It has been a big week for filmmakers and film enjoyers as the 40th Sundance Film Festival is back in town with exciting new films.
With 17,000 film submissions this year, 82 feature-length films are being screened at this year’s festival, showcasing films from all over the world between Jan. 18 and Jan. 28.
While the name Sundance first appeared in 1984, the first version of the film festival premiered in 1978 under the name Utah/U.S. Film Festival. Many travel far to visit this festival as it premieres some of the most anticipated films of the year — and this year is no different.
In past years, Sundance has been home to Academy Award winners and nominees, such as the current Best Picture nominee “Past Lives.” Buzz has been going around since the first night of the festival, however, claiming that no one film has been the frontrunner.
That being said, at this point, not all films lined up have been screened yet.
Critics have been raving about “A Real Pain.” The film stars Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin as two cousins who travel to Poland after their grandmother’s death and join a Holocaust tour. No public release date has been given, but Searchlight Pictures has acquired rights to the film.
Eisenberg wrote, directed and produced the film, and while it is only his second film, it won’t be the last.
“I already have my next movie, we’re already gearing up. It’s a musical. and we’re in the early stages. I would like to do one [film] a year if I’m allowed,” Eisenberg said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
Another film gaining traction is the documentary about actor Christopher Reeve, “Super/Man,” which details the actor’s trials and tribulations before, during and after his paralyzation.
“He was a champion for the disabled community, and Bonhôte and Ettedgui made it their mission to make that a focal point of the film, highlighting not just Reeve’s legacy but that of his children, who work to carry out his mission through The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation,” writer Stephanie Ornelas said in a blog for the Sundance Film Festival.
“Super/Man” received a standing ovation.
Some other critically acclaimed films that audiences should be aware of include “The Outrun” starring Saoirse Ronan, “Love Lies Bleeding” starring Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian and “I Saw the TV Glow” starring Justice Smith.
While feature films are one of the main draws of Sundance, it’s important to also turn attention to the short films, which make up most of the festival’s submissions.
“This has been another amazing year for shorts — most of the filmmakers in the program are coming to Sundance for the first time ever, and we are excited to get their films to audiences and the film industry,” senior programmer of Sundance Short Films Mike Plante said to the Sundance Institute.
53 shorts were selected, but the Sundance Film Festival’s Short Film Grand Jury Prize went to Alex Lora Cercos for the short film “The Masterpiece.”
You can view the film, or any other short or feature-length films, on the Sundance website by purchasing online screening tickets. Ticket prices range from $25 to $3.
