The energy in the room was electric; so many people in black with the most exclusive Sundance ticket packages gathering up at the Stein Eriksen Lodge to kick off the Sundance Film Festival 2015.

“Are you local?” I asked the family standing nearby as we moved toward the shuttles that would carry us to the premiere screening. They nodded yes. I said enthusiastically, “Really? Where do you live?” The parents live in New York and their daughter in Los Angeles. I chuckled. During Sundance, being from LA or New York is local. The filmmakers and patrons own this little ski town for 10 days in January and on this first night of the Fest- at An Artist At The Table- we’re all family.

Attending the documentary What Happened, Miss Simone? about the legendary jazz artist Nina Simone was ancillary to the evening but it highlighted the fact that without the Sundance Institute there might not be this kind of voice in film.

The ‘artist’ at our table excitedly described his next film, a documentary about the woman who singlehandedly crushed the ERA from passing. Sundance Directing Award Winner Ben Cotner was back after last year’s Case Against Eight documentary to share his passion for Sundance.

He vouched for the sentiment that without the Sundance Institute that nurtures them there would be no Sundance Film Festival and possibly no true independent film voice.

An Artist At The Table was an evening of education, connections, introductions and awe. Norman Lear was at the table in front of me discussing the Memoir he’s writing, Christine Lahti was at the table to my right, Sundance alumni and the director of the Oscar-nominated Selma Ava DuVernay stood to applause at yet another table.

Unlike your everyday world, rubbing elbows with some inspirational filmmakers is commonplace at the Sundance Film Festival. The AATT facilitates this ten fold. Everyone around me had some sort of professional connection. They weren’t just coming to see movies. They were actors, producers, lawyers, ad execs, directors, writers and they all have a story to tell.

Morgan Neville sat next to me on the bus. The Oscar-winning documentary producer (20 Feet From Stardom) has yet another film in Sundance – Best of Enemies, a humorous look at the 1968 televised debates between conservative strategist William F. Buckley, Jr. and liberal writer Gore Vidal.  Neville’s Sundance royalty but still an all-around good guy.

Last night was an opportunity to hear from the artists who have grown up through the Sundance Institute. The organization has been nurturing visionaries through their labs and workshops since 1981.

The AATT last night honored the programs and people that helped build their film career whether it was a screenwriters, filmmakers, directors or Catalyst event at Sundance Resort.And the rest of the week gives us all a chance to recognize both partners’ contributions.

This year, we say goodbye to L’Oreal (and MorningStar Farms veggie burgers). but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a whole lot of other things to do and see in Park City during the Sundance Film Festival when you’re not skiing. Wait a minute. L’Oreal’s not coming back?! That was the latest news from Sundance and I gotta say it was more than a little disappointing. The pop-up shop on Park City’s Main Street offered quick hair and makeup makeovers for anyone who strolled in and the friendly girls handed you a nail polish, shampoo samples and a mascara on the way out. There was no better way to end a ski day than to pop off the mountain and have someone else make you look pretty again. My daughter loved the pampered afternoon. Not here this year? Say it isn’t so. Ah, but it is.

For six years the beauty industry giant partnered with the Sundance Institute but alas no more. L’Oreal apparently felt they couldn’t compete with the unofficial Sundance piggybackers like Dove and MAC who paid less to be up the street and featured products and makeovers in exclusive VIP lounges. What L’Oreal didn’t realize is that there was no competition. Those unofficial brands aren’t open to the public and they don’t see nearly the traffic. Sure, a few celebs posed for product placement pics with Dove Hair Therapy bottles and media made mentions but L’Oreal was getting the same plus they were like goodwill ambassadors. They offered a unique experience and gave the average Park City guest a spot inside instead of on the curb. They gave skiers, tourists and Utahns a reason to plan a day in PC in January.

Ok, L’Oreal may be missing but just look at everything else Sundance has to offer this week. Steel yourself against traffic and parking woes and then get out and enjoy the diversity, fashion, aura and activity that enshrouds this Utah mining town courtesy of brands that support independent filmmaking.

The Festival Co-op (201 Heber Ave.) will house a group of 2015 Festival sponsors who have all sorts of activations planned. Acura will host a race-themed augmented reality photo opp. Recharge and refuel over a free cup of Intelligentsia coffee, enjoy KCRW-hosted music, and grab a Stella Artois during those signature Acura Hours events from 3 p.m.–5 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Monday of the first weekend. You can even pose for your close-up with the all-new 2015 TLX.

