Author Archives: Jill Adler

Who’s Coming – and Not Coming- To Sundance 2025

There may only be two more years of the Park City Sundance Film Festival. Let that sink in. The bidding process to find a new home for the premiere indie film fest began this summer with only three bidders left standing- Salt Lake City/Park City, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Boulder, Colo. Every year, Park City’s Main Street morphs to accommodate the influx of PIBs (people in black), posing for paparazzi, showing off their style and often but not always, promoting a film they are in…and SPL publishes a list of those celebs in excited anticipation of Sundance 2025. The streets are usually packed the first weekend with A-list stars, film buffs, and fans desperate for selfies.

Sundance_Film_Festival_Films

But this year will feel much different as the fest has one foot out the door, the crunch of production from strikes over the past two years, and inflation hitting those who have been out of work for months.

Here are some other reasons that sightings will be slim:  

1. Streamers Took Over the World (And the Festival Scene)

Let’s face it: The streaming giants have taken over, and Sundance just isn’t as exclusive as it used to be. Back in the day, Sundance was the go-to for indie filmmakers looking to get their big break. Now, thanks to Netflix, Amazon Prime, even YouTube, films go straight from the editing room to the digital realm. No more flying to cold, snowy, crowded Utah to premiere your work—just click ‘go live,’ and boom, you’re everywhere.

A lot of movies are just streaming away without the whole “let’s parade a bunch of celebs down Main Street” vibe. And let’s be real, a low budget indie movie’s not going to get you more views just because you showed up to a festival, right? Especially when the ticket price is now $30! Maybe it’s the way of the future, but it’s also the reason we might not see as many celebs at Sundance this year.

2. The Hollywood Strike Hangover

The Hollywood strike of 2023 wasn’t just a brief inconvenience. It was a full-blown industry earthquake with aftershocks and all. Pretty much everyone in the industry was out of work while fighting for fair wages and conditions. During this time, only non-union movies were in production. These are the majority of films that will be screening at festivals this year. These filmmakers are not “famous” names. Any Emmy or Academy award winner is a member of the Screen Actors, Writers or Directors guilds and these union folks are now trying to get back into the swing of things after months of (rightfully) staying home. They’re not about to go on vacation when they don’t have skin in the game unless someone else is paying for it. 

3. Virtual Everything Is the New Normal

COVID changed everything—including how film festivals are run. Sundance wasn’t immune to the hit and after going completely virtual in 2020, it’s still a huge component of their programming. No reason anymore for filmmakers to drag (and pay for) all their actors to hang out in freezing cold places when they can Zoom in from their living rooms. Stars can promote their movies without leaving their couch.

For celebrities with busy schedules and lives, this virtual participation is a sweet gig. If you want to see familiar faces you might be better off with a virtual pass and some QnAs registrations. 

4. Sundance 2025 Has Some Serious Competition

Sundance used to be the indie darling, the one festival where everyone wanted to be and be seen. Now? Sundance is just one of many big names in the festival world. You’ve got Cannes, Venice, Toronto, Tribeca, Austin, even Telluride, all fighting for attention. Plus, A-listers are way more likely to turn up at the international festivals where the global spotlight is on them. Those fests offer have bigger distribution deals and higher stakes for filmmakers. Sundance might still be important, but it’s not the place to be for every celebrity these days. 

5. Celebs Are Doing… Other Things

Let’s not kid ourselves—celebrities have so much going on that sometimes the festival grind just isn’t at the top of their list. We’ve all seen the rise of the multi-hyphenate celebrity. They’re not just acting anymore—they’re producing, directing, launching skin care businesses, and maybe even trying their hand at podcasting and wine making. With so many new opportunities in Hollywood and beyond, some celebs are opting to focus on their latest passion projects or private ventures instead of showing up to every festival, hoping to grab some headlines in Variety. They’re being picky on their appearances.

