The Sundance Institute will bring artist development day labs to eight cities across the US over the next three years following $1m in new funding from the John S and James L Knight Foundation.

Programming will target a wide range of filmmakers, screenwriters, producers and composers with workshops building on the experience of Sundance Institute’s residency labs.

Filmmakers from eight cities will be named Sundance | Knight Fellows and participate in special screenings, panels and professional development events at the annual Sundance Film Festival in Park City.

Programming begins in Miami on October 25 with a Sundance Institute Artist Services, Film Financing and Digital Distribution Workshop.

Workshops, panels and labs will take place in Akron, Ohio; Charlotte, North Carolina; Detroit; Miami; Macon, Georgia; Philadelphia; San Jose, California; and St Paul, Minnesota.

“Sundance Institute is committed to supporting diverse independent artists at an early stage in their career,” said Sundance Institute executive director Keri Putnam.

“We are now able to directly reach independent artists in regions across the country.”