While Sundance 2024 was a bit of a sleepy affair, one of the bigger hits of the festival, quickly acquired by Searchlight Pictures, was “A Real Pain,” the latest directorial effort of actor/filmmaker Jesse Eisenberg. Written by Eisenberg and co-starring himself and “Succession” star Kieran Culkin, the comedic drama centers on a pair of incompatible cousins, one bright and successful (Eisenberg), the other lost and floundering (Culkin), who make a trek to Poland to see the ancestral home of their beloved grandmother and honor her memory.

Continue reading ‘A Real Pain’ Trailer: Jesse Eisenberg & Kieran Culkin Play Mismatched Cousins In A Sundance Dramedy Coming In Nov at The Playlist.

And then there were three. After months of in-person visits and formal pitches, the Sundance Institute announced there are now three remaining candidates to host future editions of the famed film festival. The remaining candidates are Boulder, Colorado, Cincinnati, Ohio, and a combined Salt Lake City and Park City, Utah bid. And, yes, the Cincinnati inclusion is not a typo.

READ MORE: Sundance announces dates for the 2025 Film Festival

In a statement from the Institute, Eugene Hernandez, Festival Director and Head of Public Programming, noted, “As we move to the next phase in our search for a sustainable home for the Sundance Film Festival, we see great promise and potential in Boulder, Cincinnati, and Salt Lake/Park City.

Continue reading Sundance Film Festival’s New Home For 2027 Is Down to Three Cities & One Is A Big Surprise at The Playlist.

There was a fleeting moment in the early and mid-00s when being selected for the Slamdance Film Festival could mean something for a filmmaker’s career. Sure, it wasn’t the same as being part of the more prestigious and larger Park City, Utah film festival, but the edgier offshoot event gave a voice to independent films that didn’t have an industry connection or agency influence to make the Sundance cut. That influence has waned over the last few decades, and the festival has decided to make a change.

Continue reading Slamdance Film Festival Is Moving To Los Angeles at The Playlist.

The rumors are true. After 40 years, the Sundance Film Festival may (and an emphasis on “may”) be leaving the confines of Park City, Utah. Today, acting CEO Amanda Kelso and Festival Director Eugene Hernandez reached out to the larger “Sundance Industry Community” to inform them that a process to potentially relocate the festival was underway.

READ MORE: Sundance announces dates for the 2025 Film Festival

Beginning today, a Request for Information (RFI) for potential new cities is open until May 1.

Continue reading Sundance Film Festival Opens The Door To Leaving Park City In 2027 at The Playlist.

The enigmatic resurrection, rampage, and retribution of an undead monster in a remote wilderness unleashes an iconic new killer. It sounds kind of terrifying. Debuting earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival, “In A Violent Nature” will be released via IFC Films and Shudder in May.

Written and directed by Chris Nash, our review from Sundance said the film’s debut heralded a major new voice in horror.

Continue reading ‘In A Violent Nature’ Trailer: Chris Nash’s Acclaimed Sundance Horror Slasher Hit In May at The Playlist.

It’s been less than two months since the end of the 2024 edition, but this morning the Sundance Institute revealed the dates for the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. This year’s event will run from Thursday, January 23 through Sunday, February 2nd. And, as expected, Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah will house the main in-person venues for the festival.

READ MORE: “In the Summers” and “Daughters” top 2024 Sundance Film Festival Awards

In a statement, Eugene Hernandez, Director, Sundance Film Festival and Public Programming noted, “While the next Sundance Film Festival is still 10 months away, we’re already laying the foundation for the 2025 edition, looking ahead to sharing a new group of artists’ work with audiences at the start of next year.

Continue reading Sundance Announces Dates For 2025 Film Festival at The Playlist.

Perhaps the best compliment that you can give a narrative feature is to say that it feels like a documentary. Not to say the shot composition is uninspired and the subject dry, but it’s a way to spotlight just how you forget this is actually an actor reading written words, but instead, believe everything happening in front of you is real and true. Perhaps that’s the highest compliment a film like “Tendaberry” can receive.

Continue reading ‘Tendaberry’ Review: Kota Johan Delivers A Heartbreaking, Honest Performance In Haley Elizabeth Anderson’s Poetic Slice-Of-Life Drama [Sundance] at The Playlist.

There’s a special type of frustration that comes with watching a film like Bruno Mourral’s “Kidnapping Inc.” It’s a frustration borne from a good place—you want the film to succeed—but around every corner, “Kidnapping Inc.” just can’t help but trip over itself. This is a film that showcases two really solid lead performances, highlights horrific injustice found in a country many people aren’t familiar with, and is shot in a way that makes its modest budget feel much bigger.