Conclusion: Sundance 2025 is Still a Big Deal 

Look, the 2025 Sundance Film Festival might not be packed with as many Hollywood megastars as you’ve come to expect. But that doesn’t mean the festival isn’t still worth your time. It’s just evolving. We can focus on film instead of the red carpet. Sundance is still the launching pad for groundbreaking indie films, and with pretty much all films from the past two years made from non-union talent and crew (thank you, strikes), there are emerging personalities just waiting for their moment in the spotlight.

So yeah, maybe Main Street won’t be as star-studded this year. But hey, the movies are still going to be intriguing—and that’s what really matters, right?


With all of this said, we still may get to see an A-lister IRL. This is the list of who might show at Sundance 2025:

  • Sarah Goldberg
  • Juliette Lewis
  • Mark Ruffalo
  • Rose Byrne
  • Conan O’Brien
  • Olivia Colman
  • John Lithgow
  • Jennifer Lopez
  • Chloë Sevigny
  • John Malkovich
  • Chloë Sevigny
  • Dev Patel
  • Amy Madigan
  • Carey Mulligan
  • Benedict Cumberbatch
  • Joel Edgerton
  • Felicity Jones
  • William H. Macy

Utah Ski Area Opening Dates

park city with snow

Park City and the upper Wasatch range finally have snow! Utah ski area opening dates feel late even though it’s pretty much happening right on time. We’ve rarely had enough snow for decent skiing before Thanksgiving. Early is Halloween. Normal is now. Yet, for the first time- ever- Deer Valley moved their opening day up a week. Does that mean we’ve got a lot of snow? No, not at all; this one’s a headscratcher. Feel free to offer your explanation for this in the comment section.

I took a spin today at Canyons Resort and have to report that the experience was quite typical. High Meadow (the beginner area) and two intermediate runs, Kokopelli and Snowdancer. After five runs, the manmade was getting scraped off and we called it. The good news is that the weather forecasters are calling for 10-25 inches by Wednesday which would set up Utah resorts for a white Thanksgiving weekend and the ability to open up additional terrain.

Utah's ski area opening dates
Mayflower side of Park City- photo courtesy Bonnie Maclaurin

Sadly, a high pressure moves in for next weekend and possibly through the first week of December.

The moral? Don’t blow the confetti and horns just yet. Two seasons ago, those two or three early season, manmade, groomed trails, catering to thousands of hungry passholders became brown ribbons of death from exposed dirt and rocks that pretty much lasted through the Christmas holiday. Still, the ski stoke is running high in these parts now that the annual ski porn films have premiered, Park City has a white cap and most resorts have announced their “official” opening dates.

Utah’s Ski Area Opening Dates

Alta Ski Area

OPEN (Estimated close April 20, 2025)

Beaver Mountain

TBD

Brian Head Resort

OPEN (estimated close May 11, 2025)

Brighton Resort

OPEN (Estimated close May 18, 2025)

Cherry Peak Resort

TBD

Deer Valley Resort

November 30, 2024 (Estimated close April 28, 2025)

Eagle Point Resort

December 20, 2024 (estimated close April 3, 2025)

Nordic Valley

December 7, 2024

Park City Mountain

OPEN (estimated opening April 10, 2025)

Powder Mountain

December 6, 2024

Snowbasin Resort

November 29, 2024

Snowbird

November 28, 2024

Solitude Mountain Resort

OPEN

Sundance Mountain Resort

December 4, 2024

Woodward Park City

November 28, 2024

SKI UTAH PASSPORT – Prices Rise Nov. 30, 2024 so Buy Now!

The Ski Utah Passport program for 4th, 5th, and 6th graders is on sale now for $69. The pass is in its 26th year of offering three days at each of the 15 resorts in the state but there are some big changes this season.  Every kiddo, no matter if they live in Utah or Australia will get THREE days of skiing- even the 6th graders- at each resort but nine resorts will black out: Dec. 26, 2024 – Dec. 31, 2024 | Jan. 18-19, 2025 | Feb. 15-16, 2025. Six have no restrictions! Brian Head, Cherry Peak, Eagle Point, Nordic Valley, Snowbasin and Solitude Mountain Resort. For more information, check out 4th, 5th and 6th Grade Ski Utah Passport – Ski Utah.

