As I search for something to stream, I constantly run into a “Sundance Movie”. After 40 years of helping independent filmmakers find their voice, it’s inevitable. The Sundance Labs basically cultivated the likes of Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson, Cary Fukunaga, Chloé Zhao, Taika Waititi, Gregory Nava, Dee Rees, James Mangold, Darren Aronofsky, Wes Anderson, and others.

It all started with an idea by Robert Redford 1981.

The First of the Sundance Labs

Redford’s Sundance Institute -located at his Sundance Ski Resort near Provo at the time- held its first lab for 15 independent filmmakers to develop their original projects with the mentorship from advisors like Sydney Pollack and Waldo Salt. Redford recalled in an email to MSN the impulse behind later founding the Sundance Film Festival.

“The Sundance labs will always be the core of our mission and the origin of the institute — once we started the labs and saw the inspiring work, it was clear that we needed to find ways to make sure that these films were seen, which lead to the festival. It’s a symbiotic relationship.”

Writer-directors apply to the open call for scripts in the Sundance Screenwriters Lab. Those chosen go through an intensive five-day workshop to rework and enhance their current scrip through one on one story sessions with professional creative advisors. There’s also a Director’s Lab, Episodic Lab, Native Lab, and Producers Lab to which filmmakers can apply.

This year, the Institute celebrates 40 years. In honor of this anniversary, they’ve compiled a chronological list of 40 thought-provoking independent projects that emerged from their Sundance Labs. See how many you know or add them to your must-watch lists before the 2022 Sundance Film Festival begins January 20!

1. El Norte (1984)

Teen siblings Enrique and Rosa flee Guatemala after their father is killed and their mother arrested by the government. They survive a perilous journey north only to find themselves struggling to survive on the streets of Los Angeles, constantly in fear of deportation and relying solely on each other as they try to build a new life. The film that Roger Ebert called a modern Grapes of Wrath was developed in a Sundance Institute Directors Lab in 1981. Gregory Nava directed and co-wrote the script with Anna Thomas, and their screenplay received a 1985 Oscar nomination.

the first film to go through their process.

And my God, it was life-changing. It improved the script tremendously. And one of the things I’ve got to say about it is that they not only said, “Here are things that can help you,” but they were also very open to what we wanted to do. That was different. It wasn’t imposing on you the whole Hollywood development system. It was like, “Let us help you do what you want to do.” Well, that was like the sky opening up and a light coming through, because all you heard [from the industry] was, “This is no good. You can’t do this, it’s not commercial. It won’t work.” But suddenly you had people like [advisors] Waldo Salt and Sydney Pollack telling you, “No, what you want to do is good.”

 [WATCH NOW]

2. Old Enough (1984)

Two girls from two extremes of New York City — one from the poor and streetwise side, the other from a well-to-do family — form an unlikely and enlightening friendship. Writer-director Marisa Silver developed the project in a 1982 Directors Lab. The film won the Grand Jury Prize at the 1984 Utah/U.S. Film Festival (precursor to the Sundance Film Festival). [WATCH NOW]

3. A Dry White Season (1989)

A white schoolteacher in South Africa begins to openly question apartheid when the son of his Black longtime gardener goes missing after participating in a public demonstration. Writer-director Euzhan Palcy went undercover in Soweto to interview South Africans, both white and Black, about conditions. “When I see white people seeing the light, I cry,” Palcy said in a 2020 Vulture interview. “Oh my God. Do you know how long we’ve been fighting for that?” Palcy, one of the first Black women to direct a U.S. studio film, brought this project to the 1985 Directors Lab, and Marlon Brando received an Oscar nomination for his supporting role. [WATCH NOW]

4. Thousand Pieces of Gold (1990)

Her Chinese father sells her to an overseas trader in 1870, and her new husband, a saloon keeper in a remote Idaho mining town, renames her Polly and plans to put her to work as a prostitute. Which all sounds demeaning, cruel, and hopeless — reflecting the status of many Chinese in America long after the government outlawed slavery. But Lalu has a strong will that resists subjugation. Nancy Kelly and Kenji Yamamoto worked on the project in the 1987 Directors Lab — read more about their journey with the historical drama, recently restored and rereleased by Kino, here. [WATCH NOW] 

5. Pretty Woman (1990)

Believe it or not, this popular Hollywood movie had its roots in the Sundance Screenwriters and Directors Labs in 1988, where J.F. Lawton workshopped his project, then known as Three Thousand — after the $3,000 offered to the sex worker Vivian (Julia Roberts) by a business executive (Richard Gere) to pretend to be his girlfriend for a week. The original story was much darker than the one that finally made it to the big screen: Vivian was a crack addict who returned to the street at the end. [WATCH NOW]

6. Dogfight (1991)

On the eve of the day in 1963 that they are to leave for Vietnam, Eddie and his military friends participate in a bar event called a “dogfight,” a degrading tradition in which the guys compete to bring the ugliest date. But Eddie (River Phoenix) starts to fall for his girl. Bob Comfort brought the project to the 1987 Screenwriters and Directors Labs, and Nancy Savoca ultimately directed the project — released in 1991 — for Warner Brothers. [WATCH NOW]

