Category Archives: Indie

Jennifer Lopez Shines at Kiss of the Spider Woman World Premiere at Sundance

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By Armando

The 2025 Sundance Film Festival hosted the world premiere of Kiss of the Spider Woman at the Eccles Center Theatre on Sunday night, Jan. 26, 2025. The event drew a full house, culminating in a standing ovation for the film.

Jennifer Lopez, in attendance, stars in the film’s titular role, arrived at the premiere in a sheer black lace gown embellished with glittering spiderweb detailing.

Designed by Valdrin Sahiti and styled by her longtime collaborators Rob Zangardi and Mariel Haenn, the look stood out in a festival known more for its winter layers than red carpet glamour. She was joined by director Bill Condon and co-stars Diego Luna and Tonatiuh Elizarraraz.

Directed by Condon, the musical adaptation is based on Manuel Puig’s 1976 novel, which had previously been turned into both a 1985 film and a Tony-winning 1993 Broadway musical. This new version reimagines the material as an indie musical, with Lopez playing Aurora, a captivating film actress who appears as a fantastical figure within the mind of one of the characters. Luna portrays Valentín, a political prisoner, while Elizarraraz plays Molina, whose love for movies provides the story’s dreamlike framework.

The film’s synopsis reads: “Lopez is an astonishing scene-stealer in a career-highlight performance as Luna/Aurora, with showstopping musical numbers that underscore the exuberant prowess of her dancing and voice. Diego Luna delivers unrelenting revolutionary conviction as Valentín, and Tonatiuh gives his Molina a tenderhearted power and theatrical flair.”

The premiere marks a notable one for Lopez, with early audience response citing her performance as a highlight of the film. Sundance continues through Feb. 2.

Photos: aipimaging.com

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2025 Sundance: Trailer And Poster Premiere For Thriller “The Things You Kill”

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the-things-you-killDirected and written by Alireza Khatami, “The Things You Kill” stars Ekin Koç, Erkan Kolçak Köstendil, and Hazar Ergüçlü.

Khatami’s third feature is premiering at this year’s Sundance Film Festival in the World Cinema Dramatic competition, and is considered one of the year’s best entries.

The film follows Ali, a university professor who, haunted by the suspicious death of his ailing mother, coerces his enigmatic gardener to execute a cold-blooded act of vengeance. As long-buried family secrets resurface, the police tighten their noose, and doubts begin eroding his conscience. Ali has no choice but to look into the abyss of his own soul.

Watch the intense trailer for “The Things You Kill” below:

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Animated Socumentary “Endless Cookie” Premiere at Sundance

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Directed by Seth Scriver and Peter Scriver, the Canadian animated documentary film premiered at 2025 Sundance Film Festival at the Egyptian Theatre, Saturday Jan 25, 2025

The film’s logline says: Through a series of vignettes – some tragic, some funny, all a little bizarre – this animated documentary explores the complex bond between two half brothers, one indigenous, one white, spanning bustling 1980s Toronto to the present day isolated First Nations community of Shamattawa.

Endless Cookie will screen on Jan. 26, Jan. 31 and Feb. 2 in Park City and on Jan. 28 in Salt Lake City, and will be available online from Jan. 30-Feb. 2.

Photos: aipimaging.com

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Fairy Tale Gets Grotesque: “The Ugly Stepsister” Premieres at Sundance 2025

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By Armando

Director Emilie Blichfeldt

The 2025 Sundance Film Festival kicked off with the premiere of The Ugly Stepsister, a darkly comedic horror film that puts a twisted spin on the classic Cinderella tale.

The film screened Thursday evening, Jan 23, 2025, Day One of the festival, to a packed audience at the Prospector Square Theatre.

Making her feature directorial debut, Emilie Blichfeldt co-wrote and directed the film, which reimagines the fairy-tale kingdom as a world where beauty is both currency and curse. Lea Myren stars as Elvira, the less-favored stepsister who will go to extreme—and often grotesque—lengths to catch the prince’s eye.

The red carpet reflected the film’s provocative tone, with the cast including Thea Sofie Loch Næss, Ane Dahl Torp, and Malte Gårdinger stepping out for photos and interviews, and Blichfeldt’s tailored fashion choice made for a fittingly offbeat and stylish start to the festival’s opening night. The film’s cast which includes Lea Myren, Flo Fagerli, Isac Calmroth, and Malte Gårdinger, were also in attendance.

