A group of Hollywood actors gathered at the Sundance Mountain Resort in late June to seek funding for socially impactful film projects through the Harbor Fund. The third annual Harbor Film Forum connected celebrities with high-net-worth donors.
On June 28, actors including Matthew Modine, Edward James Olmos, Sarah Silverman, Kristen Schaal and Rhys Darby pitched their projects during the invitation-only event. Modine presented "The Splendid Thing," which he wrote and will direct, while Olmos discussed "Valley of the Heart," a $41 million film set during the Pearl Harbor era.
Harbor Fund co-founder Lindsay Hadley said the group aims to connect philanthropists with filmmakers. The fund has raised $15 million from 82 donors since its launch two years ago, allocating $10 million to 22 projects so far.
The forum also featured pitches for comedies like "Wool Kings" by Schaal and Darby. Utah officials supported the gathering as part of efforts to boost the state's film industry, which has generated more than $736 million over the past decade.
Hadley emphasized that Harbor Fund focuses solely on investment rather than operating as a full studio.
