HEATHER RAE PRIEST

FRONTIER AWARD
2026

edited by Colin Kelly Hingel and Aidan Brezonick

Academy member and one of the most influential producers in independent cinema, Heather Rae produced the Oscar-nominated “Frozen River” and Sundance standouts including “Tallulah,” “Fancy Dance,” and “Trudell,” and spent seven years in a first-look deal with Amazon Studios producing “Outer Range” starring Josh Brolin.

photography by Dawson Gutierrez

A Variety Producer to Watch and Independent Spirit Award Piaget Producers Award recipient, Rae has served on the Academy’s Branch Executive Committee and held longstanding leadership roles with the Sundance Institute as an executive, advisor, juror, and Artist Trustee. A founding board member of the Sun Valley Film Festival, Rae has championed underrepresented voices across Sundance, Netflix, Amazon, Disney, HBO, and Film Independent while proudly representing her multi-generational Idaho roots.