Use Premiere Clip and share a video telling Adobe the moment you wanted to be a filmmaker. Use #SundanceMoments and Adobe will feature you in their Festival Co-op screens. Try on Blundstone boots, play some festival trivia and possibly win a free pair. In addition, snap a photo of Blundstones out and about at the Festival and upload it to Instagram with #blundstone and #sundance for another chance to win a pair.

Hungry? Do the Taste of Park City at the Chase Sapphire Lounge (573 Main St.) while you pose for costumed photos or have a Smart Chat with film talent. There will also be cooking demos from celebrity chefs. All
from 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Get some free coffee, Chobani yogurt and LUNA bars in the Chobani Café at SundanceTV HQ (268 Main St.), Friday, January 23–Saturday, January 31, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Sit in on lively panel discussions at the Filmmaker Lodge (Elks bldg, 550 Main St., 2nd Floor), daily, Friday, January 23 – Sunday, January 31.

The New Frontier exhibit has a new home at 573 Main Street where the general public can participate in a social and creative space that showcases media installations, multimedia performances, transmedia experiences, panel discussions, and more. you don’t even have to wait in line. Sign up and check-in for same-day only Virtual Reality (VR) experiences and the hosts will buzz you when it’s your time to come back.

Listen to talented live bands, sip hot cocoa and chill at the HP Live Lounge/Sundance house (tent) at the corner of Heber and Main. They’re planning interactive displays, thought-provoking panels and workshops, immersive experiences with HP products, film and technology discussions, as well as a spot to escape the cold.
(Filmmaker speaker series daily from 11 a.m.–noon)

SundanceTV HQ moves back into their location at the tippy top of Main (268 Main St.) where you can warm up, enjoy a snack, listen to afternoon panel conversations with writers, actors, directors, and industry experts, or just meet up before your next screening— the lounge is particularly friendly from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m with live music but you’ll have to watch their twitter feed @sundanceTV to get an invite.

The Utah Film Commission
is in the house with The Living Room (528 Main St.). The hub will have free WiFi, warm coffee, food, daily giveaways, and information about filming in Utah. Open till 4 p. Friday-Thursday.

Many of the public panel discussions are full by now but you never know. Either way, grab a free cup of coffee and warm up at the AirBnB Haus (591 Main St.) daily.

The Blue Jeans Network Lounge (580 Main St.) will also have free coffee, a charging station, and a game or two to fuel the fun.

Finally, there’s a slick new installation that’s not an official Sundance sponsor but it is open to the public. The Merrell TrailScape (625 Main Ave.) brings a 4D virtual reality experience through an interactive Oculus Rift project. It’s the first ever, commercial use of “walk around” VR designed by Oscar award-winning Framestore. Don the goggles and hike to a basecamp in the Dolomites, scramble along treacherous rock ledges and navigate a wood suspension bridge. “We chose Sundance to launch our new Capra hiking boot because the philosophy of the Fest is in line with Merrell’s brand philosophy- adventure, independent thinking and empowering to create your own journey. It’s about encouraging self discovery,” said Jamie Mandor, Merrell’s head of Global Marketing. “As a brand we chose a launch time and place where there was a large group of people from all crossroads of life.”
The adventure does require a little time so sign up on Merrell’s iPad app and they’ll text you when your turn is up.

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Many people get the impression that showing up to Sundance without an invitation means you’ll be standing out in the cold. Obviously, that’s just not the case.

If your exclusive goal is to meet filmmakers it’s entirely possible even if you never see a film or get on a VIP party list. For example, you can stand in line for a movie and then hop out when they start entering the theater. You’ll be surprised at whom you get to chat with; ride the shuttle, get a drink at Butchers, Flanagans, O’Shucks, No Name, or Wasatch Brew Pub. I’ve been told that many filmmakers who come to Sundance can’t get into events themselves so they’re taking meetings in public places or hooking up to go skiing. Go ahead; get to know the town, get to know the people, walk Main Street, stop in to the venues and take advantage of the sponsor opportunities. You never know what stories you’ll wind up creating.