7. Johnny Suede (1991)

Johnny Suede (Brad Pitt) wants to be a musician like his idol Ricky Nelson. He has the hairstyle and the cool, so when some snazzy black suede shoes fall into his lap, he takes that as a sign. Trouble is, he may be overestimating his own talent and maturity to achieve his dream. Writer-director Tom DiCillo workshopped this film in the 1990 Directors Lab; it later played the 1992 Festival as part of the Dramatic Competition. [WATCH NOW]

8. Crush (1992)

Emotional manipulation is the theme in this study of the relationships among a novelist father, his teenage daughter, and two women who enter their lives after a car crash. One woman, a femme-fatale type, was the driver of the car; the other, the passenger, is left in a coma. The seriously injured woman was en route to an interview with the novelist. Canadian director and co-writer Alison MacLean brought the project to the Sundance labs in 1991; the film later played the 1993 Festival. [WATCH NOW]

9. Reservoir Dogs (1992)

A brash young filmmaker named Quentin Tarantino introduced his penchant for graphic violence and dark humor, arguably changing the face of cinema, with his debut feature film. He workshopped it at a Sundance lab in 1991; it eventually played the 1992 Fest — and returned for a screening on its 25th anniversary. Insisting that his next film, his 10th, will be his last, Tarantino said this summer that he considered a remake of Reservoir Dogs as his final film, perhaps with an all-Black cast, but decided against it. He still might turn it into a stage play, however, he told IndieWire. [WATCH NOW]

10. Corrina, Corrina (1994)

Writer-director Jessie Nelson brought Corrina, Corrina to the 1990 Directors Lab. The project tells the story of a white widower (Ray Liotta) who hires a Black nanny/housekeeper (Whoopi Goldberg) to care for his troubled young daughter. Set in the 1950s, the film is about healing, but it also brings into play issues of racial prejudice. [WATCH NOW]

11. Walking and Talking (1996)

Best buds Amelia and Laura maneuver through life, romance, and friendship in this low-key film filled with comfortable, witty, and tender dialogue by writer-director Nicole Holofcener. “Her take on female friendships, idle banter, and telecommunications in the Big City is true,” wrote programmer Andrea Alsberg. “But what makes this film unique is her creation of characters who are so likeable and human that you really want to spend a few hours with them and are sorry to have to leave them at the film’s end.” Catherine Keener and Anne Heche star. The film, developed in 1992 writing and directing labs, was screened at the Festival again on its 10-year anniversary, in 2006. [WATCH NOW]

12. Manny & Lo (1996)

Sisters Amanda, 11, and Laurel, 16, break out of their separate foster homes and go on the run. When Laurel discovers she is pregnant, the two kidnap a shop clerk to help them with the delivery. “Lisa Krueger has crafted a tale with incredible insight into the raw need for family,” wrote then-programmer John Cooper (who later became director of the Sundance Film Festival). “On one level, Manny and Lo is the story of three misfits, but on another, it raises the intriguing question of what constitutes ‘family.’” Krueger worked on the film in the 1994 Directors Lab, and Scarlett Johansson played the youngest sister in the finished film. [WATCH NOW]

13. Cop Land (1997)

An aging small-town New Jersey sheriff (Sylvester Stallone) who wants nothing more than to become a New York City police officer takes on a corrupt force. Among a cast that included Harvey Keitel and Robert DeNiro, Stallone drew acclaim for his performance. James Mangold developed the project in 1994 Screenwriters and Directors Labs at the Sundance Institute. [WATCH NOW]

14. Slums of Beverly Hills (1998)

A desperate father (Alan Arkin) shepherds his family from apartment to apartment in the darkness of night, one step ahead of the landlord. Meanwhile, growing up in a family of males, Vivian (Natasha Lyonne) is struggling with teenhood in the 1970s. Enter troubled cousin Rita (Marisa Tomei) and a monetary allowance from Rita’s father — and things can only get worse. Tamara Jenkins workshopped her debut feature at 1995 Sundance Screenwriters and Directors Labs. [WATCH NOW]

15. The Wood (1999)

It’s six hours to the nuptials, and the groom (Taye Diggs) has gone missing. As his two best friends (Omar Epps and Richard T. Jones) go looking for him, the tale turns into a coming-of-age story of these three young Black men growing up in Inglewood, California. Rick Famuyiwa brought the project through the 1997 Screenwriters and Directors Labs, and he later returned to Sundance with Dope, which played the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. [WATCH NOW]

16. Love and Basketball (2000)

Since they were 11 years old and new next-door neighbors in Los Angeles, it’s been all about basketball — and love. Monica (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy (Omar Epps) meet on the neighborhood court, eventually become friends — and more. But can their relationship stand the test of the pros? Sundance programmers praised Gina Prince-Bythewood’s debut feature film, which was incubated in our 1998 labs and eventually premiered at the 2000 Festival: “Love and Basketball is cinema romance at its best, emotionally exhilarating and sexy, with absorbing characterizations and fully satisfying, perfectly executed drama.” [WATCH NOW]

17. Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her (2000)