Described ahead of its premiere as “tongue-in-cheek body horror,” The Ugly Stepsister has been one of the festival’s early buzz titles. Already grabbing attention for its scenes of DIY cosmetic procedures and one particularly shocking tapeworm moment, said to lean into twisted aesthetics.

It’s one of several genre-bending titles making waves at this year’s Sundance—proof that horror, when done with bite and style, continues to be a crowd magnet.

The film’s synopsis says: “In a fairy-tale kingdom where beauty is a brutal business, Elvira battles to compete with her incredibly beautiful stepsister, and she will go to any length to catch the prince’s eye.”

Photos: aipimaging.com

 

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Trailer For “The Ballad Of Wallis Island”: Focus Features’ Sundance Movie

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theballadThe Carey Mulligan starrer is set to premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, before it hits select US theaters.

The film tells the of Charles, an eccentric lottery winner who lives alone on a remote island and dreams of getting his favorite musicians, Mortimer-McGwyer back together, says the official synopsis.

“His fantasy quickly turns into reality when the bandmates and former lovers accept his invitation to play a private show at his home on Wallis Island. Old tensions resurface as Charles tries desperately to salvage his dream gig.”

Carey Mulligan, Tom Basden, Tim Key, Sian Clifford, Akemnji Ndifornyen

“The Ballad of Wallis Island” is set to premiere on March 28 in limited theaters. Check out the trailer below.

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Sundance 2025: Psychological Horror Film “Rabbit Trap” Premiere

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Psychological horror film “Rabbit Trap” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on Jan 24, 2025 in the Midnight section, with producer Elijah Wood, writer-director Bryn Chainey and cast and crew in attendance.

Logline says: “When a musician and her husband move to a remote house in Wales, the music they make disturbs local ancient folk magic, bringing a nameless child to their door who is intent on infiltrating their lives.”

Photos: aipimaging.com
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2025 Sundance Film Festival Announces Jury Members

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2025-sundance

Top Row L–R: Kaniehtiio Horn, Vinnie Malhotra, Celine Song, Sam and Andy Zuchero, Kevin Macdonald, Wanuri Kahiu Second Row L–R: Nicholas Ma, Arian Moayed, Daniel Kaluuya, Elijah Wood, Nia Imara, Michael Almereyda Third Row L–R: Dr. Monica Lopez, Maggie Mackay, Marcia Smith, Reinaldo Marcus Green, Daniela Alatorre, Ava Cahen Bottom Row L–R: Steven Bognar, Kibwe Tavares, Laura Kim

The nonprofit Sundance Institute announced today the 16 jurors granting awards honoring excellence in cinematic and artistic achievement at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, along with the five jury members who present the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize. The 2025 Festival will kick off on Thursday, January 23, with premieres in Park City every day through the end of Tuesday, January 28. Additional showings will take place in Park City and Salt Lake City throughout the Festival until Sunday, February 2. Over 11 days, world debuts of projects across program categories will highlight fresh voices, entertaining stories, and groundbreaking works.

Select awarded films in competition will be screened in person from February 1–2. Single Film Tickets for in-person and online screenings go on sale Thursday, January 16, at 10 a.m. MT. Visit the Sundance Film Festival website for more information: festival.sundance.org.

The 16 jury members, reflecting a range of diverse and influential perspectives, will select the winners to be announced during the Awards Ceremony held at The Ray Theatre on Friday, January 31. The 2025 Sundance Film Festival jury includes: Reinaldo Marcus Green, Arian Moayed, and Celine Song for the U.S. Dramatic Competition; Steven Bognar, Vinnie Malhotra, and Marcia Smith for the U.S. Documentary Competition; Ava Cahen, Wanuri Kahiu, and Daniel Kaluuya for the World Cinema Dramatic Competition; Daniela Alatorre, Laura Kim, and Kevin Macdonald for the World Cinema Documentary Competition; Kaniehtiio Horn, Maggie Mackay, and Kibwe Tavares for the Short Film Program Competition; and Elijah Wood for the NEXT section.
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Sundance 2025: “Hold Me Close” Documentary Short Film by Aurora Brachman & LaTajh Simmons-Weaver

