RICHARD RAY PEREZ, SUNDANCE INSTITUTE, USA

Richard Ray Perez is a native of Los Angeles and holds a bachelor of arts degree in Visual and Environmental Studies from Harvard University. “Rick” Perez is currently the Director, Creative Partnerships, Documentary Film. He oversees a portfolio of Sundance Institute strategic partnerships focused on the convergence of nonfiction filmmaking, emerging storytelling platforms, innovative thought leadership, social change, and themes vital to contemporary societies. These initiatives include Stories of Change, a Sundance Institute partnership with the Skoll Foundation; Sundance Institute TED Prize Filmmaker Award, a collaboration with TED; and the annual Sundance Institute | CNEX Documentary Workshop in Beijing, a program to develop and advance independent nonfiction filmmaking in China. Mr. Perez is also a senior reviewer for the Sundance Documentary Film Fund; frequently participates as a speaker, panelist and moderator at domestic and international events focusing on nonfiction filmmaking; leads workshops on documentary storytelling; and nurtures filmmakers throughout the world, including artists traditionally underrepresented in the field of nonfiction cinema. In addition to his work at Sundance Institute, Mr. Perez has been the Executive Producer and Director of the feature documentary, “Cesar’s Last Fast”,|a film about the spiritual commitment of American civil rights and labor leader Cesar E. Chavez that premiered in competition at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, and is currently the Executive Producer for the feature documentary “Cassandro, Queen of the Ring”. Prior to joining the Sundance staff, Mr. Perez was an executive producer at Brave New Films where he produced two documentary series, and directed and produced a third.