Trista Schroeder has been appointed general counsel and chief operating officer of the Sundance Institute, effective immediately. The promotion formalises her broader operational role at a significant moment for the non-profit, as it prepares to move the Sundance Film Festival to Boulder, Colorado, from 2027.

Schroeder has been Sundance’s general counsel since 2020 and recently led negotiations for the process that selected Boulder as the festival’s new home. She will oversee legal affairs, governance, risk, labour relations, compliance and administration, while continuing to report to chief executive David Linde; the arrangement is intended to free him to focus on fundraising, partnerships and external leadership. Before joining Sundance, she was founding executive director of the Hollywood Commission, which addressed sexual harassment and inclusivity in the entertainment industry.