How Sundance Institute’s Documentary Film Program Inspires Filmmakers Like Sara Dosa

Director Sara Dosa Reflects on Sundance Institute’s Role in Her Career Ahead of Time and Water Premiere

Documentary filmmaker Sara Dosa, whose 2022 Sundance Film Festival hit Fire of Love became a cultural phenomenon, is riding a wave of creative momentum as her new film, Time and Water, prepares for its own festival debut. The director and producer Shane Boris—both longtime beneficiaries of the Sundance Institute’s Documentary Film Program (DFP)—recently revisited their relationship with the organization, highlighting how its support has shaped their careers during moments of both triumph and near-collapse.

From Despair to Abundance: The Sundance Difference

Dosa’s journey is one of resilience. Her 2019 documentary The Seer and the Unseen, about elves, belief, and an Icelandic woman’s fight to save her home, was nearly derailed by financial exhaustion. “We were running out of money, and despair was ramping up,” she recalled. Then came a lifeline: a call from Kristin Feeley, deputy director of the Sundance Institute’s DFP, offering a grant. “I literally collapsed to the ground in joy and relief,” Dosa said. “I had tears in my eyes, and so did Shane.”

For Dosa, the Institute’s impact extends far beyond funding. She describes its influence as creating a sense of “abundance” in an industry often defined by scarcity and rejection. “It’s so profoundly hard to make films,” she said. “There’s so much struggle, so much discrimination, and we’re operating in a context of true scarcity that puts people against each other.” Sundance, she believes, counters that despair with “hope”—a belief that success is possible.

A Legacy of “Little Bigs”

Dosa’s relationship with the Institute dates back to her 2014 debut, The Last Season, a documentary about mushroom hunting. Though the film didn’t secure a spot at the Festival, Feeley—then a program officer—sent Dosa a badge as a gesture of encouragement. “To her, it was an email,” Dosa said. “To me, it was a signal that there was maybe a pathway to actually make it in this crazy industry.”

That “little big” moment became a pattern. In 2018, Feeley invited Dosa and Boris to a pitching forum for The Seer and the Unseen, where they secured additional support. The Sundance grant followed, saving the project. “It’s not just about the money,” Dosa emphasized. “It’s about the kindness, the generosity, the belief in people’s work.”

The Soccer Field of Filmmaking

Dosa’s analogy for her career—“a soccer field”—is telling. As a competitive player growing up, she was often the smallest on the field, knocked down repeatedly. Yet each fall became motivation to push harder. That mindset, she said, mirrors her approach to filmmaking: “It’s not about being competitive, but about learning to be a better player, a better teammate, and to set and attain goals.”

She credits Sundance with fostering that environment. “There’s nothing like Sundance,” she said. “There’s a magic to it. Every time I go, I’m floored by it.”

From Fire of Love to Time and Water

Dosa’s 2022 documentary Fire of Love—about volcanic scientists Maurice and Katia Krafft—garnered widespread acclaim and public appearances that she described as “robust.” Now, with Time and Water premiering at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, she reflects on how far she’s come. “I never thought I could produce films until, all of a sudden, I could,” she said. “I never thought I could direct films and then I could.”

The Institute’s role in her career is undeniable. As Dosa prepares for her next chapter, she remains grateful for the “little bigs”—the moments of support that turned despair into possibility.

Note: This article is based on a 2022 interview with Sara Dosa and Shane Boris, originally published by sundance.org and reshared to coincide with the premiere of Time and Water at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. No additional verifiable developments were found in live research.