Final Runs: Utah Ski Resorts Closing!

traffic jam on 244 to park city winter 23/24

We’re coming into the homestretch for 2023/24 ski season! Season passes for 2024/25 went on sale a month ago while we were still arcing in the white room but, hey, what better time for folks to plunk down $1200-$2000 than when they are floating in euphoric winter bliss? So now that we are on the brink of Utah ski resorts closing, you need to make those last turns of the season count. Did you hit 30 days, 50 days, 100 days?

Sunday is your final chance to carve those last few slushy trails at Alta, Deer Valley and Canyons while Park City will keep a handful of lifts spinning until Monday (First Time, 3 Kings, Crescent, and Silverload). Park City began limiting their terrain a few weeks ago as seasonal workers headed home.

For those of you with an Ikon Pass, you’ll still be able to turn at Snowbasin Resort and Brighton until April 28, Solitude until May 6 and Snowbird until May 12. Brian Head Resort down south will close on Cinco de Mayo.

The 2023/2024 ski season in Utah has been nothing short of awesome. While it didn’t create the massive dumps that collapsed roofs and overwhelmed snowplow drivers like last season, and it started off miserably, Mother Nature blew in (eventually) to keep a consistent blanket of freshness on the slopes. Alta Ski Area received approximately 550 inches of snow, leading the pack with one of its strongest performances in a decade. Not far behind, Brighton Resort recorded over 500 inches, Snowbird tallied around 530 inches, and even Park City Mountain amassed a commendable 420 inches. Most of the state’s major water basins have reported snowpack figures ranging from 130% to 160% of the historical average.

Make the most of the dwindling ski days and then get ready for climbing and biking season! And make sure you plan ahead for next winter by buying those season ski passes while they’re still selling at “early bird” prices. Here are the links to save you time hunting them down individually-

Ikon Pass

  • In Utah- The Ikon Pass offers access to Snowbasin, Snowbird/Alta, Solitude, Deer Valley and Brighton. $969-1359

Epic Pass

  • Managed by Vail Resorts, in Utah, the Epic Pass offers skiing and riding at Park City and Canyons resorts. $731-982

Mountain Collective

  • The Mountain Collective offers a different take on ski passes, giving skiers access to 2 days at each participating resort (in Utah that’s Snowbird/Alta and Snowbasin), and then 50% off for each additional day. $605

Indy Pass

  • The Indy Pass is designed for independent and lesser-known ski resorts like Powder Mountain, Eagle Point and Beaver in Utah. If you’re looking for a more local or less crowded experience, this might be the pass for you. SOLD OUT for 24/25 but you can join their waitlist.

Power Pass

  • The Power Pass provides access to multiple resorts in the Southwest and beyond, including popular locations like Arizona Snowbowl and Purgatory Resort and Brian Head and Nordic Valley in Utah. $549-$749

Powder Alliance

  • With a qualifying season pass from a member resort, the Powder Alliance adds the ability to ski three days free at the other PA resorts (none in Utah). Free with your area season pass.

New Blackcrows Film Chasing Niflheim 

Niflheim peak in British Columbia

Chamonix, France (February 13, 2024) – blackcrows, the iconic French ski brand focused on design-driven high-performance ski gear and apparel, has released its latest ski film, Chasing Niflheim. The blackcrows film takes viewers on a journey through the remote and untamed landscapes of British Columbia, showcasing the extraordinary talents of blackcrows athletes Christina Lusti and Andrew McNab.

Chasing Niflheim focuses on the first descent of the southwest couloir on Mount Niflheim, the third-highest peak in the Gold Range. Christina Lusti and Andrew McNab venture into the rugged terrain of the Monashee massif, where they discover a deep gouge carving through the 2800-meter summit.

Commenting on her experience, Lusti shared, “The way you move through the mountains is an expression of who you are and how you feel in that moment. Discovering your authentic imagination is the biggest gift in exploratory skiing and mastery in the mountains.”