Continue reading ‘Kidnapping Inc.’ Review: Bruno Mourral Drowns His Message Under Disparate Tones In A Frustrating Film About Haitian Life [Sundance] at The Playlist.

In the ‘80s, everyone was scared of Satanists. You know, the whole Satanic Panic era. But over time, especially with the ubiquity of the internet, the mystical veil covering Satanism was lifted, and everyone saw them for what they really were—fairly normal people with a slightly different take on religion. Oh yeah, and they love theatrics. By and large, they’re not scary, and often, they’re a bit… silly. Now, we have “Realm Of Satan,” an experimental film that blends fiction and non-fiction in a series of vignettes that showcase the real people behind the Church of Satan.

Continue reading ‘Realm Of Satan’ Review: Scott Cummings Experimental Doc Reveals The Ugly Truth About Satanism—It’s Corny [Sundance] at The Playlist.

Investigative documentaries are some of the most interesting films you can watch. There’s no need to create artificial drama, as the subjects are real, and you can’t help but get swept up in the investigation. Basically, everyone loves to be a sleuth, even as a member of the audience. On paper, “Seeking Mavis Beacon” has all the makings of a great investigative documentary—wonderful characters, an intriguing mystery at the center, and plenty of twists and turns.

Continue reading ‘Seeking Mavis Beacon’ Review: Jazmin Renée Jones Delivers A Unique Investigative Doc With A Lot On Its Mind [Sundance] at The Playlist.

Unlike other film festivals around the globe, Sundance has been ahead of the curve when it comes to telling LGBTQIA+ stories whether in narrative or documentary form. That was once again evident in 2024 with the festival selecting films such as “Layla,” “Sebastian,” “My Old Ass,” “Stress Positions” and “Ponyboi.” One NEXT slate selection that attempted to cross the lines of both documentary and drama is Jules Rosskam’s “Desire Lines.” Sadly, like many world premieres in its genre this year, it comes up disappointingly short.

Continue reading ‘Desire Lines’ Review: A Messy Drama-Documentary Hybrid On Trans Male History at The Playlist.

The idea of youth escaping into a large section of woods so as to start life anew is a plot device not at all unexplored prior, seen in films as recently as 2013’s “The Kings of Summer,” while literature will always have “My Side of the Mountain. “In “Penelope, “the concept gets the episodic treatment, but if the premiere is any indicator, this is one project with the potential to captivate in its own unique way.

Continue reading ‘Penelope’ Review: A Beautifully Straightforward Adventure Pilot Sets Up Something Potentially Outstanding [Sundance] at The Playlist.

As the latest feature from writers/directors Fernanda Valadez and Astrid Rondero (“Identifying Features”) draws to a close, it’s hard to ignore the starkness, pacing, and tone overall; this is hardly the sort of film one puts on as any sort of a palate cleanser. While superbly well-made, beautifully shot, and comprised of a cast firing on all cylinders in terms of acting ability, to make it through “Sujo” is akin to a slight exercise in endurance, though not without a noticeable crescendo as the film chugs along.

Continue reading ‘Sujo’ Review: Mexican Adolescence Meets Cartel Woes In This Slow Burner [Sundance] at The Playlist.

By now, it should be evident that each passing year brings with it advancements in technology, landing anywhere on an imaginary graph containing the likes of the latest smartphone to a car that can brew a mean cup of coffee. One area that’s been hovering over the whole of humanity for far longer than a need for a house that dictates a grocery list is that of the afterlife; pondering what happens after each and every one of us shuffle off this mortal coil remains, quite possibly, an everlastingly unanswerable question, but for those left behind in the wake of a loved one’s passing, a more pressing matter would be the manner in which one deals with said loss, and how best to move on.

Continue reading ‘Eternal You’ Review: An Eye-Opening Look At AI Resurrecting The Dead [Sundance] at The Playlist.

“Skywalkers: A Love Story” joins “Free Solo” in a film subgenre that can only be described as “F*ck That.” It’s an ultra-specific genre of documentary that showcases feats that are so incredibly dangerous that you not only shake your head in disbelief but actually get your heart beating harder as you hold your breath, imagining that if you don’t make a noise, then maybe these people won’t die right before your eyes.

