Author Archives: Jill Adler

Who’s Coming to the Sundance Film Festival 2023

Jill Adler Leave a comment

The Sundance Film Festival 2023, in its heyday, was the place to see and be seen. Even Vinny from Entourage brought his gang to “little Hollywood” to connect with producers, managers, writers and other filmmakers during the celebration of independent filmmaking in Park City, Utah. The opening weekend of the 10-day event was a constant rager in the early 2000s; with gifting lounges, filmmaker brunches, red carpets, and film school mingles filling up venues on both sides of Main Street; of course there was the random movie screening thrown in for good measure. Even before Covid, city officials eager to curb the chaos within city limits created curfews, rental restrictions, federal laws prevented VIPs from taking expensive swag without declaring it on their taxes and Sundance organizers squashed outside “sponsors” from piggybacking on their turf. Anyone remember all of the fringe “dances”? Lapdance, Xdance, Tromadance, NoDance, Slumdance, and the sole survivor- Slamdance?

Then, the Covid pandemic did its thing and wiped out all standards in its wake. The Fest went virtual, sponsors dropped out, Park City in January went ghost town and celebs found different ways to attract attention.

This year, however, the in-person Sundance experience is back, the town is primed and onlookers wonder what this iteration will bring. Press releases are touting a list of attendees that include:

Anne Hathaway, Cynthia Erivo, Penelope Cruz, Emilia Clarke, Jason Momoa, Stephen Dorff, Daisy Ridley, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jonathan Majors, Jeremy Allen White, Dakota Johnson, Sarah Snook, Gael Garcia Bernal, Alexander Skarsgård, Teyana Taylor, Ben Platt, Jennifer Connolly, Eve Hewson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Phoebe Dynevor, Randall Park, Nicholas Braun, David Jonsson, Stephen Dorff, Jason Genao, Bella Thorne, Karrueche Tran, Michael J. Fox, Tracy Pollan Fox, Ryan Coogler, Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth Banks, Thembi Banks, Amandla Stenberg Marlee Matlin, Adam Lambert, Mike O’Hearn, Will Ferrell, Moby, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Radha Mitchell. Actors, directors, writers who have movies screening at Sundance and still others will come just to play in the snow and tease paparazzi.

Other Sundance Film Festival 2023 Shenanigans

Beyond a spot for actors to strut, Park City provides the ideal location for big brands to establish cozy havens where they can cater to VIPs with hot beverages and snacks, while getting their name networked. In the past, we’ve seen Lyft, Grey Goose, Google, Sony, ICM, IMDB, Fuji, Stella Artois, L’Oreal, Acura, Canada Goose, MoviePass, DirecTV, Southwest Airlines. Some of the spaces these brands establish welcome the general public. Others require a name on a list. These are what are known so far.

Shabbat Lounge
Address provided upon RSVP, daily from Jan. 20-22
The Shabbat Lounge returns to Sundance with a program of events that include Friday night Shabbat dinner, a Friday night Oneg Soirée, Saturday L’Chaim Cholent Chill, Saturday night Havdalah concert and a Sunday Jewish filmmakers and friends brunch. (RSVP required: shabbatlounge.org.)

Ericka Nicole Malone Entertainment’s Indie Director’s and Creator’s Spotlight
The Cabin, 427 Main St., Friday, Jan. 20, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
The invite-only event is a day-to-night activation that celebrates diversity in filmmaking with a program that features conversations, networking, performances and entertainment. Confirmed panelists and performers include Ericka Nicole Malone, Tabitha Brown, Matty Rich, Craig Ross Jr., Wendy Raquel Robinson, Vanessa Estelle Williams, Sha’leah Nikole, Alfred Jackson, Keith Robinson, Angie Stone and more. The scene will feature light bites, warm beverages, cocktails, mocktails, gifting and sounds by DJ Q-Nice. From 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., the venue will transform into a “neo-soul lounge” with live performances by Robinson, Nikole, Jackson and Stone.

Sommsation Lounge
408 Main St., daily Jan. 20-22
During the fest’s first weekend, Sommsation will offer a limited number of curated sommelier-led wine tasting experiences for wine lovers and Sundance attendees to book from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily and can be booked via Concierge@Sommsation.com. In addition to the tastings, Sommsation will host private industry events, movie premieres, junkets and panels at the Sommsation Lounge and will be sponsoring several events throughout the fest.