The lives of five California women intersect in surprising and unlikely ways, in this first feature film by Rodrigo García, developed in the 1998 labs. “Gently swathed with humor and pathos, Things You Can Tell is a film of uncommon delicacy and resonance,” wrote programmer Rebecca Yeldham. “In his contemplation of solitude and the fragile cloth of interconnectedness, García has created a passionate foray into the depths of human longing and desire.” The ensemble cast includes Glenn Close, Holly Hunter, Amy Brenneman, Kathy Baker, Cameron Diaz, and Calista Flockhart. [WATCH NOW]

18. Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)

John Cameron Mitchell’s film adaptation of his off-Broadway musical grabbed the director and audience awards at the Festival — and a host of awards at festivals around the globe. “With a sparkling performance by Mitchell as Hansel/Hedwig, a Grammy-nominated soundtrack by Stephen Trask, and beautiful animation sequences by Emily Hubley, Hedwig and the Angry Inch seems destined to take its place beside The Rocky Horror Picture Show as a cult classic for a new generation,” predicted Sundance programmer Shari Frilot. The film was workshopped at 1999 labs. [WATCH NOW]

19. The Motel (2005)

Writer-director Michael Kang brought the darkly comic story of Ernest Chin, 13, a Chinese American boy living and working in his family’s hourly-rate motel through the 2002 labs. Kang said he wanted to explore the rites of passage for the American male, setting the tale in “the worst place” to sort out the issues of growing up. In his Meet the Artist video from the 2005 Festival, where the project had its world premiere, Kang confessed: “I guess the initial inspiration for this film came from my own terrible puberty.” [WATCH NOW]

20. Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005)

The lives of a lonely artist and a newly single father/shoe salesman merge in this debut film by performance artist Miranda July, who also plays one of the leads. “July’s film is a poetic and penetrating observation of how people struggle to connect with one another in an isolating and contemporary world,” wrote Sundance programmer Shari Frilot. The film — a product of our 2003 labs — won a Special Jury Prize for Originality of Vision at the Festival; July has since returned to Park City with The Future in 2011 and Kajillionaire in 2020. [WATCH NOW]

21. Sherrybaby (2006)

Fresh out of a stretch in prison on drug charges, Sherry is determined to stay clean, find a job, and be a mother to her 5-year-old daughter. Director Laurie Collyer and actress Maggie Gyllenhaal portrayed her excruciating path and, for their work, earned recognition at festivals around the world. “Collyer’s sharply observed characters are brought to indelible life by all-around strong performances, led by Maggie Gyllenhaal’s deeply inhabited Sherry,” wrote Sundance programmer Shari Frilot of the project, which was incubated in the 2001 labs before having its world premiere at the 2006 Fest. [WATCH NOW]

22. A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006)

Writer-director Dito Montiel workshopped his semi-autobiographical ’80s-set coming-of-age story in the 2004 labs before the finished project played the 2006 Festival. The cast — Rosario Dawson, Robert Downey Jr., Shia LaBoeuf, Chazz Palminteri, Channing Tatum, and Dianne Wiest — captured the Special Jury Prize for Best Ensemble Performance, and Montiel won a directing prize at the Festival. [WATCH NOW]

23. Eagle vs. Shark (2007)

A couple of socially awkward, quirky outsiders negotiate romance in this film by writer-director — and Sundance regular — Taika Waititi. Waititi, whose father is of Māori descent, is a Renaissance man of sorts — actor, artist, writer, director, comedian. A bit of trivia from IMDb: He and Jemaine Clement, who plays one of the leads in this film, met at Victoria University of Wellington, and they later formed a comedy duo known as The Humourbeasts. Waititi brought Eagle vs. Shark through the 2005 labs on its way to the 2007 Festival, and has since gone on to rack up accolades on projects like Jojo Rabbit and Thor: Ragnarok. [WATCH NOW]

24. Sleep Dealer (2008)

Maybe Alex Rivera had a crystal ball when he was developing this science-fiction film in Sundance labs in 2000 and 2001. He and co-writer David Riker imagined a world where private companies hijack water supplies to sell at exorbitant prices and Mexican citizens are exploited remotely via technology. “Sleep Dealer was an early warning that the internet might appear borderless and community oriented, but as a tool, it can be harnessed for the purposes of authoritarianism, bigotry, and exploitation,” according to Joanne McNeil in a 2018 article in Filmmaker magazine. The film won the Alfred P. Sloan Prize and the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the Festival. [WATCH NOW]

25. Treeless Mountain (2008)

A mother leaves her two young daughters with their cold, indifferent aunt in the rural countryside of South Korea and goes off to search for their father. She promises to return when they have filled their pink plastic piggy bank with coins. Writer-director So Yong Kim developed the film in part in Sundance Institute labs in 2006, and has since returned to Park City with 2012’s For Ellen and 2016’s Lovesong. [WATCH NOW]

26. Cold Souls (2009)

Inspired by a dream in which Woody Allen opens a box containing his soul and finds a chickpea, writer-director Sophie Barthes came up with the idea for a film about removing souls for convenience and profit. Paul Giamatti portrays a version of himself, an actor stressing out over his role in Chekhov’s Vanya, who arranges to have his soul extracted to escape the anxiety. Wrote programmer Caroline Libresco of the 2007 lab project, “(Giamatti) comes to value that happiness isn’t merely the absence of pain, but the integration of the full range of emotion into life.” [WATCH NOW]

