The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) and the Sundance Film Festival are creating a new jury to assess the work of first-time international filmmakers, launching at next year's edition of the festival. The move matters because it deepens Sundance's ties to the global critical community and offers a fresh spotlight for emerging foreign directors at the world's most prominent showcase of independent cinema.

The FIPRESCI jury will comprise three critics who will evaluate debut films in the World Narrative and World Documentary feature competitions, presenting awards for the best narrative and best documentary. The partnership coincides with a significant transition for Sundance, which is relocating to Boulder, Colorado, after decades in Park City, Utah, in a bid to secure more state financial support and operate in a more affordable setting for artists. FIPRESCI, founded in 1925 and spanning critics from more than 80 countries, is entering its second century, while festival director Eugene Hernandez and FIPRESCI president Ahmed Shawky framed the alliance as a natural fit reflecting shared values of artistic discovery and cultural exchange.