Dear Storytellers,
We are increasingly living our lives inside — stuck behind four walls and locked into our screens. But what happens when we step outside?
Sundance Collab has teamed up with Merrell for an exciting new partnership to launch the Merrell Brand-Supported Storytelling Program. This global initiative is designed to support filmmakers looking to learn how to collaborate with a brand through training and opportunity.
We are searching for five filmmakers from around the world ready to bring their voice to explore Merrell’s core belief: It Starts Outside. We aren’t looking for traditional commercial advertising or epic outdoor feats. We want intimate, honest, human-centered stories where the outside acts as a catalyst for personal transformation, community, and reconnection.
An online program (September-December) to demystify brand-supported storytelling and apply your learning by making a film.
$20,000 USD to produce a 60–90 second vertical film (plus :06, :15, and :30 cutdowns and stills).
An opportunity to attend the 2027 Sundance Film Festival, with hotel accommodation for the director fully covered to join the Merrell team for a private screening!
Want to know exactly what the reviewers are looking for? Join us for a live online info session and interactive Q&A to break down the application and creative territory.
Event: Insider Session: Applying to the Merrell Brand-Supported Storytelling Program
Time: Tuesday, August 11, 2026 1:00-2:00 p.m. PT
Featuring: Alex Ho (Creative Director, Merrell) and Patty West (Director, Sundance Collab)
Whether you want to know more about the program, or how to lean into Merrell’s brand values, this live session will unpack it all.
Application Fee: $0 (Free to apply)
Eligibility: Open to filmmakers globally
Deadline to Apply: Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PT
Merrell will provide product for the shoot, but it won’t be the hero — your story will be. Ready to inspire the world to step outside?
See you at the Insider Session!
–The Sundance Collab Team
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