AmericanDocumentary Inc executive director and PBSexecutive producer Cara Mertes has been named director of the SundanceInstitute's Documentary Film Program.

Merteswill oversee all of the Documentary Film Program's projects, including theSundance Documentary Fund, the annual Documentary Edit and Story Laboratory,the annual Documentary Composers Laboratory, the House of Docs programming, andyear-round support for filmmakers.

Shereplaces Diane Weyermann, who left Sundance last Oct to head documentaryproduction at Jeff Skoll's Participant Productions.

Merteswill also curate documentary series with partner institutions, liaise withother Sundance entities on documentary initiatives, and represent the Institutein the international documentary community.

Mertesofficially starts her new position this summer and will be involved in planningthe Documentary Film Labs to be held at Sundance Resort in Utah.

"Afterconducting an international search, we are delighted to find someone withCara's depth and range of experience," Sundance Institute executivedirector Ken Brecher said.

"Documentaryfilms have always been an important part of the Institute's mission, and welook forward to seeing the new directions that Cara will explore as thedirector of the Documentary Program."

Mertesjoined PBS as executive producer of the documentary series P.O.V. in 2000. She has won five national news and documentaryEmmys and been nominated for 14.