Its hard to explain why we are so hungry for photos of actors; even when we constantly see them in magazines and on the big screen. The whole paparazzi thing is so nuts that people have died, sued and written books on the subject. Still. snapping photos of strangers is a national past time and there’s no better place and time to feed the frenzy than this week at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

 

Each year, the ‘A listers’ in attendance grows. Many have films appearing in this year’s fest while others (like the Kardashians and Paris Hilton) arrive to work the scene and perpetuate their mystique. Here’s our list of who’s coming to Sundance 2015, give or take a few dozen.

Power up those digis, grab a Sandisk Extreme Waterproof SD card (weather forecasters are predicting snow fall during the last two weeks of January) and watch for clusters of cameramen stalking Main Street’s facades (ie Grey Goose Lounge, TR Suites, Filmmakers Lodge, Village At The Lift). When they start shooting so should you. I met a gal a few years back who snapped away with a medium-priced point and shoot. She told me she makes hundreds of dollars every Sundance selling her photos overseas.

 

These are a few of the stars coming and their films they’ll represent:

 

Jack Black, Jeffrey Tambor & James Marsden, “The D Train”

 

Jack Black is in charge of his high school reunion and Marsden, the most popular guy in school, won’t come. Comedy ensues.

 

 

Kristen Wiig, “The Diary Of A Teenage Girl”

The hybrid of live action and animation turns the book about a daughter involved with her mother’s boyfriend into a quirky drama set in 1970s San Francisco.

 

Nicole Kidman & Joe Fiennes, “Strangerland”

 

Nicole Kidman and Joseph Fiennes play parents frantically searching for their two teens lost after a massive Australian dust storm.

 

Ryan Reynolds, “Mississippi Grind”

 

From the filmmakers who brought us the highly acclaimed “Half Nelson”, here’s a gambling flick that takes Reynolds to a legendary high-stakes poker game in New Orleans.

 

Sarah Silverman, “I Smile Back”

 

Comedienne Sarah Silverman takes in the drama of a housewife who has it all but turns to drugs and cheating when depression and disillusion set in.

 

 

James Franco, “I Am Michael” & “True Story” (with Jonah Hill)

 

James Franco gets two films into the Sundance Film Festival. The first, based on a true story, has him as a gay rights advocate who finds God and denounces homosexuality. The other has him playing a murderer on the run who tries to steal Hill’s identity.

 

Robert Redford & Nick Nolte, “A Walk In The Woods”

 

Robert Redford meant to make this senior buddy film with good friend Paul Newman but he passed away too soon. Now Redford treks the 2,100-mile-long Appalachian Trail with Nick Nolte right into the Sundance Film Festival.

 

Winona Ryder, “Experimenter”

 

Winona Ryder stars in a twisted bio pic about social psychologist Stanley Milgram.

 

Ethan Hawke, “Ten Thousand Saints”

 

A true darling of Sundance, Ethan Hawke plays a dad forced to reconnect with his estranged teen after the kid moves in with him.

 

Ewan McGregor, “Last Days In The Desert”

 

McGregor as Jesus. What more can you say except the film was shot by Emmanuel Lubezki, the cinematographer of “Gravity” and “Birdman”.

 

Jennifer Lopez & Viola Davis, “Lila & Eve”

 

J-Lo at Sundance!

The two ladies take the law into their own hands after their kids are killed in a crime and the authorities fail to do anything about it.

 

And the rest-

 

Molly Shannon

 

Giovanni Ribisi,

 

Guy Pearce

 

Billy Crudup

 

Tye Sheridan

 

Toni Collette,

 

Hugo Weaving

 

Orlando Bloom,

 

Brie Larson,

 

Sam Rockwell,

 

Jesse Eisenberg,

 

Jason Segel,

 

Anna Chlumsky,

 

Joan Cusack,

 

Mamie Gummer

 

Peter Sarsgaard,

 

John Leguizamo

 

Anna Kendrick

 

Anthony Michael Hall

 

Jason Schwartzman

 

Chiwetel eliofor

 

Chris pine

 

Cynthia Nixon

 

Kid cudi

 

Blthye Danner

 

Sam Elliott

 

Rhea perlman

 

Edward James almos

 

Laura dern

 

Keanu reeves

 

Patrick fugit

 

Spike lee

 

Sienna miller

 

Jason sudeikis

 

Amanda peet

 

Emma Roberts

 

Felicity Jones

 

Emma Thompson,

 

Mary Steenburgen

 

Lena Headey,

 

Richard Dreyfuss,

 

Dianna Agron

 

Jennifer Connelly,

 

John C. Reilly,

 

Tye Sheridan,

 

Michael Cera