Audiences Want Climate Stories
The Box at The Ray, 1768 Park Ave., 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Join the Redford Center for an interactive session that features filmmakers and industry experts discussing the role indie film plays in the climate movement. Speakers include Megha Agrawal Sood (Doc Society), Jeff Orlowski-Yang (Exposure Labs), Tracy Rector (Nia Tero), Anna Jane Joyner (Good Energy), Jill Tidman (Redford Center), and 2023 Sundance Film Festival featured filmmakers Matthieu Rytz (Deep Rising) and Sophie Barthes (The Pod Generation).

Creators Lounge by Stanley …PUBLIC WELCOME
The Cabin, 427 Main St., daily Jan. 20-22, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
A free activation mounted by the makers of the vacuum-insulated, stylish food/drinkware products to celebrate Sundance with fun activities and beverages in iconic Stanley drinkware. Programming will include a latte art class, build your own hot cocoa bar, aura readings, musical performances (by The National Parks, Bri Ray, DJ Joune, Drew Holcomb and others), poetry readings (in partnership with SLAM) and more.

White Claw Shore Club
608 Main St. in Park City, Jan. 19-22 (Jan. 19: 1-10 p.m.; Jan. 20-22: 11 a.m.–10 p.m.)
The exclusive hard seltzer of Sundance Film Festival 2023, the first White Claw Shore Club be bringing all the Apres Ski vibes to life in a premium lounge experience complete with live performances from emerging musicians, including Abraham Alexander, and immersive works from local artists. White Claw will also debut a new 30-second ad, directed by Laura M. Gonçalves, that will run in between every five films premiering at the fest. Attendees can visit a customizable beanie station, enter exclusive giveaways, or “grab a White Claw and chill.” The White Claw Shore Club will be open to registered attendees; festgoers can access the QR code invite on mini branded snowboards that will be located in several areas throughout Sundance. Must be 21+. More details here.

Access to this venue is by invitation only.

Acura Festival Village & Acura Energy Stage and Energy Lab PUBLIC WELCOME
Acura Festival Village is 480 Swede Alley, ; Acura Energy Lab is 364 Main St., daily programming, Jan. 20-23, 12p-6p. 21+
Fest sponsor Acura will have its largest presence ever as the official vehicle and presenting sponsor of the fest for the 13th consecutive year. New for 2023: Acura has expanded to include two venues supporting the indie creative community with a fleet of Acura MDX and MDX Type S performance SUVs (official vehicle of Sundance) traversing the streets of Park City, Utah, and Acura’s full lineup of performance vehicles on display. The Energy Lab will feature an energized experience with a photo booth and an interactive art installation, complimentary coffee bar, live DJ, phone charging stations. Energy Stage will also feature performances, parties, interactive experiences and interviews with talent.

Canada Goose Basecamp, 558 MAIN ST. , Jan. 20-29, 12-6p PUBLIC WELCOME

Canada Goose invites you to escape from the cold at Basecamp. Explore their retail pop-up, try on iconic styles, learn about their history with the film industry; from behind the lens to special on-camera moments, and why they’re a film set staple. Each day, fans can expect new and innovative programming, special events, and surprise guest appearances. Beverages & coffees served from 12-6 p.m. January 20-23 and 12-4 p.m. January 24-29

The Audible Listening Lodge, 675 MAIN ST, Jan. 19 – 22, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. PUBLIC WELCOME

There’s more to imagine at the Audible Listening Lodge! Enjoy beautiful views of Park City and let your imagination run wild listening to the curated catalog of premium content. Sit back and relax—everyone’s welcome to join in on the fun.

Chase Sapphire on Main
573 Main St., Jan. 20-24, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
The lounge will play host to premiere parties, LA Times co-presented panel discussions and a special Chase Sound Check with Anderson .Paak at TAO Park City. Sapphire Preferred and Reserve cardmembers can also stop by daily for complimentary refreshments, live music and activations including an aura reader, customizable travel accessories, a live watercolor artist and more.

