Sundance 2025: the key things to know

PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — As many in the entertainment industry experience the devastating effects of California’s wildfires, some will soon decamp for cleaner air in the mountains. The annual Sundance Film Festival begins Thursday in Park City, Utah.

The 41st edition of That of Robert Redford this idea will, as always, be a year of discovery and discussion. There are current affairs films:

– “Free Leonard Peltier”, which will be presented just a few days after the former President Joe Biden commuted the sentence of the indigenous activist nearly half a century after he was imprisoned for the 1975 murder of two FBI agents.

– Oscar winner That of Mstyslav Chernov“2000 meters to Andriivka”, a joint production between Associated Press and Frontline on an attempt to liberate occupied territory in Ukraine

— Several films on trans rights, including “Heightened Scrutiny,” on civil rights attorney Chase Strangio. It’s an even more pressing topic after President Donald Trump signed executive orders Monday. rolling back protections for transgender people.

There are even some simmering controversies: “The Stringer”, by documentary filmmaker Bao Nguyen, questions who took power. Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph “Napalm Girl”. Nick Ut, retired AP photographer, and the AP, who produced a six-month investigation into the allegation, vigorously contest it and lawyers requested that it be removed from the program.

“The film is an investigation,” said Eugene Hernández, the festival director, who is continuing his screening project. “I think this will be a very important conversation that will take place in the coming days, once the film is seen by more people.”

Don’t worry, it’s not all heavy. There is drama, of course, even a film about starting over after a fire (“Rebuilding”, with Josh O’Connor), horror, satire, literary adaptations, comedy, documentaries about famous faces and some that simply defy categorization.

“There’s some really funny stuff in the show,” Hernandez said. One of those cited by Hernandez is “Bubble & Squeak,” about a married couple accused of smuggling cabbages into a country where they are banned.

For first-time filmmakers, Sundance can be an opportunity to break through in a big way. This happened last year for Sean Wang, director of “Dìdi”. Some films that debuted last January are still in awards discussion, like “A real pain” And “A different man.” For actors, the festival is both a laid-back respite from the glitz of awards season (snow boots are more popular on red carpets than high heels) and can be an opportunity to show audiences a new dimension of their talent.

“This is a strong year of renewal for our artistic community,” Hernandez said. “And we have a lot of really great voices and stories that we can unveil in the coming days.”

Here’s everything you need to know:

When is Sundance?

Sundance runs from January 23 to February 2. There is around 90 features premiering over 11 days, with screenings starting early in the morning until midnight. The winners will be announced on January 31.

Which celebrities are expected?

Stars with premiere films include Jennifer Lopez, Benedict Cumberbatch, Diego Luna, Conan O’Brien, Alison Brie, Dave Franco, Ayo Edebiri, Olivia Colman, Andre Holland, Steven Yeun, Mark Ruffalo, Bowen Yang, Carey Mulligan , Joel Edgerton, Lily Gladstone, Dev Patel, Emily Watson, John Lithgow, Marlee Matlin, John Malkovich, Rose Byrne, Chloë Sevigny, Josh O’Connor, Ben Whishaw, Dylan O’Brien, Lili Reinhart and Willem Dafoe.

What are the great films?

One of the greatest things about Sundance is that it’s often the films that have flown under the radar that become revelations.

But some of the festival’s most high-profile premieres include: Bill Condon’s “Kiss of the Spider-Woman,” starring Lopez; Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s documentary “SLY LIVES!” (aka The Burden of the Black Genius)”; “Opus”, a horror about the cult of celebrity with Edebiri and John Malkovich; “The Wedding Banquet” by Andrew Ahn with Bowen Yang and Kelly Marie Tran; the war satire “Atropia,” starring Alia Shawkat; “Pee-wee as Himself”, about the late Paul Rubens; “Marlee Matlin: Alone No Longer”; and Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman’s paper “The Alabama Solution,” about a cover-up in one of America’s most notorious prison systems.

How is the festival coping with the California wildfires?

Festival organizers engaged with filmmakers, staff, audiences and donors about the effects of the fires, supporting and accommodating them where possible, including pushing back deadlines to give filmmakers more time to complete . The festival will also display a QR code before screenings for information on sharing resources or contributing to relief efforts.

“Even though the last week has been difficult, this will be a time to come together,” Hernandez said. “The community is really stepping up to support those who need it most right now. I think that’s going to be a profound aspect of this year’s festival.

Is Sundance really leaving Park City?

For the most part, yes. From 2027, the festival will no longer be primarily based in Park City. It could stay in Utah but would operate primarily out of Salt Lake City. The other finalists are Boulder, Colorado, and Cincinnati, Ohio. The Sundance Institute is expected to announce its final decision in the first quarter of 2025.

“Park City, as the home of Sundance, is such a special place,” Hernandez said. “I look at things with optimism because we have two more exciting years in this current configuration. I think we are going to make the most of these two years and make them as memorable and meaningful as possible.

When can I watch Sundance films?

Access to films premiering at Sundance no longer necessarily requires an expensive trip to Park City. The festival has fully adopted an online component for many of its films.

What started as a necessary adjustment in the face of COVID-19 has become an essential part of the program. From January 30 to February 2, the public can stream a large part of the program online. Prices start at $35 for a single movie ticket and go up to $800 for unlimited access.

Otherwise, films with secure distribution can take anywhere from a few weeks to over a year to release in theaters or on streaming services. That of Steven Soderbergh “Presence,” which premiered last January, hits theaters this week.

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For more coverage of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/sundance-film-festival