[Pictured: Steven Soderbergh, Laura San Giacomo, Andie MacDowell, and Peter Gallagher at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival] 

The sun was shining and the air was crisp on January 19, 2009, when Sundance Institute’s Corey Brill took to Main Street in Park City, Utah, to ask attendees about their favorite Sundance Film Festival projects over the years. It was the 25th edition and Festgoers were thrilled to reminisce about their most cherished films, which included Brittney Baby – One More Time (2002), The Blair Witch Project (1999), The Descent (2006), and Half Nelson (2006).   

“DiG! [2004]. It’s just a movie I never get tired of seeing. Anytime it’s on the TV, I’ll sit down and watch the whole thing. I’ve seen it 20 times,” recalls an attendee.  

“Anywhere U.S.A. from last year [2008],” says another. “It was just genius. It was unique, it was fun, it was fresh, and it was audience-oriented. It was like if you showed up to a dentist appointment and then you were on a roller coaster instead.” 

And many call out Napoleon Dynamite (2004) as their favorite Sundance Festival film. “It just has that cult status,” one audience member says.

Most of the cast of sex, lies, and videotape returned for the film’s From the Collection screening, and one Festgoer familiar with the crew told Brill that they were all planning to meet in front of the Egyptian Theatre to re-create a photo they took back in 1989 with Director Steven Soderbergh and the cast. 

It was a wonderful time to be at the Sundance Film Festival. Check out the YouTube video below for more film throwbacks!