Chef Melissa King Menu Takeover, Chase Sapphire on Main, 573 Main St., 1-3 p.m.
Melissa King will present two items, mushroom congee with sous vide quail egg in the morning, five spice pork belly bao in the afternoon. Cardmembers will have the opportunity to meet her; hear more about her inspiration behind the dishes; and receive recipe cards for each item.

Macro Lodge, 201 HEBER AVENUE, Jan. 20-22: 10 a.m.-2 a.m., Monday, January 23, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

The 6th Annual MACRO Lodge at the Sundance Film Festival offers talent, filmmakers, and changemakers a place to connect and convene at the Festival for a mix of conversation, community, and culture, to elevating the voices and stories of Black people and people of color.

Access to this venue is by invitation only.

Sundance ASCAP Music Café
The Park, 950 Iron Horse Drive, 2-5 p.m.
Paring down to just one day this Fest, the Sundance ASCAP Music Café will host an afternoon of exclusive acoustic sets from songwriters plus an insightful conversation between the composer and filmmaker of a Sundance title, courtesy of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.
SCREEN TIME CONVERSATIONS
2:20 PM: ROGER SUEN (composer) + JUSTIN CHON (director) discuss JAMOJAYA
2:50 PM: NAINITA DESAI (composer) + LAURA McGANN (director) discuss THE DEEPEST BREATH

PERFORMANCES
3:15 PM: AMIGO THE DEVIL
3:50 PM: SHA’LEAH NIKOLE
4:30 PM: SLAM POETS ft. SAUL WILLIAMS, MOMOLU S K STEWART + JOSÉ SOTO (celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Sundance Grand Jury Prize-Winning film SLAM)

Sunrise House
Riverhorse on Main, 540 Main St., daily from Jan. 20-22, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Daniel Dae Kim’s 3AD teams with Gold House and the Asian American Foundation (TAAF) to mount the Sunrise House, the official pan-AAPI house of the Sundance Film Festival. The Sunrise Collective will feature interactive daytime programming and host two dinner and celebration events. More here.

Indigenous House
Star Bar, 227 Main St., Jan. 21-22, daily programming
IllumiNative, the Native woman-led social justice organization, launches the Indigenous House at this year’s fest. The space will serve as a gathering spot for storytellers and audiences seeking new voices and fresh perspectives, and a space to recognize and celebrate Native creatives, artists and industry leaders who are advancing Native representation and inclusivity in TV and film. Programming will feature events, dinners, panels, integrated in music, fashion and food to immerse attendees in Native culture and celebrate its impact on society and pop culture. Sponsors include Open Society Foundations, the Pechanga Band of Indians, Pop Culture Collaborative, Decolonizing Wealth Project, The Christensen Fund, Culture Change Fund, MacArthur Foundation and Nielsen.

ECOLUXE Park City ABC4TV Media Lounge
255 Main St., 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Veteran producer Debbie Durkin, a 30-year Sundance vet, returns to produce a 15th annual ECOLUXE Media Lounge in partnership with ABC4TV. Positioned on a purposeful, sustainable platform of wellness, Durkin launches HYDRO Infused Sodas and Brava Home’s newest Smart Oven. Brava Chef Travis and Amanda Gyuran of Elevated Eats will fuel guests with curated and performance-based foods, Amare Global’s The Mental Wellness Company’s GBX pep beverages hydrate, The Vitamin Bar IV Park City nurses energize with B12 shots, IV Therapy and oxygen machines, and exhausted stars have the option of picking up trips to Dominican Republic’s Casa de Campo Resort & Villas for post-fest recovery. Streetwear brand Voice of the Vanishing Earth will be featured, a company that donates 51 percent of profits to protect animal species. Luxury wellness company Hemped Park City will introduce Bees Knees products. Chickadee Gear premieres children’s snowsuits, and more surprises to come.

Sundance Film Festival Opening Weekend Art Lounge….PUBLIC WELCOME
Kimball Art Center’s Art Lounge, 1251 Kearns Blvd., Jan. 20-22, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily
Kimball Art Center hosts attendees in their quest for culture at this space located between the Eccles Theatre, fest headquarters, Holiday Village and The Ray. The current exhibition features Between Life and Land: Material, part of a three-part exhibition series focused on telling stories of artist’s relationship with the lens. It includes three films by Robert Smithson and Nancy Holt.

