Influential Sundance Comms Head Tammie Rosen Passes Away at 49

The film-festival world is in mourning. On Wednesday morning, Tammie Rosen — longtime communications chief at Sundance Institute — died after a battle with cancer. She was 49.

A Champion of Independent Film

Tammie Rosen stepped into the role of Chief Communications Officer at Sundance in 2020, during a tumultuous moment for the festival industry. Her stewardship was critical when the Sundance Film Festival pivoted to a virtual format during the COVID-19 pandemic, and again when the festival returned to in-person events in 2023.

Before Sundance, Tammie Rosen had a long and storied tenure at Tribeca Film Festival: from 2007 to 2019, she served as Executive Vice President of Communications and Programming. In that role, she helped expand Tribeca’s scope globally.

Colleagues, Friends Speak Out

In a statement on The Wrap mourning her loss, the Sundance Institute said:

“Tammie was a remarkable leader whose integrity, compassion, and unwavering commitment to our organization will have a lasting impact. Under her stewardship, Sundance Institute’s story was told with heart and authenticity.”

Her former bosses at Tribeca — Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal — added in The Hollywood Reporter:

“Tammie’s passion, commitment, selflessness, hard work, love of our community, the arts, filmmakers and the stories they tell was infectious… We will forever be in awe of her tireless dedication, her impeccable ethics … and most of all her friendship. She was singularly just remarkable.”

Legacy of Kindness, Leadership, and Vision

Born in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Tammie Rosen was widely recognized not just for her corporate acumen but for her warmth, generosity, and personal devotion to the independent-film community. Her career was defined by tireless advocacy: she championed indie films, gave voice to underrepresented filmmakers, and used her role to elevate stories that might otherwise go unnoticed. In doing so, she helped shape the modern landscape of independent cinema.

A Void in the Festival Community

Rosen’s passing leaves a deep void. In an industry often defined by glamour, she was a grounding force: committed to art, integrity, and human connection. As colleagues and filmmakers across the world share their grief, her legacy will live on in every story she helped bring into the spotlight.