Again this year, The Sundance Film Festival highlighted the trend of independent filmmakers moving from traditional film into the realm of digital cinematography as most of the productions this year were filmed completely with digital cameras.

This year, Dear White People was one of the many projects garnering buzz through its inventive means of funding. Filmed on a RED EPIC, the movie pushed the boundaries of what could be accomplished with a limited budget. Writer/Director Justin Simien took a nontraditional route by first filming a trailer for the movie using $2,000 to gain funding for his vision. In June 2012, Simien launched an Indiegogo campaign that gained so much traction it received the first-ever Indiewire Project of the Year Award before filming even began.

The production recently premiered at the Sundance Film Festival with Simien taking home the U. S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Talent. While a public release has yet to be announced, the movie's fan base—Dear White People Union—has continued to grow in size and anticipation.