Sundance

Sundance Film Festival Tickets On Sale

Jill Adler Leave a comment

Festivalgoers will once again return to theaters while still having the opportunity to see online films chosen for this year’s Sundance Film Festival. It’s a “hybrid” event this year and in-person and online single Sundance Film Festival tickets go on sale starting tomorrow, Thursday, January 12th at 10 a.m. PT. The 2023 Festival will take place January 19–29, 2023, in person in Park City, Salt Lake City, and the Sundance Resort, along with over 130 films available online across the country January 24–29, 2023.

Sundance invites audiences to create their own Festival experience by selecting feature films, short films, and Indie Episodics. The 2023 Lineup includes 110 Feature Films from directors including Nicole Holofcener, Ira Sachs, Sebastián Silva, Anton Corbijn, and more; and 45 first-time feature directors to discover. See exciting new projects featuring talent including Anne Hathaway, Cynthia Erivo, Penelope Cruz, Emilia Clarke, Jason Momoa, Daisy Ridley, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jonathan Majors, Jeremy Allen White, Sarah Snook, Gael Garcia Bernal, Alexander Skarsgård, Teyana Taylor, Ben Platt, Jennifer Connolly, Eve Hewson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Phoebe Dynevor, Randall Park, Nicholas Braun, and documentaries on Stephen Curry, Michael J. Fox, Willie Nelson, Brooke Shields, and many more including visionary directors and emerging talent. The documentary programming illuminates the ideas, people, and events that shape present day dialogue, from Ukraine and Iran, to the current food crisis.

In addition to the film program, there will be panel conversations running January 19–23, 2023 in-person and available online starting January 24-29, 2023. Sundance Film Festival’s Beyond Film conversations are open to the public and made up of three series called Power of Story, Cinema Café, and The Big Conversation. Beyond Film rounds out the Festival experience, providing a place for the community to engage through artist conversations, filmmaker panels, and audience discourse. Talks this year include Barry Jenkins, Dakota Johnson, Jonathan Majors, Randall Park, and Marlee Matlin.

Sundance Film Festival Ticket Prices

Individual in-person screening tickets are $25, while online access to one film is $20. Purchase an Explorer Pass for $25 to maximize your Festival experience, unlocking six immersive days of online access to Indie Episodic screenings and select Short Film programs.

You can still purchase the Salt Lake City in-person pass (until 1/16) for $500 to enjoy films playing in theaters across Salt Lake City, including The Megaplex Theater at The Gateway, giving priority access to all in-person screenings in Salt Lake City with just one pass for the entire Festival. Explorer Pass benefits are included. And a special SLC Youth Pass is available to attendees ages 18–25 to purchase at a discounted price of $200 (until 1/16).

Sundance

Ikon Pass Class Action Lawsuit Settlement

Jill Adler Leave a comment

Alterra Mountain Company finally agreed this week to reimburse 2019/20 Ikon Pass holders, well kind of. If you think a $10 credit towards a 23/24 Ikon Pass is good enough restitution, then you can feel like a winner. According to Alterra/ Ikon Pass class action lawsuit settlement offer, if you used your pass more than seven days, that’s what you’ve “won.”

Under the terms of the settlement, class members can choose a pass credit or a discount lift ticket voucher where the values depend on the number of days you used your 2019/2020 pass. The Pass credits can be used towards the purchase of a 2023/2024 or 2024/2025 Ikon Pass season pass. Lift product vouchers can be used towards the purchase of a single-day lift ticket at any Alterra resort on or before July 31, 2025.

The settlement announcement has to be finalized by the District Court of Colorado but, if it is, it will resolve all claims that Alterra unjustly kept customers’ money after ski resorts closed due to Covid-19 in 2020.

The Ikon Pass Class Action Argument

According to the class action lawsuit against Ikon Pass, the plaintiffs in the case paid hundreds of dollars for unlimited access that promised “no blackout dates.” Although no one could predict the COVID-19 outbreak, the class action lawsuit argued that Ikon Pass still had a responsibility to refund customers who did not get the full benefit of their season pass purchases. Among other points, Robert Kramer et al argued that because Alterra laid off most of their resort employees, they could easily afford to refund customers due to decreased operating costs.

