Bingham Ray outside his United Artists offices in 2002. He was brought in by MGM at the time to re-invent the company as a prestigious independent film company.

Credit: AP Photo/Nick Ut

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PARK CITY - UPDATE (1/23): Reports today say that Ray did indeed pass away. We wish his family the best and deepest condolences on the loss of an indie mainstay. It will be a sad day in Park City.

From the Sundance Institute:

It is with great sadness that the Sundance Institute acknowledges the passing of Bingham Ray, cherished independent film executive and most recently Executive Director of the San Francisco Film Society.  On behalf of the independent film community here  in Park City for the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and elsewhere, we offer our support and condolences to his family.  Bingham’s many contributions to this community and business are indelible, and his legacy will not be soon forgotten.

EARLIER: One more note of business. The Tweets started circulating this afternoon about the news that Bingham Ray, a former studio head with deep and inspiring ties to the indie film scene, had suffered a stroke here in Park City earlier this week. He's currently in a Provo hospital recovering.

The Sundance Institute released the following:

Sundance Institute has learned that Bingham Ray, beloved friend of independent film, and Executive Director of the San Francisco Film Society, has been hospitalized while in Utah for the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.  We have reached out to Bingham and his family and San Francisco Film Society to offer our support and are pleased to hear that he is being well cared for.  On behalf of the community of independent film fans in Park City and elsewhere, we send Bingham our best wishes for a speedy recovery.

We just want to send a ton of good vibes your way, Bingham. Pull through. We really need you out here on the playing field.

For year-round entertainment news and awards season commentary follow @kristapley on Twitter.

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Kristopher Tapley
Editor-at-Large

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Kristopher Tapley has covered the film awards landscape for over a decade. He founded In Contention in 2005. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Times of London and Variety. He begs you not to take any of this too seriously.