27. Pariah (2011)

Torn between the feminine version of herself that her parents expect and the butch version she displays among her friends, Alike, 17, is trying to find her true self. “I was coming out myself at the time,” said writer-director Dee Rees, looking back at the project she brought through the Institute’s labs in 2007 and 2008. “I’m not butch and I’m not femme, so I’d go to the clubs and I’d be kind of invisible.” Rees chose a handheld vérité camera style for the story, a technique that drew an Excellence in Cinematography Award in the U.S. Dramatic Competition when the project had its premiere at the 2011 Festival. [WATCH NOW]

28. Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)

In Sean Durkin’s 2011 Festival feature, Elizabeth Olsen mesmerizes as Martha, who escapes an abusive cult and tries to assimilate back into society. But she is haunted by her experiences and increasingly panicked by the feeling that she is being hunted. “I wanted to tell a story about an intense experience of exploring someone’s guilt and past and things that haunt them,” said Durkin of his debut feature. Durkin, who worked on the project in Sundance labs in 2010, won a Festival directing award for the film. [WATCH NOW]

29. Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)

Winner of both the Grand Jury Prize and the Excellence in Cinematography Award in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2012 Festival, Benh Zeitlin’s debut film centers on Hushpuppy, 6, and her father, Wink, as they scratch out a living in a remote Mississippi Delta community. “When Wink contracts a mysterious illness, nature flies out of whack — temperatures rise, and the ice caps melt, unleashing an army of prehistoric creatures called aurochs,” wrote programmer John Nein, who summed up the engaging film succinctly: “Beasts of the Southern Wild exists entirely in its own universe: mythological, anthropological, folkloric, and apocalyptic.” The film benefited in part from 2009 Institute labs for writing, directing, and producing. [WATCH NOW]

30. Drunktown’s Finest (2014)

Set in a beautiful, hypnotizing New Mexican landscape, the Navajo Nation comes alive through the eyes of three Native characters — a father-to-be, a transgender woman who dreams of becoming a model, and a young woman adopted and raised as Christian by a white family. All three are looking for a way out. Sydney Freeland’s feature film debut was inspired by a news story that characterized her hometown of Gallup, New Mexico, as “Drunktown, USA.” She worked the film through Sundance writing, directing, and producing labs in 2010, as well as the 2009 Native Filmmakers Lab. [WATCH NOW]

31. The Diary of a Teenage Girl (2015)

A bright, lonely teenager named Minnie draws to express herself and makes regular confessions to her tape recorder as she matures during those crazy, psychedelic 1970s. One evening, she finds herself alone with her mother’s boyfriend… and her world changes. Writer-director Marielle Heller, who worked on the project in the Sundance labs in 2012, combined animation and live action to tell this story, winning the Festival’s Special Jury Award for Excellence in Cinematography in the process. [WATCH NOW]

32. Swiss Army Man (2016)

When a dead body washes ashore on the deserted island that has become home to hapless Hank, hapless Hank becomes hopeful Hank. He believes the dead man provides him a path back to civilization. Co-writers and co-directors Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan, who previously partnered making music videos, turn out a lively, creative debut feature, which earned them a Festival directing award in 2016. They worked on the project in 2014 Sundance labs on screenwriting, directing, producing, and music and sound design. Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe star. [WATCH NOW]

33. Spa Night (2016)

A young Korean American man takes a job at a spa to help his parents weather the closing of the family restaurant business. There, he begins to explore his sexuality as he discovers a world that is both frightening and exciting. Actor Joe Seo’s portrayal was so nuanced in conveying the young man’s commitment to his traditional family and his own desires that it drew a Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Performance. Andrew Ahn wrote and directed the film; he took the project through screenwriting and producing labs in 2013. [WATCH NOW]

34. We the Animals (2018)

Three brothers grow up in a volatile household. Two become just like their father. The youngest, a dreamer, imagines a world of his own making. Director Jeremiah Zagar, who was formerly known for his documentary films, impressed Festival juries with a dash of animation and magical realism, earning a NEXT Innovator Prize for his adaptation of Justin Torres’ novel. The film benefited in part from 2014 labs on writing, directing, and producing. [WATCH NOW]

35. Little Woods (2018)

In this modern-day western set on the border between the U.S. and Canada, two sisters stray outside the law in an attempt to ease their struggles during an economic downturn. DaCosta — who has since gone on to direct this year’s Candyman remake — developed the project in part with the aid of Sundance Institute labs and grants between 2015 and 2017. She actually met two actors who became part of the powerful Little Woods cast — Tessa Thompson and Luke Kirby — while all three were attending a Directors Lab. [WATCH NOW]

36. Sorry to Bother You (2018)

Telemarketer Cassius Green (LaKeith Stanfield) discovers a magical power of salesmanship inside himself, in this witty, fantastical film backed by a funky soundtrack and a score by Tune-Yards. “Writer-director Boots Riley pulls no punches in this immensely intelligent comedy about overcoming your perception of your own powers of persuasion,” wrote programmer Shari Frilot, of the project, which went through our labs in 2015 and 2016. “Sorry to Bother You is a sparkling debut feature that surfs a macabre universe with a disturbing likeness to our own.” [WATCH NOW]

