Ebs Burnough

Ebs Burnough is an acclaimed filmmaker, producer, writer, and prominent cultural leader operating at the high-stakes intersection of global storytelling, politics, and institutional stewardship. A graduate of Northwestern University and a Visiting Scholar at Oxford University, Burnough has spent nearly two decades leading strategic initiatives across the arts, public policy, and the international private sector.He is widely recognized for his high-profile leadership as the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Sundance Institute, the governing body behind the world-renowned Sundance Film Festival. In this pivotal role, Burnough has overseen one of the most consequential transitions in contemporary arts leadership, guiding the institute through its final historic festival in Utah and presiding over its inaugural chapter in Boulder, Colorado. Through his careful governance, reputation management, and financial stewardship, he works closely with international leadership and creators to protect the future of independent cinema and champion emerging storytellers across the globe.As a filmmaker, Burnough serves as the CEO of Hatch House Media, a multi-disciplinary production company focusing on film, television, theatre, and gaming. He made his feature directorial debut with the internationally acclaimed 2019 documentary The Capote Tapes. Centering on the fallout from Truman Capote's explosive, unfinished novel Answered Prayers, the film utilized never-before-heard audio archives and debuted with a World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Highlighting his strong appeal to premium cinematic buyers, the film was acquired and released globally by Greenwich Entertainment in 2021, with premium streaming distribution handled by Starz and Amazon Prime Video.Burnough followed his debut by directing and producing the documentary feature Kerouac's Road: The Beat of a Nation. Examining the enduring cultural footprint of Jack Kerouac and the Beat Generation alongside a star-studded cast including Josh Brolin and Matt Dillon, the project was produced in a high-profile creative partnership with Oscar-winning producer John Battsek's London-based banner, Ventureland. The film made its celebrated World Premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival and was distributed globally through the Universal Pictures Content Group in 2025.Expanding his premium non-fiction footprint, Burnough is in active production on Dusty, a highly anticipated documentary feature mounted once again in collaboration with producer John Battsek, Ventureland, and Universal Music. He also maintains an ambitious development slate of narrative and unscripted properties under his Hatch House Media banner, positioning him as a prolific creator of premium global content.Burnough is in production on a new podcast series 'Tea & Vodka with Ebs Burnough,' featuring deep-dive conversations with icons of politics, fashion, film, and business, expected to be released in 2026.Burnough's unique creative perspective is deeply informed by his early career in American politics. He served as a Senior Advisor to First Lady Michelle Obama and as the Deputy White House Social Secretary during the Obama Administration. In this role, he masterminded the cultural vision of the White House's first term, conceptualizing and executing major global moments ranging from high-profile State Dinners on the White House Lawn to G-20 Global Summits.Ebs is committed to public service and serves on the board for the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, the Northwestern School of Communication, and Mrs. Wordsmith.