The Sundance Film Festival kicks off on Thursday in Park City, Utah, bringing a fresh new crop of can’t-miss films to the mountains. Below, we break down what we’re most excited about and how to spend your time.
Feature Directorial Debuts to Watch
Sundance is the launchpad for many filmmakers, and each year the festival mints new directorial breakouts. This year, the festival is premiering Hailey Gates’s feature debut “Atropia” in its drama competition slate. The film, which builds on a short Gates made for Miu Miu’s Women’s Tales, was produced by Luca Guadagnino and stars Alia Shawkat, Callum Turner and Chloë Sevigny. In the same category, NYU grad Katarina Zhu will unveil “Bunnylvr,” which she wrote, directed, and stars in. The film costars and is produced by her former classmate and friend Rachel Sennott. Comedian Eva Victor also pulls triple writer-director-starring duty with her film “Sorry, Baby,” which costars Lucas Hedges and Naomi Ackie; Barry Jenkins is a producer.
Former GQ editor Mark Anthony Green is making his feature debut with “Opus,” an A24 horror film that stars Ayo Edebiri as a journalist who travels to the compound of a missing pop star. The film, which is already set for a theatrical release in mid-March, also stars John Malkovich, Juliette Lewis and Murray Bartlett. Other debuts to watch include UCLA grad Sierra Falconer, who directed summertime anthology film “Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake),” and Rachael Abigail Holder’s New York-set “Love, Brooklyn,” with André Holland. Steven Soderbergh (whose 2024 Sundance film “Presence” is in theaters at last this weekend) executive-produced the film.
A Midnight Slate Packed With A-List Talent
In addition to “Opus,” one of the festival’s most anticipated films, Sundance has several other buzzy horror genre films in store for audiences. After making a splash at SXSW with his own directorial debut last year, Dev Patel is heading to Sundance as the lead of “Rabbit Trap,” a folk-horror film set in Wales. The film, written and directed by Bryn Chainey, features horror veteran Elijah Wood as a producer. And real-life couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie costar in “Together,” a body horror film in which a couple move to the countryside and experience a supernatural encounter that tests their relationship.
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Steven Yeun Is Back Again, and JLo Returns
Steven Yeun has become a Park City regular in recent years with films includes “I Origins,” “Sorry to Bother You,” “Minari” and last year’s “Love Me.” This year he returns to the festival with a supporting role in “Bubble & Squeak,” which debuts in the drama film competition about a couple who may or may not be smuggling cabbages.
Another high-profile festival returnee this year is Jennifer Lopez, whose film “Lila & Eve” premiered at Sundance in 2015 (although she doesn’t appear to have joined costar Viola Davis in Park City for the occasion). Now, Lopez stars in the hotly anticipated musical film “Kiss of the Spider Woman” directed by Bill Condon and costarring Diego Luna as a prisoner during Argentina’s early-’80s Dirty War.
Contenders for Next Award Season
Although we’re currently in the middle of awards season, with Oscar nominations announced on the first day of the festival, the film industry will already be looking for next year’s contenders. Recent Sundance premieres that went on to be major award season contenders include “A Real Pain,” “Past Lives,” “Minari,” “Promising Young Woman,” and “Coda.” Other films to keep an eye on during this year’s Sundance include family drama “Jimpa,” starring Olivia Colman and John Lithgow and the Ira Sachs-directed biofilm “Peter Hujar’s Day” led by Ben Whishaw in the titular role.
The Documentaries to Catch
Sundance is known for a consistently strong documentary lineup. This year’s documentaries span politics, health care, gender issues, the arts, and more. Questlove will return to the festival after making his debut with Oscar-winning doc “Summer of Soul,” this time with “Sly Lives!” about Sly and the Family Stone. The film will be released on Hulu next month.
Other cultural figures getting the doc treatment include Selena, the subject of “Selena y Los Dinos,” and Paul Reubens aka Pee-wee Herman, the focus of doc series “Pee-wee as Himself.” “Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore” will premiere on the festival’s opening night, looking back at the Oscar-winning deaf actress’ career.
Other docs to watch include director Rachel Fleit’s “Sugar Babies,” which explores how young women are connecting with wealthy men on social media; “The Dating Game,” which follows a dating coach in China; Jennifer Tiexiera’s “Speak,” which follows kids competing in a public speaking competition; and “Predators,” which looks at the legacy of long-running TV show “To Catch a Predator.”
Offscreen Pop-Ups and Parties
Park City’s Main Street will welcome branded house pop-ups including Adobe House (Jan. 24-27), UTA House, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and World of Hyatt, which will host a Sundance edition of Not Your Standard Bingo on Jan 26. Each house will host talks, panels, and cocktail parties, mostly invite-only. “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star Meredith Marks will also host a series of cocktail parties at her boutique in collaboration with Lexus.
“Didi” director Sean Wang will be among the honorees at the festival’s opening night gala presented by Google TV. The annual fundraiser event will also honor the Sundance Institute’s Michelle Satter and “Sugarcane” codirectors Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie.
Further from Main Street, Deer Valley’s Chute Eleven will host Slopeside Sets with DJ performance by Coco & Breezy, Austin Millz, and more. And Tao Park City returns for a two-day pop-up on Jan. 24 and 25, with performances both nights by Tyga. See you on the dance floor — or, more likely, in the theater.
