[ EXCLUSIVE: Netflix has landed the Sundance Film Festival buzz title documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story. The film premiered January 18 at The Ray Theatre. The film focuses on the boundary-pushing couple Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus from Moscow, and a desperate climb to save their relationship. Directed by Jeff Zimbalist and co-directed by Maria Bukhonina, … Read more
[ TITLE: God Save Texas Section: Episodic Directors: Richard Linklater, Alex Stapleton, Iliana Sosa Logline: A three-part non-sequential anthology series. Three directors offer their unique and personal perspectives on their home state of Texas, creating vivid portraits of a state that mirrors the United States’ past, present, and future. Inspired by the book God Save … Read more
[ TITLE: As We Speak Section: U.S. Documentary Competition Director: J.M. Harper Logline: Bronx rap artist Kemba explores the growing weaponization of rap lyrics in the United States criminal justice system and abroad — revealing how law enforcement has quietly used artistic creation as evidence in criminal cases for decades. Distributor: Paramount+ Panelists: J.M. Harper … Read more
[ The Sundance Film Festival is regarded as one of the most prestigious independent film festivals, where filmmakers have been premiering their movies and documentaries since 1984. The festival was founded in 1978 by Sterling Van Wagenen, the head of Robert Redford’s company Wildwood, and John Earle of the Utah Film Commission under the name … Read more
[ TITLE: Seeking Mavis BeaconSection: NEXTDirector: Jazmin Renée JonesLogline: Launched in the late ’80s, educational software Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing taught millions globally, but the program’s Haitian-born cover model vanished decades ago. Two DIY investigators search for the unsung cultural icon, while questioning notions of digital security, AI, and Black representation in the digital realm. In … Read more
[ TITLE: The MoogaiSection: MidnightDirector: Jon BellScreenwriter: Jon BellSynopsis: Sarah (Shari Sebbens) and Fergus (Meyne Wyatt), a hopeful young Aboriginal couple, give birth to their second baby. But what should be a joyous time of their lives becomes sinister when Sarah starts seeing a malevolent spirit she is convinced is trying to take her baby. Fergus, … Read more
[ TITLE: Gaucho Gaucho Section: U.S. Documentary Competition Directors: Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw Logline: A celebration of a community of Argentine cowboys and cowgirls, known as Gauchos, living beyond the boundaries of the modern world. Sales Agent: Submarine Panelists: Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw First screening: Friday, Jan. 19 Key quotes: “It’s a film about a … Read more
[ EXCLUSIVE: The Steven Soderbergh-directed and David Koepp-scripted ghost story Presence is being acquired at Sundance by Neon. The deal comes 35 years after Soderbergh’s $1 million Sundance deal for sex, lies, & videotape and subsequent Palme d’Or win at Cannes followed by a box office gross of $25 million, helped galvanize independent film into … Read more
[ At the height of their failure, every day was Altamont for the Brian Jonestown Massacre, the San Francisco outfit founded in 1990 by Anton Newcombe, the Klaus Kinski of psychedelic rock. Just in time for this 20th anniversary overhaul of Ondi Timoner’s breakthrough documentary, the BJM were back in the news as recently as … Read more
[ “Look at where we are right now,” states former Montana Gov. Steve Bullock of the divisions in America and the disinformation war that has reached an even higher pitch three years after the violent assault on the Capital. “About three weeks ago, polling said a fourth of Americans think that the FBI actually incited … Read more