The expensive season ski pass included a pitch for “unlimited” ski days but the Covid-19 caused a spring lockdown that shuttered every ski area on the planet. However, while theme parks, hotels and airlines refunded consumers for tickets cancellations, Alterra with their Ikon pass product did not.

Alterra tried to assuage the angry mob back in the spring of 2020 by offering to double its “renewal discount” for 2020-21 passes which was laughable since the company had raised their prices nearly as much as the “discount”. Consumers would basically save $50 on an Ikon Base Pass or $100 for the Ikon Pass if they purchased it by May of that year.

The current settlement offer would provide a refund of up to $150 to American skiers who bought or received as a gift an Ikon Pass resort pass for the 2019/2020 season and who used their pass on one or more days before March 15, 2020. (See the details at the end of the post.) FYI- This is not for those who never used their pass.

The settlement offer keeps Ikon and Alterra from admitting any wrongdoing and anyone who doesn’t opt out of the class is bound to the terms of the settlement. You won’t be able to sue, continue to sue, or be part of any other lawsuit against Alterra for the same complaints. There is one option though, that seems buried in the Settlement language…

You can OBJECT

Instead of excluding yourself from the Settlement, you may object to it; give reasons why you think the Court should not approve the Settlement. The Court will consider all objections before ruling and they could conceivably throw it back to Alterra and tell them to “do better.” You have until Nov. 18, 2022, to object and it has to be done by snailmail. Your objection must contain: (1) the name of the Lawsuit (Kramer v. Alterra Mountain Co. and Ikon Pass Inc., Case No. 1:20-cv-01057-RM-SKC (D. Colo.)); (2) your full name and current address and telephone number; (3) the specific reasons for your objection; (4) any evidence and supporting papers (including, but not limited to, all briefs, written evidence, and declarations) that you want the Court to consider in support of your objection; and (5) your signature.

You must mail your written objection to the Settlement Administrator at:

Goodrich v. Alterra Mountain Company Settlement Administrator
Attn: Objection
P.O. Box 58220
Philadelphia, PA 19102

More Deadlines

The final approval hearing for the Ikon Pass refunds settlement is scheduled for Jan. 19, 2023.

In order to receive settlement benefits, class members must submit a valid claim form by Jan. 2, 2023.

——————————————————————————-

The Settlement Offer

Pass Credits

Pass Credit Amounts. For any Settlement Class Member who used their 2019/20 Ikon Pass to access an Ikon Resort a total of one or more days on or before March 15, 2020, the following Pass Credits are available:
1. A single $150 Pass Credit for Settlement Class Members who used their 2019/20 Ikon Pass to access an Ikon Resort exactly 1 day;
2. A single $125 Pass Credit for Settlement Class Members who used their 2019/20 Ikon Pass to access an Ikon Resort exactly 2 days;
3. A single $100 Pass Credit for Settlement Class Members who used their 2019/20 Ikon Pass to access an Ikon Resort exactly 3 days;
4. A single $50 Pass Credit for Settlement Class Members who used their 2019/20 Ikon Pass to access an Ikon Resort exactly 4 days;
5. A single $20 Pass Credit for Settlement Class Members who used their 2019/20 Ikon Pass to access an Ikon Resort exactly 5 or 6 days; and
6. A single $10 Pass Credit for Settlement Class Members who used their 2019/20 Ikon Pass to access an Ikon Resort 7 or more days.
Pass Credit Delivery. Unless a Settlement Class Member submits a Valid Election for a Lift Product Voucher in lieu of a Pass Credit, the appropriate Pass Credit amount will automatically be applied to each Settlement Class Member’s Ikon pass holder profile without any requirement to fill out a claim form or take any other affirmative action. The appropriate Pass Credit amount will be loaded into the online Ikon pass holder account of the primary pass holder associated with the Settlement Class Member’s profile as of the date of disbursement of the Pass Credit.
Pass Credit Scope of Use. Each Pass Credit must be used in full in a single transaction, and may be used at any time during the standard applicable sales period toward the purchase of any Ikon pass product available for use during the 2023/24 or 2024/25 Ski Seasons that the Pass Credit recipient is eligible for. A Pass Credit may be applied toward the purchase of an Ikon pass product at an already discounted price or be applied with other available discounts (e.g., renewal credit, nurses discount, college discount, and so on).
Pass Credit Transferability. The Pass Credit amount is not transferrable except to another Ikon pass holder associated with the same primary pass holder account (an “Affiliate Ikon Pass Holder”). To request a qualifying transfer to an Affiliate Ikon Pass Holder (that is, someone within the same primary pass holder account), the primary pass holder must contact Alterra’s standard call center.
Stack-ability. Upon transfer, Affiliate Ikon Pass Holder Pass Credits may be used in combination, to purchase one or more Ikon pass product(s) as described above for anyone who is an Affiliate Ikon Pass Holder. Each Pass Credit, however, may only be used toward the purchase of a single qualifying Ikon pass product, and any unused remaining portion of said Credit will be forfeited.

