Sundance Film Festival: From Barista to Award-Winning Documentary Director

When asked to reflect on his journey from being a barista in an Acura lounge to filming his film at this year’s festival, filmmaker Joe Peeler pinched himself: “I know pouring ice in after What’s it like to take a long shift on the curb, you know?”

Speaking of Pipelines are always a hot topic at the Sundance Film Festival thanks to how the festival passed grants, Labs, fellowships, and other Sundance Institute programs to bring together and support talent.

But not everyone has the traditional road to Park City. In this year’s installment, The Hollywood Reporter ) Met filmmaker Joe Peeler, who offered his unique path to becoming a director at the Sundance Film Festival: He worked as a barista in the Acura Studio lounge.

What makes this story even better is that ten years after he made his first coffee, Peeler, along with co-director Rebecca Landsberry-Baker, received the American Documentary Jury Special Award for their work on Freedom of Speech 2013 Festival Selection BAD NEWS . From Conrad Beilharz, Garrett F. Baker and Tyler Graim, this film follows a rogue reporter in Muskoka The story of a country facing press freedom censorship as she fights to expose the corruption of her government in a historic struggle that will affect all Indians.

“This is very disturbing Excited, it feels very surreal,” Peeler told THR. “It’s also weird to come from a place where I feel like I’m on the fringes of the industry, making coffee every morning for all the film teams that come here, and coming here this year now, coming here as a filmmaker in a way. It’s It was nice. But what I haven’t forgotten is the whole view of the festival, the excitement of being here, but also knowing all the hard work. I know what it’s like to dump ice on the side of the road after a long shift, you know? “

Peeler was also familiar with barista duties before starting the Acura show. During high school he worked at a local Starbucks, an experience that helped him get the job, thanks to Bad Press Beilharz, a producer who runs a catering company. “He hired me because they had a deal with Acura, and I remember we were busy every day because at the time—this was in 2012 or 2013 – We are the first One of the places that served free hot coffee in the morning, so there was always a line out the door,” recalls Peeler.

Since then, Peeler has built a resume thanks to a steady stream of editing work on a variety of short films, feature films and series. His Sundance experience also included seeing a short film he edited, The Lion’s Mouth Opens , made its debut at the grand event of 2013. But came back this year with Bad Press — and won the Startup Award – certainly provided an experience he won’t soon forget.

“As a filmmaker, you make a movie in a vacuum and you don’t know what’s going to happen. You just have to believe that the idea or story is enough to keep you interested for years. Follow along With Bad Press , we have always been Sundance Goal, because we imagined it would offer the best possible future for our films. So it’s awesome to be here, and to coincide with the return of the live music festival. It’s all very surreal.”