37. The Mustang (2019)

A hardened prisoner in a Nevada maximum security prison enrolls in a rehabilitation program that will teach him to train wild mustangs. As he works with an equally hardened and ornery mustang, could he also be taming the beast within himself? Matthias Schoenaerts stars; Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre directed and co-wrote the script, bringing it through our screenwriting, directing, producing, and music and sound design labs in 2015. [WATCH NOW]

38. Bull (2019)

Kris, a teen headed down the path of delinquency, and her neighbor, Abe, an aging former bull rider eking out a living as a rodeo clown, are thrown together when Kris trashes his house.  Director Annie Silverstein and co-writer Johnny McAllister developed this film in part in labs in 2016 at the Sundance Institute; the finished film eventually screened at Cannes as part of the Un Certain Regard section in 2019. [WATCH NOW]

39. Selah and the Spades (2019)

Selah Summers, 17, leads the dominant faction of the student body at a prestigious Pennsylvania boarding school. As tensions among the five “ruling” factions grow and feeling increasingly threatened by her new protégée, Selah struggles with losing control — and losing herself. Writer-director Tayarisha Poe, who participated in multiple labs in 2017, made her feature debut with this film. Poe revealed in a 2020 interview with the Sundance Institute that she originally cast Lovie Simone as the protege Paloma, but it quickly became clear that Simone had to be Selah. [WATCH NOW]

40. The 40-Year-Old Version (2020)

Radha Blank proves herself a triple threat, writing, directing, and starring as a once-promising-but-still-struggling playwright as she faces the big 4-0. She turns to an old passion — rapping — and finds new energy and fulfillment. But then as interest in producing her play heightens, she puts her musical project on hold to negotiate the myriad compromises demanded to put her play on the stage. Blank, who went through writing, directing, and producing labs in 2017, won the directing award in the Festival’s U.S. Dramatic Competition in 2020 with this black-and-white film. [WATCH NOW]

It definitely wasn’t the January Parkites had hoped for when the Covid-19 pandemic sent Sundance Film Festival organizers scrambling to cancel venues, sponsors pulled out and cancelled short term leases on Main Street properties. The Festival went virtual, Park City turned ghost town and people stayed home on their couches to stream indie films from across the globe. What blew everyone away was how Virtual Sundance kicked ass.

Perhaps it was the dearth of new movies in online land or the immense boredom folks are swimming in with cultural activities being severely curtailed for nearly a year now, but Betsy Wallace, the CFO and Managing Director of the Sundance Institute said attendance (or better film and seminar logins) during the seven-day virtual fest nearly tripled from last Sundance.  But Sundance Institute reports that users tallied 251,331 online views of the 73 feature films, 50 short films and four independent TV series (at $15 a pop) during the seven days of Virtual Sundance. If 215,873 seats were filled during the 2020 festival in Park City, it’s definitely an uptick but not “triple”?

Organizers must be including the Virtual Sundance Festival’s “satellite screens,” at 20 art-house theaters across the country (20,000 attendees), the festival’s 23 panel discussions (another 22,267 views), the New Frontier virtual exhibit (39,869 visits)

We had ‘Life in a Day,’ a film that was free to Utahns,” Wallace said. “We had 6800 people sign up for that. We had about 1,500 stay through the Q and A of it.” The Festival’s biggest prize winner, “CODA,” was acquired by Apple – for a record $25 million and we’re curious how many viewers that one had!

No Celeb Sightings at Virtual Sundance 2021

Photos courtesy of Kia Telluride Supper

Virtual Sundance is Here To Stay

With the success of this year’s virtual Sundance Film Festival it’s likely we’ll see a hybrid in-person/online event because why not double down? Sundance Institute should be able to lure brand sponsorship at both the ground level Main Street, Park City, as well as through its streaming platform, plus sell all those tickets to virtual screenings while putting butts in theater seats.

Park City’s contract with the Sundance Institute runs through 2026 and although there is an escape clause that allowed the Institute to change, or give notice of termination if they did so this year, Wallace says they plan to stay put.

“We want to come back to Park City, and we want to have the ability to go to a theater in person, and we also want the ability to stay at home and watch something in the coziness of our house,” she told KPCW.

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words…. And often they’re priceless to the brands behind those pics.

Here are some of those celebrity Sundance Film Festival faces.

On the eve of the Sundance Film Festival, I get a knot in my stomach and a sense of dread. It’s not about the swarm of entitled strangers that invade Park City, Utah, as most locals might guess. Just check out the Facebook posts on Park City Bitch and Complain. It’s from a combination of excitement, anticipation, overwhelming information flying into my Inbox and the fear that I will be behind the eight ball at every turn.

Once that first Thursday of the Fest hits, there is no stopping the machine that has evolved since it began in 1978. The 10-day homage to independent filmmaking has gone from a handful of movie showings to a cinematic universe of sponsor lounges, parties, panel discussions, host villages, concerts, traffic gridlock, and unending lines for screenings and events.