Lift Product Voucher

Lift Product Voucher Amounts. For any Settlement Class Member who used their 2019/20 Ikon Pass to access an Ikon Resort a total of one or more days prior to March 15, 2020, the following Lift Product Vouchers are available to elect instead of a Pass Credit:
1. Settlement Class Members who used their 2019/20 Ikon Pass to access an Ikon Resort exactly 1 day, may elect to receive one 50% Lift Product Voucher;
2. Settlement Class Members who used their 2019/20 Ikon Pass to access an Ikon Resort exactly 2 days, may elect to receive one 40% Lift Product Voucher;
3. Settlement Class Members who used their 2019/20 Ikon Pass to access an Ikon Resort exactly 3 days, may elect to receive one 30% Lift Product Voucher:
4. Settlement Class Members who used their 2019/20 Ikon Pass to access an Ikon Resort exactly 4 days, may elect to receive one 25% Lift Product Voucher; and
5. Settlement Class Members who used their 2019/20 Ikon Pass to access an Ikon Resort exactly 5 or more days, may elect to receive one 20% Lift Product Voucher.
Lift Product Voucher Election and Delivery. If a Settlement Class Member submits a Claim Form and makes a Valid Election (in lieu of a Pass Credit), the Lift Product Voucher will be applied to the individual Ikon pass holder profile and placed in the account of the primary pass holder associated with the Settlement Class Member’s profile as of the date of disbursement of the Lift Product Voucher. To make a Valid Election, a Settlement Class Member must submit a properly completed claim form by the Court-approved deadline that includes, among other information, the name, address, email address, and unique Customer ID or Pass ID associated with their Ikon pass holder account.
Lift Product Voucher Scope of Use. The Lift Product Voucher may be applied toward the purchase and use on or before July 31, 2025 of one single-day lift ticket at any single Alterra Mountain Company-owned or operated resort. The Lift Product Voucher may be redeemed and applied toward the purchase of a single day lift ticket online through the applicable Alterra Mountain Company-owned or operated resort’s website or at the walk-up window. A Lift Product Voucher may be applied toward the purchase of a single day lift ticket at the posted full or Advance Purchase rate, but may not be applied to an already discounted rate or combined with other available discounts.
Lift Product Voucher Transferability. The Lift Product Voucher is fully transferrable and may be resold once by each Settlement Class Member recipient. To complete a transfer, a Settlement Class Member will, using their online Ikon pass holder account, enter the email address of the transferee. The transferee will then receive an email prompting them to accept or decline the transfer. To accept the transfer, the transferee must have or create an online Ikon account, though they need not make any purchase. A Lift Product Voucher may not be transferred or resold a second time.

Ski News

Another Crappy Utah Ski Season? La Nina to Strike Again

Jill Adler Leave a comment

Seriously? Climate forecasters are calling for a third shitty ski season in a row for Utah. El Nino, will you please put Baby in the corner?! If you live in the Beehive state and live for winters, you might want to rethink your plans for the 22/23 season.

Not only is this bad news for skiers but next summer’s water babies too. Utah’s most popular watering holes like Flaming Gorge, Lake Powell, and the Great Salt Lake reached all-time lows this summer and, without a decent snowpack for 2023, the paddler’s future looks pretty bleak.

Why Does La Nina Torment Utah?