Producer Flo Bastien said, “Christina is undoubtedly one of the best big mountain skiers out there. These last few years, she has incorporated mountaineering and climbing skills into her arsenal, opening up numerous opportunities for exploring new slopes.”

Lusti and McNab’s daring expedition was made possible by blackcrows’ innovative Draco Freebird skis, designed to blend freeride performance with backcountry autonomy. Reflecting on the collaboration, Bastien remarked, “Having collaborated with Christina for a while, I knew she’d have something in mind to put our new Draco Freebird to the test. This ski has been designed to bring freeride performance and backcountry autonomy together, which is exactly what Lusti’s Niflheim project was about.”

Film Credits:

Skiers: Christina Lusti & Andrew McNab

Principal Cinematography: Joshua Lavigne

Additional Cinematography: Andrew Gallant

Editor: Rasmus Bjerkan

Producer: Flo Bastien

For more information about blackcrows check out Ski Play Live TV and visit: black-crows.com.

Who’s Coming to Sundance 2024

will farrell in a sundance 2024 film

Trying to spot a celebrity during the Sundance 2024 Film Festival is a bit like playing Where’s Waldo. Sure, you could wander Park City’s Main Street, watching for a horde of paparazzi, but you might be fooled. Once, I walked up and asked a guy with a fancy camera whom he was shooting and he said, “No idea but everyone else is taking their picture so I figured it must be someone important.” It certainly wasn’t anyone I recognized so I moved along.

If you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of someone famous in the film biz, your best bet is to stand outside in the cold just before one of the film premieres at Eccles or The Egyptian Theater but it’s way more exciting to brush elbows as they exit the Filmmaker Lodge or The Variety Studio.

You may be wondering, however, who you’re looking for. No sense wasting your time searching for a selfie with Paul Rudd if he never caught a flight to SLC, right?

Here’s your Ski Play Live cheatsheet for this first weekend of Sundance to help with your budding paparazzi career. First, the list of who’s who and who might be in Utah and then the list of the buzzworthy films they are representing.

Who’s at Sundance 2024

Some of these names you may recognize, some will just be emerging. Pay close attention though because these sightings are as elusive as a white fox.

Saoirse Ronan, Phoebe-Rae Taylor, Rosemarie DeWitt, Luke Kirby, Michael Chernus, Courtney Taylor, Judith Light, Paapa Essiedu, Stephen Dillane, Saskia Reeves, Laura Linney, Steven Soderbergh, Jesse Eisenberg, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sue Bird, Lucy Lawless, André Holland, Debra Granik, Jay Ellis, Rashaad Newsome, Navid Khonsari, Sandra Rodriguez, Emma Stone, Margot Robbie, Kristen Stewart, Lily Gladstone, David Alan Grier, Demario Driver, Dominique Thorne, Jack Champion, Jay Ellis, Ji-Young Yoo, Justice Smith, Keir Gilchrist, Michelle Farrah Huang, Normani, Anna Boden, Carlos Lopez Estrada, Dawn Porter, Kobi Libii, Ryan Fleck, Datari Turner, Debby Wolfe, Debra Martin Chase, Jelani Johnson, Leah Smith, Nkechi Okoro Carroll, Poppy Hanks, Sonja Warfield, Efren Ramirez, Jon Gries, Shondrella Avery, Tom Lefler, Mädchen Amick, Clark Gregg, Theo Germaine, Simone Kirby, Walt Klink, Rob Morrow, Chris Sullivan, Amy Aniobi, Nkechi Okoro Carroll, Sonja Warfield, Debby Wolfe, Chrissy Teigen, David Chang, Joel Kim Booster, Andra Day, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Jennifer Grey, Ed Harris, Keyla Monterroso Mejia, Jeff Zimbalist, Bella Heathcote, Jason Schwartzman, Carol Kane, Alicia Silverstone, Kevin Connolly, Jason Momoa, Haylie Duff, Kieran Culkin, Will Ferrell, Josh Greenbaum, Pedro Pascal, Dominique Thorne, Ben Mendelsohn, Steven Yeun, Fred Durst, Lucy Liu, Glen Powell, Camila Cabello, Connie Britton, DEVO, Justice Smith, Jay Ellis, Retta, Robert Downey Jr., Christine Vachon, Jodie Foster, Mary Robinson, Christopher Nolan, Celine Song, Maite Alberdi, Pat Mitchell, June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Richard Roundtree, Parker Posey, Malcolm McDowell, Nicole Byer and Coral Peña.

