The Sundance Film Festival is again in Park City. Really. It’s actually occurring this time. We swear. America’s biggest movie pageant (properly, at one time, it deserved that title, let’s see transferring ahead…) is returning to the chilly confines of an in-person occasion in Utah after a two-year pandemic break. Will there be events? Will individuals crash the pageant? Will any premiere result in an old school all-night bidding warfare? Those questions are arduous to reply now, however there’s one factor we all know: moviegoers might be in attendance, and lots of screenings have already bought out (many, although, in case you’re seeking to crash final minute, haven’t).
After seemingly financially profitable digital festivals in 2021 and 2022, Sundance has emerged from COVID as a pageant in transition. After simply two years, Tabitha Jackson “stepped down” as Festival Director in June. Her tenure noticed Sundance earn its first Best Picture win with “CODA” (a very long time coming) but in addition controversy over programming the controversial documentary “Jihad Rehab,” a choice the pageant later apologized for.
Jackson has been changed by Eugene Hernandez, the one-time founding father of Indiewire and the Festival Director of the New York Film Festival for the previous three editions. Because Hernandez dedicated to the NYFF this previous fall, he received’t formally take over till the pageant’s subsequent version, its fortieth. In the interim, longtime Director of Programming Kim Yutani and Sundance CEO Joanna Vicente, who solely arrived from TIFF in October 2021, have been in command of the 2023 slate.
Overall, the excitement on this 12 months’s lineup is usually upbeat, though many movies have already got distribution. A24 has six movies on the pageant (even Netflix by no means went that onerous). In distinction, Focus Features, Netflix, and Amazon Studios have two, and MGM, Searchlight Pictures, HBO, ABC News/Hulu, Frontline/PBS, CNN Films/HBO Max, Shudder, Apple TV+, Paramount, and NEON have one every. Even taking into consideration documentaries, that’s numerous tasks locked up. Will that diminish the thrill over “new” discoveries? Well, at worst, we will all agree the pageant has good merch this 12 months. At finest? So many films have operating instances beneath two hours.
Keeping all that in thoughts, listed below are the 25 most buzzed-about and anticipated options at this 12 months’s Sundance Film Festival.
“Flora and Son”
World premiere date: Sunday, Jan. 22 at 2:30 PM MT
Director: John Carney
Key Talent: Eve Henson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Buzz: The “Once” and “Sing Street” director returns with one other musical dramedy set in Dublin. Gordon-Levitt, who has had his personal “500 Days of Summer” and “Mysterious Skin” moments on the fest, portrays a web based guitar teacher. This might be one of many hottest tickets from an acquisition standpoint this 12 months.
“Fair Play”
World premiere date: Friday, Jan. 20 at 3:00 PM MT
Director: Chloe Domont
Key Talent: Phoebe Dynevor, Alden Ehrenreich, Eddie Marsan
Buzz: Ehrenreich has been in want of a showcase comeback function. This psychological thriller simply could be it. Also, that prime Friday afternoon premiere slot shouldn’t be ignored.
“Rye Lane”
World premiere date: Friday, Jan. 20 at 3:00 PM MT
Director: Raine Allen-Miller
Key Talent: David Jonsson, Vivian Oparah
Buzz: Allen-Miller proves she’s a expertise to be reckoned with in her characteristic debut. Jonsson (HBO’s “Industry”) and Oprah (“Teen Spirit”) assist style an lively “Before Sunrise” for a brand new technology.
*Searchlight Pictures launch
“Magazine Dreams”
World premiere date: Friday, Jan. 20 at 6:30 PM MT
Director: Elijah Bynum
Key Talent: Jonathan Majors, Haley Bennett, Taylour Paige
Buzz: Bynum returns after 2017’s SXSW drama “Hot Summer Nights,” and the following large MCU villain, Majors, exhibits all of it off as an newbie bodybuilder making an attempt to cope with the extreme stress of a grueling and mentally draining sport.
“Polite Society”
World premiere date: Friday, Jan. 20 at 11:55 PM MT
Director: Nida Manzoor
Key Talent: Priya Kansara, Ritu Arya, Nimra Bucha, Akshay Khanna, Seraphina Beh, Ella Bruccoleri
Buzz: The “We Are Lady Parts” Peabody Award winner returns along with her characteristic debut, an motion comedy that guarantees to be a spring word-of-mouth hit.
*Focus Features launch