Special Event Film Screening with Keri Putnam (A.D. White Professor-at-Large at Cornell)

Open to all. Free admission, popcorn and drink.

Part of Cornell Cinema’s “Campus Collaborations” series

Bio:

• Founder, Putnam Pictures (2022)
• Co-founder, ReFRAME (2017)
• Former CEO/Executive Director, Sundance Institute (2010-21)
• Former President of Productions, Miramax Films (2006-09)
• Former Executive Vice-President, HBO (2002-06)
• ADW-PAL term: 2018-26
• Subject Area: Arts
• Faculty host: Mukti Khaire (Girish and Jaidev Reddy Professor of the Practice, Cornell Tech and Johnson School) 
• Faculty co-host: Sabine Haenni (Associate Professor, Dept. of Performing and Media Arts)

Keri Putnam is an award-winning media leader and producer, board member, and strategic advisor, who works at the intersection of the creative and business sides of the media and arts fields. In her roles CEO of Sundance Institute(2010-21), President of Production at Miramax (2006-09), and Executive Vice President of HBO (2002-06), Putnam guided strategy and led global creative and production teams to support, develop, finance, and supervise production on a vast array of critically acclaimed work.

Putnam founded Putnam Pictures (2022), a production company dedicated to championing dynamic, transformative storytelling, driven by adventurous vision and that reflect the complexities of the human experience. She also co-founded of ReFrame (2017), a groundbreaking, industry initiative designed to advance gender equity and dismantle systemic barriers in media–in front of and behind the camera–through strategic partnerships, advocacy, and innovative programs.

Sundance Institute (2010-21): Mentorship Under Robert Redford
As CEO of Sundance Institute, Putnam redefined what an artist-centered organization could achieve. Recruited and personally mentored by Oscar-winner and founder of Sundance Institute Robert Redford–who recognized Putnam’s potential despite her non-traditional background–Putnam grew into a leader who embodied the spirit of Sundance. With his encouragement, Putnam embraced bold, creative risk-taking while staying grounded in the Institute’s ethos. This dynamic significantly shaped her leadership style and sustained Sundance’s creative mission. Her portfolio included oversight of the annual Sundance Film Festival—one of the most influential platforms for independent storytelling. Under her leadership, Putnam propelled the Institute’s global expansion forward.

President of Production, Miramax Films, division of Walt Disney Company (2006-09)
During her tenure, Miramax films earned 34 Academy Award nominations and 7 wins. Her slate featured highly acclaimed films such as the Coen Brothers’ No Country for Old Men; Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will be Blood; and Ben Affleck’s directorial debut Gone Baby Gone.

Executive Vice President, HBO Movies & Mini-Series (2002-06)
At HBO, Putnam began her career as an assistant and ended her 15-year tenure as Executive Vice President.
As VP, Putnam supervised the production of 48 films and miniseries that collectively earned over 50 Emmy nominations and wins. She also co-launched a theatrical division called Picturehouse, in partnership with New Line Cinema.

Putnam is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She serves on the Board of Directors for AMC Entertainment, the Advisory Council of the Office of the Arts at Harvard, and as a mentor at the Stark Producing Program at USC. She served as a 2023-24 Walter Shorenstein Media and Democracy Fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center. She graduated summa cum laude with an A.B. in Theater History & Literature, Harvard University (1987).