Sundance 2024 Films with Buzz

When Robert Redford’s Park City Film Festival officially became the Sundance Film Festival in 1991, we saw the indie film revolution. Movies like Sex, Lies and Videotape, The Blair Witch and Winter’s Bone may never have found an audience were it not for the studio bidding wars that erupted in this small ski town.

Utah became ground zero for new filmmakers, new voices, and new discoveries. Even today, 40 years later, the industry looks to Sundance for its next breed of artists.

This year’s Sundance features less films than in the past few years (36 less than in 2020) as organizers attempt to create a more intimate atmosphere and allow more opportunities to see the chosen films during the 10-day. Here are 11 that have already stirred up some chatter.

‘A Different Man’

A still from A Different Man by Aaron Schimberg, an official selection of the Premieres program at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute.

Sebastian Stan is aspiring actor Edward undergoes a radical medical procedure to drastically transform his appearance. But his new dream face quickly turns into a nightmare, as he loses out on the role he was born to play and becomes obsessed with reclaiming what was lost.

‘Freaky Tales’

Pedro Pascale stars in this storyweb where teen punks defend their turf against Nazi skinheads, a rap duo battles for hip-hop immortality, a weary henchman gets a shot at redemption, and an NBA All-Star settles the score. Basically another day in the Bay.

‘Girls State’

A still from Girls State by Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine, an official selection of the Premieres program at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo courtesy of Apple.

Teenage girls from wildly different backgrounds across Missouri navigate a week-long immersive experiment in American democracy, build a government from the ground up, and reimagine what it means to govern.

‘I Saw the TV Glow’

Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine appear in I Saw the TV Glow by Jane Schoenbrun, an official selection of the World Dramatic Competition at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute.

Teenager Owen is just trying to make it through life in the suburbs when his classmate introduces him to a mysterious late-night TV show — a vision of a supernatural world beneath their own.

‘Love Lies Bleeding’

Reclusive gym manager Lou falls hard for Jackie, an ambitious bodybuilder headed through town to Las Vegas in pursuit of her dream. But their love ignites violence, pulling them deep into the web of Lou’s criminal family.

‘Love Me

Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun appear in Love Me by Sam Zuchero and Andy Zuchero, an official selection of the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute. Photo by Justine Yeung.

The love story of a smart buoy and an orbiting satellite inhabited in different forms by Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun that spans a billion years and probes the mysteries of being and consciousness.

‘My Old Ass’

Maisy Stella and Aubrey Plaza appear in My Old Ass by Megan Park, an official selection of the Premieres program at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Shane Mahood.

The summer before college, bright-yet-irreverent Elliott comes face-to-face with her older self during a mushroom trip.

‘The Outrun’

Saoirse Ronan appears in The Outrun by Nora Finscheidt, an official selection of the Premieres Program at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | Photo by The Outrun Film Ltd – Roy Imer.

Rona returns to the wild beauty of Scotland’s Orkney Islands — where she grew up — hoping to heal from drug and alcohol addiction.

‘A Real Pain’

Mismatched cousins David and Benji reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother, a holocaust survivor.

‘Will & Harper’

Will Ferrell and Harper Steele appear in Will & Harper by Josh Greenbaum, an official selection of the Premieres Program at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute.

When Will Ferrell finds out his close friend of 30 years is coming out as a trans woman, the two decide to embark on a cross-country road trip to process this new stage of their relationship.

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