YouTube hits the slopes at Sundance

Bundle up, film fans! In an effort to introduce you to new creative talent, showcase the best of independent cinema and show our support for artists and innovative storytelling, YouTube is partnering with the Sundance Institute at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, which kicks off today.

First, check out the Sundance Film Festival YouTube channel, where you’ll find the 15 short films selected for the 2014 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Program. We want to celebrate the independent creator, so we’re once again collaborating with the Sundance Institute on the YouTube Audience Award. Whether you’re in Park City or Phuket, you can take part in selecting the winner! The short with the highest number of views between January 16 and 24 will receive the inaugural award at the official Sundance Awards ceremony on January 25.

Then, watch the best of the festival daily with “Live @ Sundance.” Hosted by popular YouTube personalities Shira Lazar, Casey Neistat and Jimmy Conrad, the one-hour talk show will air live daily at 11 a.m. MST from January 17-24 on the Sundance Film Festival channel, and will feature filmmaker interviews, the latest festival news, exclusive sneak peeks and more.

If you’re at the festival, keep an eye out for videos from some of our most talented creators, as we showcase a selection of shorts already entertaining audiences on YouTube prior to the official short film screenings. And, if you need a break from the cold, warm up at “YouTube on Main Street,” THE place to convene for must-see panels, happy hours, screenings and even a daily yoga class.

On YouTube, there are no limits to creative freedom. You can experiment and push the boundaries of innovation and experiment with distribution. And because YouTube is a platform that reaches over 1 billion unique users every month, creators have an incredible opportunity to share their creative vision with the world. So, if you are inspired by this year’s short films and want to learn more about creating great content, check out the YouTube Creator Blog for tips on how to showcase your vision to a global community of passionate, engaged fans.

Alandha Scott, YouTube Creator Marketing, recently watched “The Maker.”