Category: Special Edition

Of all the hackneyed representations of “Dads” in film, none rings more true than the “weird Dad.” Perhaps the notion arrived in tow with our other absurd father fascinations of late – #DadJokes and #DadBods, anyone? This Father’s Day, we take a look at some of the strangest Dads to come through Sundance.
The Squid and the Whale
Director Noah Baumbach’s 2005 film is a keen portrait of a family at odds in the wake of a failed marriage, and a demonstration on the ‘don’ts’ of fatherhood.

Most lists require a caveat, and this one is no different: it is non-exhaustive, and for good reason. Over the course of Sundance Institute’s Directors Lab’s history, the Feature Film Program has supported a relative who’s who list of independent filmmakers making strides in cinema. And while some of these names have quite adeptly ventured into the world of studio films, their bloodlines invariably trace back to the indie world.

Cinco de Mayo can be a puzzling holiday for some Americans. First, there is the prevailing notion that May 5 is Mexico’s equivalent of the United States’ July Fourth. In fact, Cinco de Mayo is the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla, during which Mexico defended itself against French invasion in a proverbial David versus Goliath clash.

Last week’s Female Filmmakers Initiative Financing Intensive was exactly that—intense. But greatly so. It was a jam-packed day of intimate round tables, case studies, disheartening research coupled with empowerment coaching and Q&As with venture capitalists, financiers, and digital media leaders.

Lebec, California. I’d never been there, and as I drove north from Los Angeles, I worried that I’d miss the freeway exit. Fifty-seven miles came and went, but the surrounding hillside looked nothing like where I was supposed to be.

The way I tend to contemplate environmental protection is analogous to the way I think about investing in a retirement plan. Is it convenient or instantly gratifying? No. Is it necessary? Most likely.

Ten young people were selected for the Ignite Fellows pilot program, a curated Festival experience designed to provide meaningful opportunities for engagement, mentorship and industry exposure for emerging filmmakers 18 to 25 years of age.I have decided that the best way to describe the Sundance Film Festival is not through a bunch of meaningless adjectives but rather through the impact it has had on my life. If I were to describe Sundance I would say that it’s a unique experience, which is why I can’t truly describe it.

Something about Ida’s protracted journey just feels “right.” Pawel Pawlikowski’s chilling Polish drama premiered all the way back in 2013 at the Toronto International Film Festival and was honored by the Polish Film Academy that same year as the country’s Best Film. Months later, Ida screened out-of-competition at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival in the Spotlight category, home to a small batch of Sundance programmers’ favorite films that they cull from the festival circuit and elsewhere around the globe.

What a difference a year can make. Few would challenge that Damien Chazelle’s nascent career was on track for eventual success, but a small albeit successful feature debut (Guy and Madeline On a Park Bench) and a Sundance Short Film Jury Prize (a proof-of-concept film for Whiplash) didn’t exactly portend Oscar bliss for the 30-year-old director. Of course, now that his 2014 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize winner Whiplash has been nominated for four Academy Awards, we could say we saw it coming all along.

Despite its tender origins, Valentine’s Day can haunt lovers with a cloud of expectation. Even more menacing than the prospect of eternal solitude is the feeling that things can only go wrong on such a vaunted day. So call me a cynic, but I challenge you to recall one Valentine’s Day that was so extraordinary, so blissful in straddling the line between cloying romance and exhilarating lust that you would relive, ad infinitum, that one special day with your partner.

The Sundance Film Festival commences in a few short days, and chances are you’re lamenting missing out on another January in Park City. The bad news is that the Festival truly is an inimitable experience. The good news is that as the official website of the Sundance Film Festival, Sundance.

If the term ‘panel’ leads you to shudder at the idea of tedious subject matter and sterile conversations, Off Screen at the Sundance Film Festival is here to offer a corrective. While we can’t do away with the term entirely, this year’s slate of conversations will certainly amend how it’s perceived. John Nein, a senior programmer for the Festival—and one of the lead curators behind Off Screen’s medley of panels, discussions, and art—offers his annual breakdown of what can’t be missed.