That first day of the Film Fest snowballs into mass mayhem for the first four days and I’m the one with the arms and legs waving from it as it tumbles down Main Street. Like most every attendee to the Fest, I overbook myself. There is no end to what to do at the Sundance Film Festival. There are panels on the panels, meetings with sponsors and brands, and even a spa treatment on my horizon. Granted, I can breathe on Tuesday…while I’m driving eight hours to Denver for the Outdoor Retailer/SIA show.

 

Back To Sundance

For the first weekend of the Festival, Main Street looks nothing like Main Street. Park City leaders have approved a series of temporary licenses for corporate and not-for-profit popups that hang out their own logos and shingles. Some spaces are open to the public; while some are media, VIP and filmmakers invite only. Almost all close for private events when the sun goes down.

The Activations of Sundance

When a brand comes to an event and sets up shop for exposure and networking either with the public or VIPs, it’s called an “activation.” Sometimes these brands rent out a spot for the entire Fest run. Sometimes, they only need the location for a day. Here is a list of what I’m aware of but it’s by no means comprehensive. If you know of anything else I would love to hear about it in the comments. 

Chase Sapphire On Main

If you have a Chase Sapphire credit card or know someone who does, get over to Chase Sapphire on Main.

Guests can sample food from around the globe, view and participate in Los Angeles Times live film panel discussions with filmmakers and talent from the top films of the Festival, attend celebrity-chef cooking demos, pick up a free latte, listen to live music and more. The venue is open to the public but Chase Sapphire cardmembers will have access to parties, a dining concierge, movie ticketing and a private lounge featuring a premium coffee bar from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and whiskey and beer tastings from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Brand Storytelling

The fifth annual Brand Storytelling At Sundance Film Festival is a fest within the Fest and runs from January 22 – 26, 2020. Launched in 2016, this event attracts major brands and high-profile content development and distribution entities for an invite-only program of keynote chats, panel presentations, film premiers and screenings, live musical performances and more. Basecamp for the event is The Lodges at Deer Valley.

“The most successful brands today are those who are invested in content that entertains, informs and inspires their target audience and retains customers,” said Rick Parkhill, Director of Brand Storytelling.

Take a look at their schedule here.

WarnerMedia Lodge: Elevating Storytelling with AT&T, located at 675 Main St (at Heber Ave)

From January 24-27, WarnerMedia will transform the space located at Heber & Main at 660 Main St. (the old Zoom Restaurant) into the nexus for WarnerMedia activations.

WarnerMedia Lodge: Elevating Storytelling with AT&T will host daily lunches for celebrities and tastemakers, premiere parties and after-parties, industry panels and cast dinners for some of the festival’s most buzzed about titles and WarnerMedia properties. The full playlist is here.

The three-day Our Stories to Tell pop-up experience is sponsored by HBO, TNT and TBS to celebrate their commitment to multicultural storytelling, creators and audiences. This multi-day event runs Friday, January 24 through Sunday, January 26th and will be located at 306 Main St. The event space will transform throughout the weekend to accommodate various invite-only, interactive programming meaningful panel conversations and discussions with on-screen and behind-the-scenes talent, exclusive dinners with casts, and more to showcase ongoing initiatives that authentically engage African American, Asian American, LGBTQ+, and Latinx audiences. You can see the full itinerary here.

McMillions 

HBO will host a multi-day, immersive pop-up experience at OP Rockwell, 268 Main St., from January 25-27, 12:30-6 p.m., in support of the six-part documentary series, McMillion$. The series premiers at Sundance but debuts on HBO, Monday, February 3. Sundance attendees will have the chance to win a game that hasn’t been rigged; the interactive experience will take guests through the true story of the $24 million McDonald’s Monopoly fraud that shocked the nation at the height of the game’s popularity.

Independent Filmmaker Day

Rubenstein Business Law and Artists United present a private, day-long event on Jan. 28, 2020, to foster the development, production and promotion of new projects in film, media and beyond. The day which takes place at the Park City Hotel features a rapid-fire Pitch Competition, Expert Roundtables, and an After-Party to add new professionals to your network. Register here.

New Frontier

Located at the Ray next to the Holiday Village Cinemas, this year’s New Frontier is a social and creative space that showcases media installations, multimedia performances, transmedia experiences, panel discussions, and more. There are actually three locations-

New Frontier at The Ray
1768 Park Ave., Park City
Tickets required
Capacity: 35
Avg. eWaitlist admittance: 7

The Box at The Ray
1768 Park Ave., Park City
Tickets required
Capacity: 40
Avg. eWaitlist admittance: 10

New Frontier Central
950 Iron Horse Dr., Park City
Open to credential holders
Capacity: 202

Browse the Installations

 

Thirst Aid Kit Live 

Joining hosts Bim Adewunmi and Nichole Perkins for a hilarious, illuminating and thirsty conversation is actor Daniel Dae Kim (Hawaii Five-O, Lost).  Thirst Aid Kit live is a podcast centered on pop culture and how it shapes desire. Saturday, January 25, 4:30pm, Filmmaker Lodge; 550 Main St.

