The Sundance Institute announced on Saturday the creation of a new $10,000 Creative Producer Fellowship in memory of the prominent US film executive Bingham Ray (pictured) who passed away on January 23 during the Sundance Film Festival. As part of the new Fellowship, producers selected can receive a $5,000 living stipend, $5,000 pre-production grant, year-round mentorship from two industry advisors, year-round support from Institute staff, and attendance at the Feature Film Creative Producing Lab, Creative Producing Summit and Sundance Film Festival.
Ray's abrupt death at the age of 57 has sent shockwaves through the international film community. As former head of the US distribution outfits October Films and later United Artists, he introduced several top European auteur directors to US audiences such as Lars von Trier, Thomas Vinterberg and Mike Leigh. During a tribute to Ray held last week in Berlin, the UK director of Secrets and Lies who was president of the 62nd Berlinale said: "All of us in the film game fall into categories: We're this type of director, that type of festival director, or journalist, or whatever. Bingham Ray was in his own unique category. Nobody could ever, in any shape or form, fill that gap. For the rest of time, we've got two words to say: "Bingham Ray." And we will cry and we will try."