Category Archives: Sundance Film Festival

“Sebastian” Premieres At Sundance 2024

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By Armando

“Sebastian” Premieres At Sundance 2024

sebastianWritten and directed by Mikko Mäkelä (A Moment in the Reeds), the queer drama had its world premiere at Sundance Film Festival 2024 on January 21, 2023 at 6:30PM at The Library Center Theater, Park City, under the World Cinema Dramatic Competition on Sunday.

“Sebastian” stars Ruaridh Mollica (“Too Rough”) as Max, a 25-year-old aspiring writer living in London, who begins a double life as a sex worker in order to research his debut novel.

Also in the film are Jonathan Hyde (Titanic), Hiftu Quasem (“The Witcher”), Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson (The Northman), Leanne Best (Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens), and Lara Rossi (“I May Destroy You”)

Produced by James Watson with executive producers Mike Goodridge (Triangle of Sadness) and Lizzie Francke (Aftersun).

Ahead of the premiere, LevelK has announced it has acquired the international rights to the film.

Update: “Sebastian” cast and crew red carpet premiere at Sundance 2024

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Sundance 2024: DIG! XX’ by Ondi Timoner Returns to Sundance 20 Years Later

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DIG-XXDIG! XX is the 20th anniversary expanded, remastered and reimagined edition of the rock doc DIG!, which looks at the collision of art and commerce through the eyes of two dueling rock bands — The Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massacre — now over 27 years on, which adds new narration by The Brian Jonestown Massacre’s Joel Gion and features 40+ minutes of never-before-seen footage.

“Twenty years ago, we had 2,500 hours of footage and a five-hour cut, so a lot of really great stuff hit the cutting room floor,” said DIG! XX director and producer Ondi Timoner.“A lot of those tapes are over a quarter century old — so if we wanted to share more of this crazy story, it was now or never…” says Ondi Timoner

Shot over seven years, DIG! (2004) won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2004 Sundance FIlm Festival. It intimately explores the star-crossed friendship and bitter rivalry between Anton Newcombe, leader of The Brian Jonestown Massacre, and Courtney Taylor, leader of The Dandy Warhols.
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Comedy Drama “Winner” Premieres At Sundance 2024

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emilia jonesThe black comedy drama “Winner” premiered today at Sundance Film Festival. The film stars Emilia Jones as Reality Winner, a U.S. Air Force veteran and former NSA translator that is the subject of the film.

The unconventional whistleblower’s biopic is directed by Susanna Fogel (The Spy Who Dumped Me) from a script by Kerry Howley.

Also in the film are Kathryn Newton, Averie Peters, Connie Britton, Zach Galifianakis, Danny Ramirez and Shannon Berry.

See photos below from “Winner” premiere at The Ray during the Sundance Film Festival 2024.

Photos: AIPImaging.com
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Sundance 2024: “Handling The Undead” World Premiere

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By Armando

Directed by Thea Hvistendahl, “Handling The Undead” held its world premiere today January 20 at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

In the film, on a hot summer day in Oslo, the newly dead awaken. Three families faced with loss try to figure out what this resurrection means and if their loved ones really are back. The film is based on the book of the same name by John Ajvide Lindqvist.

The Norwegian horror mystery stars Renate Reinsve, Bjørn Sundquist, Bente Børsum, Anders Danielsen Lie, Bahar Pars, Inesa Dauksta, Kian Hansen and Olga Damani.

Written by Thea Hvistendahl John Ajvide Lindqvist, the film is part of the Sundance World Cinema Dramatic Competition section.

See the trailer below and recent red carpet from its world premiere at 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

Photos: AIPimaging.com
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Sundance Institute Announces 2024 Merata Mita Fellow and Inaugural Graton Fellow

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Libby-Hakaraia-and-Tazbah-Rose-ChavezToday the nonprofit Sundance Institute announced the filmmakers selected to receive the 2024 Merata Mita Fellowship and the inaugural Graton Fellowship for Artists from California-Based Tribes. The Merata Mita Fellowship is an annual fellowship named in honor of the late Māori filmmaker Merata Mita (1942–2010) to support Indigenous women-identified artists endeavoring to direct their first feature film. This year’s Merata Mita Fellowship will go to Libby Hakaraia (Ngati Kapu, Ngati Raukawa au ki te tonga). The recently announced Graton Fellowship, created to support Indigenous artists from California-based tribes, both federally and non federally recognized, will go to Tazbah Rose Chavez (Dinè, Nüümü, San Carlos Apache). Both fellows were recognized at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival Native Forum Celebration Presented by NBCUniversal Launch and Nia Tero at The Park in Park City, Utah.