The Kia Telluride Supper Suite

The Supper Suite pop-up returns to celebrate Hollywood’s A-list attending the busy indie film festival with a takeover of The Mustang restaurant. The gifting suite/dining spot will serve up modern american bistro dishes from Toronto’s “Marbl Toronto” (http://marbltoronto.com/).

Kia Motors has used the activation to promote their new vehicle releases over the past five years and most recently with their eight-passenger Telluride SUV ahead of the production release.  For 2020, the Kia Telluride Supper Suite will bring a fleet of chauffeur driven all-wheel drive Tellurides to Park City to shuttle celebs. “The 2020 Kia Telluride is our best vehicle yet to handle the high altitudes and snow-filled streets of Park City and it makes perfect sense to showcase Telluride’s big, bold and boxy looks and ultra-comfortable interior,” explains James Bell, Kia’s Director of Corporate Communications & Social.  In addition, Molson Coors Beverage Company will serve Peroni Nastro Azzurro.

Kia Telluride Supper Suite will also host the annual Collider Portrait and Media Studio during the day where filmmakers, actors, media and influencers can conduct interviews and take cast portraits.  

The long-running Style Lounge is also part of the Kia Supper Suite where brand partners like mou, ic! Berlin, Original Penguin by Munsingwear and  Laundry by Shelli Segal will be gifting VIPs.

The Kia Telluride Supper Suite also will host The Creative Coalition‘s Annual Spotlight Initiative Awards Benefit Dinner for honorees Rachel Brosnahan, Julie Taymor, and Jim Gaffigan.

Look here for their events.

Audible Speakeasy

Audible Inc., the world’s largest producer and seller of spoken-word entertainment and audiobooks, will make its Sundance Film Festival debut at 692 Main Street as the Festival’s exclusive audio entertainment sponsor. Creators and Festival attendees will have the opportunity to attend Los Angeles Times-curated and hosted panel discussions, fireside chats, daily sound baths and more.

Audible Speakeasy attendees are also invited to relax through daily, 30-minute sound baths hosted by Sara Auster. Guests will be introduced to sound meditation with guided instructions focused on breathing practices.

Check out the action here.

Legion M x Pizza Red Hut Lodge

Legion M partners with top Hollywood creators – from independent  filmmakers to big Hollywood studios – to produce a slate of movies, TV, and digital content. They are the first media company in history designed to be owned by fans. Come here how they do it. Mix with fellow Sundance attendees and the Legion M crew, or come join the live Twitch stream on Saturday night.

Lounge is open to the public Jan. 24-26 but all attendees must be individually registered. https://legionm.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a7b9813f53cf8a1dcbe84ffd6&id=f1d7c0e8bd&e=04d7553547

Browse the weekend’s events. 

Indigenous Filmmakers Lounge

The Lounge located at Park City Live will feature panel discussions, elevated dialogue, networking and live performances during the opening weekend of the Festival with a focus on narrative change and creating opportunities for Native peoples to build sustainable careers in the industry.  The lounge is open to Festival attendees from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with an Indigenous Filmmakers Reception and live entertainment at The Cabin from 7:30 p.m. to midnight Saturday. 

The Indigenous Filmmakers Lounge is made possible through the generous sponsorship and support of Gateway Entertainment, a new non-profit initiative dedicated to creating opportunities for under-served communities in filmed entertainment with a particular focus on developing behind-the-camera careers in the industry. 

All lounge events are free, but registration and tickets are required. Register by clicking here. Follow the Indigenous Filmmakers Lounge on Instagram at @IndigenousLoungeSFF

Ecoluxe Lounge Park City/ABC4 Media Lounge, 255 Main St. Jan.25. 11a-6p

As a regular fixture at Sundance, Debbie Durkin knows how to put together a premiere gifting and gathering space. This is her 13th luxury suite during the Fest and she’s partnered with local brands including ABC4 to welcome celebs, VIPs and media to the Ecoluxe Lounge for a little gifting therapy. Sponsors include Modere, Lehi Mills and Chef Bryan Woolley.

The Retreat to Benefit Project Green, 580 Main St.

The Retreat is one of the longest running lounges at Sundance where Hollywood VIP’s can enjoy music, wine and catch a breath between their busy festival schedule. Executive producers Kim Kreiss and Patryjca Siewert-Towns founded Project Green 501c3 in order to protect green space for future generations and donates to existing summer camps and theraputic programs for underserved kids. 

Sponsors include Twisted Cedar/CBC BevCo; NFP & Chubb: Entertainment Specialty Groups that provide customized solutions for film producers’ insurance needs including tax credits and completion bonds. Big Island Coffee Roasters; Vernal Brewing Company; Atlanta Specialty Woods; Excelsior Candles; Angela Horton and more.

WELLHAUS x SEED Us Society

When it debuted last year, WELLHAUS was the first fully integrated health, wellness and ancillary product concept house during the festival. They are back this year to host film premieres, dinners, receptions, daytime experiential activities, happy hours and panel discussions on cannabis in Hollywood and other topics. 

