On Thursday August 11th, Sundance Institute celebrated the Night Before Next benefit presented by Acura at The Theatre at Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. The event honored Nate Parker for The Birth of a Nation with the Institute’s annual Vanguard Award presented to him by actor and Sundance alum Michael B. Jordan. During the event, Nate Parker and The Birth of a Nation team announced the Sundance Institute:The Birth of a Nation Fellowship for 18-to-24-year-old filmmakers participating in the Institute’s Ignite program. Night Before Next raised crucial funds to offset the non-profit Institute’s year-round programs for artists, including Labs, grants and the Sundance Film Festival. In attendance were Amy Redford, Armie Hammer, Bryce Dallas Howard, Clea Duvall, Harley Quinn Smith, Jason Ritter, Jay Duplass, J.K. Simmons, Katie Aselton, Kevin Smith, Lake Bell, Mark Duplass, Melanie Lynskey, Noël Wells, Norman Lear, Pat Mitchell, Sean Bailey and more. The evening included an outdoor party with a live musical performance by White Sea, the solo project of Morgan Kibby of M83.