It’s no surprise that global warming and climate change have taken its toll on the world’s ski resorts and things don’t seem to be getting any better. Weather forecasters are going out on a limb already and predicting that the bitch is back. Usually La Nina’s occur every 3 to 5 years and not normally on successive years. However, La Niña conditions will bring around another warm, dry winter to the western part of the U.S. for the third time in a row! Remember last ski season (if you can even call it that)? The latest NOAA outlook says there’s more than an 80 percent chance of that happening again from November to January.

What is El Nino

According to Climate.gov, El Niño and La Niña are the warm and cool phases of a recurring climate pattern across the tropical Pacific. With El Nino, you get a warming of the ocean surface in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean that brings increased rain to that area. Winds that normally blow from east to west along the equator (“easterly winds”) weaken or start blowing “westerly”.

In California in the 80s, we lived for El Nino. Even now, an El Nino forecast would make a Sierra skier swoon. In fact, five of the top eight El Ninos since 1966 produced at least 170 percent of normal snowfall.

Where The Snow Will Be in 2022/23

If La Nina shows her ugly face, all is not lost for Utahns as long as you have an Ikon pass. The Pacific Northwest will be cooler and wetter along with Southern and interior Alaska. Perhaps start saving up for that epic Alaska heli excursion in April?

All Is Not Lost

There is yet another pattern besides El Nino and La Nina and that’s called Neutral. During a Neutral phase, conditions in the ocean and the atmosphere are near average and all bets are off. So far, Neutral looks to be our best hope.

Climate.gov states that there have been 24 La Niña winters in our historical record. Of those, only one (2016–17) changed to neutral in December–February. And guess what, Folks? Brighton reported nearly 700 inches of snow that season!

Four other La Ninas transitioned to neutral in January–March and one (2000–01) by February–April. Forecasters and computer models right now are fairly confident of a La Nina until at least February 2023 but several models do hint that La Niña will transition to neutral in January–March. If that happens it will only be the fifth time in 73 years. Maybe it won’t be too late to save Utah’s winter.

Ski News

In Person Sundance Is Back!

Jill Adler Leave a comment

The Sundance Institute today announced their initial plans for an in person Sundance for 2023, taking place from January 19-29, 2023.

First and foremost is their priority of bringing the film community back together with actual butts in seats to watch and experience next year’s culture-shaping stories. Therefore, the Sundance Film Festival begins in person, in Utah in Park City, Salt Lake City, and the Sundance Resort, on January 19 and runs through the 29th. The first weekend will be in-person only but then beginning the following Tuesday, January 24, the Festival expands to online with select films.

The digital side will offer an on-demand, curated selection of feature films from the 2023 Festival, including all competition titles (U.S. Dramatic, U.S. Documentary, World Cinema Dramatic, World Cinema Documentary, and NEXT), as well as other sections of the feature film program, alongside episodic work and short films.

Audiences globally can experience a regenerated edition of New Frontier that tunes to today’s times, emphasizing independent artistic practice and environmental engagement at the crossroads of film, art, and new media technology. New Frontier will feature a cutting-edge lineup of multimedia works and keynote discussions on a bespoke spatialized digital platform beginning January 24 when the online portion of the Festival kicks off.

“We are excited to bring the Sundance community together for the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, a celebration of independent filmmaking. After two years of being apart, our priority is reuniting in person, while still sharing bold new films with audiences across the country through online access,” said Joana Vicente, CEO of the Sundance Institute.

“The health and safety of the Sundance Institute staff, artists, volunteers, and audiences remain of the utmost importance to the Institute. We are continuing to work with our COVID-19 safety team and are following all CDC guidelines.” All staff and volunteers working the Festival will be required to mask and test weekly. Attendees will be encouraged to wear masks in all Sundance Film Festival spaces to keep themselves and other Festival community members safe.

Program Submissions are currently open. They close on the following dates: Feature film submissions close September 5 (official) and September 26 (late), 2022. Short film submissions close September 5 (late), 2022. New Frontier submissions close September 9 (late), 2022. Episodic content submissions closed August 26 (official) but late submissions have until September 12, 2022. Details on applications, including frequently asked questions, are available here.

Information on ticket packages and venues will be announced in late September. Stay up to date at festival.sundance.org, and visit lodging.sundance.org to help plan your stay at the Festival.

Sundance

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