Laremy Legel,
Jan 09, 2007
Many times when I'm on the street, people will approach me and say, "Hey, what's this Sundance Film Festival thing all about?" This is somewhat strange to me because it's a pretty random question to ask someone you've never met. However, I try to help them out where I can. And now I'd like to do the same for you. Sit back, relax, and get all your Sundance Film Festival questions answered in a most definitive manner.
1. What is this Sundance Film Festival?
The Sundance Film Festival is a festival of films predominantly held in Park City, Utah (although Salt Lake City and Ogden, Utah, also hold limited screenings). It is the largest independent cinema festival in the U.S., and it's been around in some fashion since 1978. It's considered the most prestigious film festival in the United States by "those in the know."
2. Who are "those in the know"?
Shady types, guys you don't want to cross.
3. When is the festival?
This year it's scheduled January 18th through January 28th. It's been held in January since the third edition. The first two were held in September on the off chance that people didn't want to freeze. Luckily, we do.
4. Who runs the festival?
The Sundance Institute has run the festival since 1985. You may know the institute from the Sundance Channel. Robert Redford (and friends) created the institute back in 1981, and you can find out more about the institute here.
5. Well, if it's been around since 1978 but the Sundance institute only took over in 1985, what happened before that?
Oooh, very clever of you to notice. Before it was Sundance the festival was called the Utah/US Film Festival. The first effort was held in Salt Lake City in September 1978. The festival featured classic films, including Midnight Cowboy, Deliverance, and A Streetcar Named Desire. The festival was officially named the Sundance Film Festival in 1990.
6. So what's the big deal about the Sundance Film Festival anyway?
A couple of things actually. First off, it's the most touted film festival in the United States by almost any measure. Internationally both Cannes and Toronto vie for overall superiority. The other X-factor Sundance has is the emphasis on independent film. Sundance has launched American directors' careers for the past two decades, and it's well known in the industry as a place to buy distribution rights of non-studio efforts. This is important given the overall stranglehold the major studios have over the industry; without a project like the Sundance Film Festival there wouldn't be a way for an independent filmmaker to find major distribution. Every January Hollywood types (think sharks with checkbooks) descend upon Park City, Utah, in hopes of finding the next big thing.
7. What directors have been beneficiaries of the Sundance Film Festival?
To start with, the Coen brothers' first film, Blood Simple, won the Grand Jury Prize (Sundance's highest honor) in 1985. The brothers went on to make notable films like Fargo and O Brother, Where Art Thou? based on the notoriety and buzz that came with the prize. In one of the more famous stories, Steven Soderbergh worked for the festival in 1988 as a volunteer driver and returned in 1989 with his debut film, Sex, Lies, and Videotape. Since then he's become one of the most powerful directors in Hollywood with such films as Ocean's 11, Erin Brockovich, and Traffic. 1992 at Sundance propelled the rise of Quentin Tarantino with Reservoir Dogs. In 1994 Kevin Smith won the peer-voted Filmmakers Trophy with Clerks, and he's been a force ever since. The largest recent phenomenon to burst forth from the Sundance Film Festival was the Blair Witch Project, which was shown in 1999 during the midnight screening schedule. It went on to make $140 million at the box office.
8. Have there been misses too?
Sure, but you haven't heard of them, that's why they're misses. You can view the complete list of Grand Jury Winners here.
9. How does one attend the Sundance Film Festival?
Head on down to Park City! Tickets can be obtained via a lottery which determines when you are allowed to purchase tickets. Alternatively, tickets are available when you arrive either through no-shows or the barter method. Rumor has it that people hand out tickets to screenings that haven't sold out, but this is unsubstantiated.
10. What about the "Sundance Scene"?
The nightlife at Sundance is considered the stuff of legend. A-list celebs show up in Park City, and as there isn't much to do, they immediately begin imbibing copious amounts of alcohol. Paris Hilton, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Aniston were but a few of the mega-stars at the 2006 edition, one of the few chances the general public gets to mingle with the celebrities of our time. The party scene evidently continues into the night, well after 2 a.m. when the bars close in Park City. This trend of stars and de-emphasis on the actual films has led some critics to charge that the festival has deviated from its original goals.
11. Anything else?
Regardless of the celeb angle, which really the festival can't do anything about, the festival has in the past few years attempted to get back to its roots, with mixed results. 2005 brought the unwatchable Forty Shades of Blue into the winner's circle, a clear example of the festival working hard to defy expectations (though sacrificing the notion of quality filmmaking in the process). The Jury Award Winner for 2006 was Quinceañera, which though given quality reviews garnered a paltry $1.6 million at the box office and barely registered on the critical radar. The Sundance Film Festival is now in the position of having to prove it can again launch directors and actors involved with independent films into viable cultural significance (although, to be fair, 2003 brought Paul Giamatti to the forefront with his work in American Splendor).
12. What does 2007 look like?
It looks really strong! With a great mix of world premieres and interesting projects, Sundance will be an indicator for the entire industry. Luminaries such as (engage list mode) Samuel Jackson, Meryl Streep, Steve Buscemi, Penelope Cruz, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Nick Nolte, Danny DeVito, Gwyneth Paltrow, Peter Sarsgaard, and Justin Timberlake have films at the festival, and there's always the chance of the next giant director no one has heard of yet joining the party.
13. What does this all mean for me?
Well, if you've made it this far it means you like movies. Which means you need to stay tuned to Film.com for all the Sundance Film Festival news and updates you can handle. We'll be part reverential, part irreverent, but always fun. We're planning a wide range of video and blog pieces to suit all your dining needs. And hey, you never know, we could end up having lunch with Paris Hilton (and you know we'll stick her with the bill). Now that's a story worth reading. Keep it locked on Film.com!
---------------------------------------
Laremy Legel --
Mail Me!
