Former Sundance CEO Joanna Vicente and her partner, Oscar-nominated producer Jason Kriott, have launched a new technology-focused film accelerator and production company.
The new shop, called Open Cities, aims to empower independent filmmakers on the global stage through ethical AI tools, funding, and creative guidance. The company, which is based in Portugal and New York, was founded by WarnerMedia executive Tony Gonçalves and Portuguese entrepreneur and investor Filipe de Botton.
“At a time when independent film feels increasingly fragile, we see great potential. By building a space for experimentation with artists, we are creating an environment where creative and technical innovation can thrive together, supporting the growth of artists and empowering filmmakers to tell bold and ambitious stories,” said Vicente, CEO of Open Cities and former chief of the Toronto International Film Festival.
The first accelerator program will be submission-based and begin with a virtual program for script refinement, personalized instruction, and education in a suite of technical tools, including an “informed” AI program to help with everything from pre-visualization to sound editing and color correction. The program culminates in a week-long intensive in-person session and pitch day. A limited number of projects will be selected for funding and production. The flagship session will run from August to November 2026. Submissions will open on March 15th.
“As Akira Kurosawa once said, ‘To be an artist is to never look away.’ We’ve spent our careers confronting technological change and turning it into creative power. Our focus now is on enabling the next generation of independent storytellers to make films that were previously out of reach.” Cigarettes,” said Kriott, producer of “Welcome to the Dollhouse.”
Open Cities presents a professional reunion for Vicente and Kliot, who are married. More than 20 years ago, the two collaborated with Mark Cuban on the labels Blow Up Pictures and HDNet Films, helping usher in a new era of digital filmmaking. Collaborations with filmmakers such as Alex Gibney (Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room), Brian De Palma (Reduced), and Steven Soderbergh (The Bubble) demonstrated how new tools can reshape both processes and possibilities.
Their new venture is supported by an international advisory group spanning film, technology, philanthropy and creative leadership. Advisors include David Linde, CEO of Sundance Institute; Katherine Oliver, President, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Mark D’Arcy, Global Creative Director, Microsoft AI. Joonas Makkonen, Founder and CPTO of Dobbin. Pedro Santa Clara, founder of Tumo and 42 Lisbon. John Kamen, Founder and CEO of RadicalMedia. Jed Alpert, Founder and CEO of Mobile Commons. Abhishek Sharma, AI product developer and engineer;
The company is backed by international investors from Brazil, Portugal and the United States.
