Once again, SVA will be well represented at the Sundance Film Festival. Of the only 16 coveted slots in the documentary category of the competition, four of the movies accepted were created by MFA Social Documentary Film Department faculty, alumni and guest lecturers. Marina Abramovic: The Artist is Present was produced by Department Chair Maro Chermayeff and guest lecturer Jeff Dupre, directed by alumnus Matthew Akers (BFA 1998 Fine Arts), and edited by faculty member Donna Shepherd. Faculty member Tom Hurwitz served as director of photography for The Queen of Versailles, and films by guest lecturers Sam Pollard (Slavery By Another Name) and Susan Froemke (ESCAPE FIRE: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare) are premiering as well.

In addition, the fictional drama L Train by Anna Musso (BFA 2003 Film and Video)—who also worked as an assistant to director Alexander Payne on The Descendants, starring George Clooney—is competing in the short film category.

Image: A still from The Queen of Versailles, about a couple facing foreclosure while building America’s biggest house.