The Sundance Institute was founded by Robert Redford in 1981 with the goal to encourage emerging voices in “American Storytellers”. Sundance Institute has been managing stories for the screen. It is a “non-profit program”. It creates platforms for more than “1000 artists” each year by supporting their work. This festival has introduced some of the most record- breaking films of the past three decades. The Sundance Film Festival is generally held in the month of January; it gathers artists and audiences for the premiers of various works like short films, documentaries etc. This Institute hosts a variety of public programs and represents the original voices and inspiring new ideas. It supports the makers to create their own story, independently. In the annual show dramatic and documentary features, short films, each with unique concepts are included. The daily filmmaker conversation, panel discussions and other events are also presented. It is hosted in Park City, Utah, United states.
India at Sundance: The first Indian film to be selected as a part of the World Dramatic Competition section at Sundance was Amir Khan’s production “Peepli Live”, directed by Anusha Rizvi in 2010. Over the years, films like “Valley of Saints”, “Liar’s Dice”,” Umrika” and “Photograph” were played in various sections at Sundance.
The Sundance Film Festival started from 18 January and lasted till 28 January. It is celebrating its 40th milestone, by including various categories, featuring 53 short films, 35 documentaries, and 83 feature films. Among the hyped titles premiering are Realm of Satan, A Different Man, A Real Pain, Freaky Tales, Little Death, Love lies Bleeding, Love me, Sasquatch Sunset, and Thelma. The festival has great views in the country online, and has long been known as the showcase of short film making talent. The Short Film grand jury prize was awarded to one film in the program of 53 shorts selected from 12,000 submissions. However the prize went to “The Masterpiece” directed by Alex Lora Cercos.
“ All the winners are a great reflection of the vibrant ideas and styles that filmmakers are inventing in these times within the short form”.
Mike Plante
Of the seven short films for awards this year three projects were directed by women and three were directed by people of colour. The Short Film special jury award US fiction was presented to Kate Jean Hollowell for “Say Hi After You Die.” International fiction was presented to An Chu for “The Stag”. Nonfiction award was presented to Jack Dunphy for “Bob’s Funeral”. Animation was presented to Phoebe Jane Hart, for “Bug Dinner”. For directing, the award went to Masha ko for “The Looming” and also to Makoto Nagahisa for “Pisko the Crab”, “Child in Love.” Chiwetel Ejiofor presents “Rob Peace“, the adaptation of Jeff Hobb’s best selling biography about Peace’s struggle. The film stars Jay Will in the titular role opposite an ensemble cast including Mary J. Blidge, Camila Cabello, Michael Kelly and Mare Winningham. Feature director Alessandra Lacorazza and the cast of “In the Summers”, including Leslie Grace, Lio Mihiel, Rene Perez Joglar, Sasha Calle and Sharlene Cruz debuted at the premier at Library Centre Theatre. The film depicts the story of two sisters, who navigate their loving but volatile father during their yearly summer visits to his home in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Later, Richard Linklater screened the comedy noir, “Hit Man“, which premiered at the 2023 Venice Film festival and the stars Glen Powell as Gary Johnson, a straight laced professor who discovers his hidden talent as a fake hit man. He meets his match in a client who steals his heart and ignites a powder keg of deception, delight and mixed up identities. It is inspired by a true story.
On Day 5, the features included “Look into my Eyes”, “Desire Lines”, “Will & Harper”, “Kidnapping Inc.”, “In a Violent Nature” and “The Mother of all Lies”. The premier of director Mikko Mäkelä’s film, “Sebastian“, was also there. Lead actor Ruaridh, portraying Max, a 25 year old aspiring writer living in London, embarks on a double life, delving into the world of a sex worker to conduct research for his debut novel. Director Aaron Schimberg premiered his film “A Different Man”, featuring Sebastian Stan. Director Rose Glass presented her latest thriller, “Love lies Bleeding”, starring Kristen Stewart, Katy O’Brien and Ed Harris at Eccles Centre Theatre. The film shows a gym manager Lou who falls for Jackie, an ambitious bodybuilder, but their love involves violence and pulls them deep into the web of Lou’s criminal family. Following her critically acclaimed first feature “Saint Maud“, Rose Glass makes her Sundance Film Festival debut with a bombastic, larger than life sophomore effort that received applauds. Luckily, Sundance was not affected by the pro-Palestinian protestors.
Written by- Mishti Gadhavi | Edited by- Apurv Nayak