WELLHAUS has partnered with three local venues to create a first-ever multi-location brand experience at the Festival: the WELLHAUS Spa Experience at the PuraVida Spa at Sky & Main Hotel (201 Heber Street at Main); the WELLHAUS Café Experience offering complimentary organic coffees and healthy snacks at the Main Street Deli (525 Main Street) and the WELLHAUS Lounge at the brand-new Old Town Cellars (OTC, 408 Main Street) from January 24-27.

Presenting Sponsor The Erba Verde Group (EVG) will implement a series of unique programming and hospitality activations throughout the duration of Sundance, each aimed to educate and entertain the public and the festival community on the rapidly growing cannabis and CBD movement and wider health and wellness industries. 

Join SEED Us Society for their first-annual activation during 2020’s Sundance/Slamdance Film Festivals. They’ve partnered with WELLHAUS, the new health, wellness and CBD/cannabis-focused event platform.

The SEED’s afternoon experience in mind, body and soul connection is free and open to the public, and features keynote speakers, impact investors, community builders, a sound bath exercise, movement and networking, including a talk led by Theodore Adams III, Stan Lee Foundation co-founder, Gravity Impact Fund, and MindAstronaut/SEED Advisory.

Indie Entertainment Showcase 2020

The by-invitation only event from Cloud 21 & Kultura PR will host a panel featuring the top writers, actors, producers and filmmakers in the industry- Vincent De Paul, Ali M. Aksu, Renee Meriste and Tracy Vicory-Rosenquest; The special event will be held on January 25, 2020 at 2:30 PM p.m. at 710 Main St.

Event sponsors include Drylab, Château de Berne and Nutrivista Water, and giftbag sponsors Butcher’s Bunches, SleepPhones, My Power of One and OrganiCBD.

Acura Festival Village  (Fri, Jan 24 – Sat, Feb 1; 480 Swede Alley)

Throughout the week, Acura will host exclusive premiere parties for Four Good Days and Sylvie’s Love, inclusive live performances by headliner JOHNNYSWIM and many others as well as various panels and activations. 

In addition, Acura will be shuttling filmmakers around in 100 Acura MDX SUVs. Acura will also display a full vehicle line up throughout Park City, including the brand’s hybrid supercar – the NSX – to highlight the brand’s sponsorship and showcase Acura’s Precision Crafted Performance brand DNA.

During public hours (12 p.m.-6 p.m.), Acura Festival Village guests will be treated to live music, DJs, and refreshments — from coffee and tea to Stella Artois, Bon & Viv, and High West Distillery.  The Acura Stage will also serve as the home to intimate panel discussions led by The Atlantic and Wall Street Journal

From Fri, Jan 24 – Mon, Jan 27, The IMDb Studio at Acura Festival Village will host on-camera interviews with leading actors, directors and writers. 

“Every year, we are inspired by the talent and creativity we see at the Sundance Film Festival,” said Jon Ikeda, Vice President and Acura Brand Officer. “Acura is proud to support independent filmmakers by partnering with the Sundance Institute to give them a platform where they can advance their voices and dreams.” 

Here is the full schedule of events happening.

SundanceTV HQ

The official television partner of the Sundance Film Festival will host a variety of must-attend events at 268 Main Street throughout the 2020 festival.

This year, the SundanceTV HQ will feature panels in partnership with The Hollywood Reporter focused on actors and indie filmmakers, with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association discussing women breaking barriers in Hollywood, and with AMC Networks, New York Women in Film & Television, Women in Film Los Angeles and ReFrame on gender parity, inclusion and the way forward.

See what’s happening.

 

Sundance ASCAP Music Café, 751 Main Street

ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) announces an eclectic music lineup for its 22nd Annual Sundance ASCAP Music Café, taking place January 24 – 31, 2020.  Beginning at 2 p.m. each day, the Café will feature a dynamic mix of both established and emerging songwriters and artists. The venue is open to all credential holders on a first come basis. If there is room, the general public will be admitted.

See the complete schedule of performances.

 

The Blackhouse Foundation 

The bastion for the most influential and impactful Black writers, directors, producers, crew, actors and actresses throughout film, television, and digital media returns with presenting sponsor Facebook. They will host a series of high-level panels and discussions with emerging talent, top executives, and tastemakers throughout the culture during the first weekend of the Fest.

Friday, 1/24, 4pm-6pm

Join Blackhouse and Facebook in a deep-dive conversation with the directors behind a selection of Sundance’s hottest short films.

Saturday, 1/25, 10am-12pm

Join Facebook Watch for brunch and an intimate conversation with Complex’s Editor in Chief, Damien Scott, as they discuss the future of digital storytelling, the power of building communities, and the importance of elevating and engaging creative Black voices in the industry. 

The Blackhouse Festival App 2020 is now live. It will include the most updated information regarding programming and events at The Blackhouse during Sundance. Also check out “Digital Portrait Series” as part of Facebook’s SEEN initiative. They will share on Facebook and Instagram, filmmakers’ portraits and a Q&A video series to highlight the great Black films and filmmakers at Sundance this year. 

Canada Goose Basecamp

Escape from the cold at 558 Main St. The public is invited to try on the brand’s iconic parkas, learn about their history in front of and behind the camera, enjoy hot and cold beverages and stay connected with complimentary Wi-Fi and power charging stations from January 24- 27.