics, we're introducing some Sundance Institute trivia to...