“It feels incredibly meaningful to have Libby and Tazbah as the recipients for the Merata Mita and Graton Fellowships respectively this year. It’s also a bit of a spiritual homecoming too,” said Adam Piron, Director, Sundance Institute Indigenous Program. “Both are established artists with deep ties to their communities, the histories that these fellowships are rooted in, and we’re thrilled  to be  supporting their upcoming projects with these incredible opportunities and I’d also like to thank Chairman Greg Sarris, the community of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, and our donors for making this possible”
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“Kneecap” Premieres at 2024 Sundance Film Festival

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“Kneecap” recently had its world premiere at 2024 Sundance Film Festival on Thursday, January 18, 2024, at Prospector Square at Park City, Utah as part of this year’s highlights in the NEXT section.

Directed by Rich Peppiatt in his debut feature, the film provides a semi-fictionalized origins and formation of the ground-breaking Belfast, Northern Ireland-based hip-hop trio Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí, and their dramatic rise to stardom.

Peppiatt also wrote the script, with Jack Tarling and Trevor Birney as producers.

“Kneecap” is the first Irish-language film to premiere at Sundance. Michael Fassbender also co-stars in the film, along with Simone Kirby, Jessica Reynolds, Fionnula Flaherty and Josie Walker. All three rappers play themselves in the film in their acting debuts.

After the showing, the group cast and the filmmaker took the stage to discuss the movie.

Below are red carpet photos from the premiere, featuring the hip-hop trio Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí, director Peppiatt, the rest of the cast and producers, and an unexpected appearance by, um, wait, a sniffer dog.

Photos: aipimaging.com
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Sundance 2024: Top Ten Feature Films From Its First Four Decades

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before-sunriseZero to oneToday, in advance of the 40th edition of the Sundance Film Festival kicking off on January 18, the nonprofit Sundance Institute is commemorating the four decades of extraordinary independent filmmaking presented at the Festival with the results of a survey taken by the filmmaking communities on their top ten feature films that have screened at the Festival since it began in 1985. 

In honor of this milestone Festival, filmmakers, critics, and industry members shared their personal top 10 lists. Over 500 people participated — pouring over the nearly 4,000 feature films that have been presented at the Festival — and below is the collective top 10 list of the Sundance Film Festival films that have touched hearts and changed lives. 

The 2024 Sundance Film Festival will take place January 18–28, 2024, in person in Park City and Salt Lake City, with a selection of titles available online nationwide from January 25–28, 2024. This year marks the 40th edition of the Festival, bringing together audiences in Utah and beyond to celebrate Sundance’s rich history of supporting engaging new stories and groundbreaking independent artists. Tickets are on sale now at festival.sundance.org. 

What from the 2024 Festival will make the top ten list in the future? 

40th Edition All Time Top Ten Films Selected by the Filmmaking Community

10. Blood Simple (1985), Joel and Ethan Coen
9. Y tu mamá también (2002), Alfonso Cuarón
8. Boyhood (2014), Richard Linklater
7. Before Sunrise (1995), Richard Linklater
6. sex, lies and videotape (1989), Steven Soderbergh
5. Memento (2001), Christopher Nolan
4. Little Miss Sunshine (2006), Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris
3. Get Out (2017), Jordan Peele
2. Reservoir Dogs (1992), Quentin Tarantino
1. Whiplash (2014), Damien Chazelle
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Sundance Institute Announces 2024 Screenwriters Lab and Screenwriters Intensive Fellows

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Sundance-Screenwriters-LabSundance Institute announced today the fellows selected for its 2024 Screenwriters Lab and Screenwriters Intensive programs, which provide emerging artists with a creative and nurturing space to develop their first and second independent features. Out of over 3,400 submissions, 12 projects were selected for the annual Screenwriters Lab, where 16 fellows will further develop their scripts under the guidance of experienced creative advisors. The Screenwriters Lab will take place from January 13–17 at the Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah.

The lab will be led by Michelle Satter (Founding Senior Director, Sundance Institute’s Artist Programs) and Ilyse McKimmie (Deputy Director, Feature Film Program), with Artistic Director Jessie Nelson and creative advisors Ritesh Batra, Linda Yvette Chávez, Scott Frank, Phil Hay, Marielle Heller, Walter Mosley, Nicole Perlman, Kemp Powers, Dee Rees, Howard Rodman, Dana Stevens, Joan Tewkesbury, Bill Wheeler, Tyger Williams, Virgil Williams, and Doug Wright.

“We are excited to welcome this cohort to our global community of bold, visionary artists, developing stories that are a powerful force for empathy, vital culture-changing conversations, and audience engagement,” said Michelle Satter, Founding Senior Director, Sundance Institute’s Artist Programs. “The Screenwriters Lab is just the beginning of our connection to the 16 selected artists. Each artist is provided with year-round customized creative and strategic support throughout the journey of getting their films made. It is a privilege to watch their projects take seed at the Labs in the mountains of Utah and ultimately evolve into some of the world’s groundbreaking films.”
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2024 Sundance Film Festival Adds The Greatest Night in Pop to the Feature Film Program and Reveals Beyond Film Lineup

