More than 1,200 filmmakers from 90 countries applied for an opportunity to bring their stories to life through a new partnership between outdoor footwear brand Merrell and Sundance Collab. Just six were selected, and each will receive $20,000 to produce an original short film exploring the transformative power of the outdoors.
The companies announced the three-year global storytelling partnership on October 1, combining financial support, mentorship, and filmmaking opportunities with Merrell’s It Starts Outside campaign. The initiative aims to challenge traditional perceptions of outdoor adventure, encouraging filmmakers to explore how even the simplest experiences outside can inspire creativity, connection, and personal growth.
Each selected director will receive $20,000 to create an original 60- to 90-second film designed for social media, bringing the total production awards for the inaugural group to $120,000. Participants will also receive education, creative guidance, and feedback throughout a three-month production program with Sundance Collab, the Sundance Institute’s digital learning platform for filmmakers.
The six filmmakers selected for the inaugural program are Sharon Liese, Ciril Jazbec, John Luke Miraflor, Laura Basil Duncan, Gabriella Canal, and Quinne Larsen.
Their films will explore the meaning of It Starts Outside through personal perspectives, demonstrating that outdoor experiences don’t necessarily require extreme adventures, remote wilderness, or extraordinary physical accomplishments. Instead, the program emphasizes everyday moments and the ways stepping outside can spark meaningful change.
“When we introduced It Starts Outside earlier this year, we shared our belief that even the simplest moments outdoors can spark something meaningful,” Richard McLeod, chief marketing officer at Merrell, said in a statement. “Through this partnership, filmmakers from around the world will bring that belief to life through human interest stories that show what the outside can unlock in us, how it connects us and the many ways it can shape our lives.”
The initiative first launched in June 2026, inviting filmmakers worldwide to submit original concepts inspired by the outdoors. A committee of Merrell executives, athletes, creatives, and film experts reviewed the submissions before selecting the final six directors.
Beyond providing funding, the program is designed to introduce emerging filmmakers to brand-supported storytelling, offering opportunities to develop professional experience and explore career pathways outside traditional film and television production.
“This initiative offers filmmakers a rare opportunity to not only learn the fundamentals of brand-supported storytelling and discover new career pathways as directors, but to actually receive the funding and mentorship needed to make and release their films with the support of a world-class brand like Merrell,” Patty West, director of Sundance Collab, said in a statement.
The partnership will extend to the 2027 Sundance Film Festival, where the six filmmakers are scheduled to participate in a live panel exploring the intersection of filmmaking and the outdoors. The discussion will examine how storytelling and outdoor experiences can inspire connection, creativity, and personal transformation.
Merrell will also make its debut as the Official Footwear Partner of the 2027 Sundance Film Festival, expanding the collaboration beyond the filmmaking initiative and into one of the independent film industry’s most prominent annual events.
The partnership represents a broader effort to redefine outdoor storytelling by highlighting experiences that extend beyond traditional adventure sports. Through the program, Merrell and Sundance Collab aim to give filmmakers the resources to explore how spending time outside can influence people’s lives, relationships, and perspectives.
With the first six directors now selected and the 2027 Sundance Film Festival on the horizon, the three-year initiative is set to bring new voices and personal stories into the conversation about what it means to experience the outdoors.