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“Hold Me Close” will have its world premiere in the Documentary Short Film category at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

Directed by Emmy Award-winner Aurora Brachman (2020 Sundance Ignite x Adobe Fellowship) & LaTajh Simmons-Weaver, Hold Me Close is “a chronicle of the power and complexity of the relationship between Corinne and Tiana, two Queer Black womxn who experience cycles of life’s joys and pains together in the home they share”

Watch the “Meet The Artist” feature below:

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Annual Annie Awards 2025: “The Wild Robot” Leads Nominations

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The-Wild-RobotDreamworks Animation “The Wild Robot” topped the nominations for the feature competition of the 52nd Annie Awards for animation. The Chris Sanders’ animated science fiction led with 10 nominations.

Disney/Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” and Aardman and Netflix’s “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl,” received norminations seven apiece; while Locksmith Animation and Netflix’s “That Christmas,” followed with six.

Honoring excellence in the field of animation, the 52nd Annual Annie Awards will be presented in 37 categories including Animated Feature, Animated Feature-Independent, Television/Media Production(s), Sponsored Production, Short Subject and Student Film, as well as the Achievement and Honorary awards.

The 52nd Annual Annie Awards is set to be held on February 8, 2025 at 7:00 pm PT at UCLA’s Royce Hall.

Here are the nominees:

Best Feature
Inside Out 2 – Pixar Animation Studios
Kung Fu Panda 4 – DreamWorks Animation
That Christmas – Locksmith Animation for Netflix
The Wild Robot – DreamWorks Animation
Ultraman: Rising – Netflix Presents in association with Tsuburaya Productions
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl – Aardman and Netflix

Best Feature – Independent
Chicken for Linda! – Dolce Vita Films, Miyu Productions, Palosanto Films, France 3 Cinéma.
Flow – Sacrebleu Productions, Take Five, Dream Well Studio
Kensuke’s Kingdom – Paramount Pictures
Look Back – Studio Durian
Mars Express – Everybody on Deck, Je Suis Bien Content
Memoir of a Snail – Snails Pace Films / Arenamedia
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2025 Sundance Film Festival Unveils Short Film Program Presented by Vimeo

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2025-Sundance-Film-Festival-Unveils-Short-Film-Program-Presented-by-Vimeo

Top L–R: View From the Floor, THE LILY (เดอะลิลลี่), Grandma Nai Who Played Favorites, Hold Me Close
Center Row L-R: Azi, Debaters, Platanero, Sweetheart
Bottom L–R: Somebody Cares, Hoops, Hopes & Dreams, Entre le Feu et le Clair de Lune, Inkwo for When the Starving Return

Today the nonprofit Sundance Institute announced the 57 short films being presented at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. These shorts will screen as part of eight curated Short Film Programs presented by Vimeo that will include fiction, nonfiction, and animated titles from the U.S. and globally. The Festival will take place from January 23–February 2, 2025, in person in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, with a selection of titles available online from January 30–February 2, 2025, for audiences across the country to discover bold independent storytelling. Access to watch almost all the short films on-demand (January 30–February 2) is available by purchasing a Short Films Pass: Online, now on sale. Single Film Tickets for in-person and online go on sale January 16 at 10 a.m. MT. Members have access to a Single Film Ticket pre-sale. Visit the Sundance Film Festival site for more information: festival.sundance.org.

“Our program would never be complete without a curation of outstanding short films, and we’re excited to share the 2025 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Program today,” said Kim Yutani, Sundance Film Festival Director of Programming. “These projects are varied in style and substance, but across all categories they represent the power of short-form storytelling beautifully.”

“Our Short Film Program celebrates fresh styles and unique stories. The short run time encourages innovation,” said Mike Plante, Senior Programmer, Short Film. “Audiences will find much of the next generation of film talent here, with raw, exciting and inspired filmmaking from around the world in each of our eight programs.”

The 57 short films selected for the 2025 Sundance Film Festival were chosen from 11,153 submissions. Of these submissions, 4,909 were from the U.S. and 6,244 were international. Work from 28 countries and territories represented in this upcoming year’s program.
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