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sundance-beyond-film-lineupToday the nonprofit Sundance Institute announced the addition of the documentary The Greatest Night in Pop to the 2024 Sundance Film Festival film program and the lineup for the Festival’s Beyond Film programming. In addition to the three annual series — Power of Story, Cinema Café presented by Audible, and The Big Conversation — this year’s lineup also includes a New Frontier conversation about artificial intelligence and special 40th Edition Celebration events. With the exception of Power of Story, the sole ticketed event, all Beyond Film events are free and open to the public. Supplementing the Festival experience, Beyond Film provides a community hub for Festivalgoers through artist conversations, talks with filmmakers and experts across the fields of art and science, and audience discourse. The events will take place in person from January 19–26, 2024, with select Beyond Film offerings available beginning January 25, 2024, to audiences across the country on the online Festival Platform. Other in-person and online events announced today include talks hosted by Festival partners and Sundance Collab, the digital arm of Sundance Institute that provides an online learning platform and community space for creators.

The Festival will take place January 18–28, 2024, in person in Park City and Salt Lake City, with a selection of titles available online nationwide from January 25–28, 2024. This year marks the 40th edition of the Festival, bringing together audiences in Utah and beyond to celebrate Sundance’s rich history of supporting engaging new stories and groundbreaking independent artists. Single film tickets go on sale January 11 at 10 a.m. MT.

“We’re thrilled to be adding to our program a special screening of The Greatest Night in Pop, taking us behind the scenes of how “We Are the World” came together, followed by a conversation with Lionel Richie, filmmaker Bao Nguyen, and producer Julia Nottingham,” said Kim Yutani, Sundance Film Festival Director of Programming. “Our robust film lineup will be rounded out by a wide range of conversations touching upon themes in the programming and featuring some of today’s most inspiring creators and leaders.”
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Kristen Stewart to Be Honored With Visionary Award at 2024 Sundance Film Festival’s Opening Night Gala

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Kristen Stewart to Be Honored With Visionary Award at
2024 Sundance Film Festival’s Opening Night Gala: Celebrating 40 Years Presented by Chase Sapphire®
Tables and Tickets Available Now: Annual Event Recognizes Outstanding Independent Storytellers and Raises Funds to Support Nonprofit’s Year-Round Programs

Kristen-Stewart SundanceThe nonprofit Sundance Institute announced today that Academy Award–nominated actress Kristen Stewart will be honored with the Visionary Award at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival’s fundraiser Opening Night Gala: Celebrating 40 Years Presented by Chase Sapphire®, which will take place on January 18, 2024, at the DeJoria Center in Utah. The annual gala enables the nonprofit to raise critical funds to support independent artists year-round through labs, grants, and public programming that nurture artists globally. The 2024 event is made possible with the generous support of Chase Sapphire®, the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, Acura, and Google TV. The upcoming Sundance Film Festival will take place January 18–28, 2024, in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, as well as online from January 25–28.

Kristen Stewart will receive the Visionary Award in recognition of her work as an uncompromising artist and contributions to the field of independent film. She was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance as Princess Diana in Spencer and was the first American actress to receive a César Award for her role in Clouds of Sils Maria. Stewart’s profound work as an actor has exemplified the bold, risk-taking storytelling that Sundance has championed for many years. Throughout her impressive career, she has had 10 films screen at the Festival, including The Runaways, Adventureland, and Lizzie. She made her directorial debut with Come Swim at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. For the upcoming 2024 Sundance Film Festival, Stewart will be returning with Love Me, premiering in the U.S. Dramatic Competition section and the recipient of the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize, and Love Lies Bleeding, premiering in the Midnight section.

“We are thrilled to honor the immensely talented Kristen Stewart at our Opening Night Gala,” said Joana Vicente, Sundance Institute CEO. “Kristen’s captivating performances across a wide, diverse body of work make her a truly unique talent. With over 10 Sundance films under her belt, she has always remained committed to the art of independent cinema. We are excited to welcome her back to the Festival and can’t wait to see what she has in store for our 40th year.”

“Sundance’s purity, lack of fussy pretension, and its commitment to supporting independence in an industry that doesn’t always value the radical or the sidelined is what makes it by far the homiest place for me to go see, discuss, and present films,” said Kristen Stewart. “Truly honored to be acknowledged by this beloved institution.”

As previously announced, Christopher Nolan will be honored with the inaugural Sundance Institute Trailblazer Award, recognizing an artist’s unwavering dedication and notable contributions to the field of independent film. The annual Vanguard Awards, presented by Acura, honor artists whose work highlights the art of storytelling and creative independence in both nonfiction and fiction. The Vanguard Award for Fiction will be presented to Celine Song, director and writer of Past Lives, and the Vanguard Award for Nonfiction will go to Maite Alberdi, director of The Eternal Memory. Award-winning journalist and producer Pat Mitchell will receive the Vanguard Award for Philanthropy in recognition of her exemplary commitment to the Institute’s support and to philanthropy for social impact. For more information about tables and tickets, please visit festival.sundance.org/opening-night-gala or contact openingnight@sundance.org.

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