Continue reading ‘Skywalkers: A Love Story’ Review: A Daredevil Couple Captures Your Heart & Induces A Panic Attack In This Slick, Thrilling Doc [Sundance] at The Playlist.

Twenty years ago, Ondi Timoner’s rock doc “Dig!” the wildly entertaining, sensationalistic portrait of the dysfunctional indie rock bands the Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Dandy Warhols and their strange love/hate relationship and rivalry, was a smash hit, at least critically, winning the Sundance Prize Grandy Jury Prize for Best Documentary and squarely landing the filmmaker on the map. The new expanded version, “Dig!

Continue reading ‘Dig! XX’ Review: Rivalry Rock Doc Is Still Captivating, But Evolves & Demystifies The Fable Of F’d Up, Tortured Artist at The Playlist.

Despite the increased awareness of gender identities, there is one classification that has been around for over 100 years or 30 years (it’s debatable) that rarely enjoys the spotlight, intersex. An intersex person can be a broad definition for someone who is born without a number of different sexual characteristics. The U.N. has defined it as someone who does “not fit typical binary notions of male or female bodies.” And yet, despite the minimal increase in trans or nonbinary characters on film and television, you rarely hear anyone who refers to themselves as intersexed.

Continue reading ‘Ponyboi’ Review: A Unique Hero In A Very Familiar Story [Sundance] at The Playlist.

There’s something magical that happens to most people around the age of 13. For many, that’s when you might have your first real romantic love. Maybe that’s when your friend group transitions from the kids you grew up with to the new people you meet. And it’s a time when you make many mistakes—the kind that feel cataclysmic at the time but aren’t all that important in the grand scheme of things. For some, it’s all of the above.

Continue reading ‘Dìdi’ Review: Sean Wang Bares His Heart & Soul In A Crowd-Pleasing Coming-Of-Age Tale [Sundance] at The Playlist.

Media representation of disabled people is challenging to get right — too saccharine, and you’re veering towards inspiration porn, too maudlin, and you’re implying that a disabled life might not be a life worth living. “Ibelin,” the newest documentary from “The Painter and the Thief” filmmaker Benjamin Ree, strikes a poignant balance, acknowledging the ways that physical disability can limit a life while showing how one complex man expanded his world nonetheless.

Continue reading ‘Ibelin’ Review: Finding Freedom, Friendship And Secrecy In Online Gaming [Sundance] at The Playlist.

“Reinas,” the latest from director Klaudia Reynicke, is a quiet but vivid tale of summer days in Lima, Peru. The script, which Reynicke co-wrote with Diego Vega, depicts a family drama against a backdrop of political chaos.

Set in 1992, just after the country’s president sent military officials to shut down Congress, heralding an era of unrest, the film focuses on a small but fractured family’s attempts to understand each other.

Continue reading ‘Reinas’ Review: A Sensuous Summer Set During Peru’s Self-Coup [Sundance] at The Playlist.

The 2024 Sundance Film Festival is almost at an end, but there are still films to screen in the online portion of the festival and, almost as importantly, awards to hand out to happy independent filmmakers. The big winners at this year’s awards ceremony were Alessandra Lacorazza’s “In the Summers” which won the Grand Jury Prize U.S. Dramatic and the Directing Award in that category; Sean Wang’s “Didi,” and Angela Patton and Natalie Rae’s “Daughters.” “Didi” took the Audience Awards in the U.S.

Continue reading ‘In The Summers,’ Didi,’ & ‘Daughters’ Top 2024 Sundance Film Festival Awards at The Playlist.

The phrase in the clutch represents an ability to pull off something crucial during an important moment, widely used in the world of sports. These words can be applied to any Hail Mary football pass, any home run while the bases are loaded, or a three-point buzzer beater; it’s the latter with which athletes like Sue Bird are acutely familiar and can be seen several times over the course of “Sue Bird: In The Clutch, “ an aptly named documentary telling the story of one of the finest players the WNBA has ever seen.

Continue reading ‘Sue Bird: In The Clutch’ Review: A WNBA Legend Tells Her Story [Sundance] at The Playlist.

Filmmakers have parsed the zombie genre from seemingly every angle possible. George A. Romero innovated with the idea of using the undead to highlight social issues. “The Walking Dead” showcased how the living are the real villains in the face of a zombie apocalypse. And in between, there are thousands of derivations, with many just ending with the hordes of undead ripping people apart in horrifically gory ways. Zombies are monsters, right?

Continue reading ‘Handling The Undead’ Review: Slowburning Existential Zombie Horror Grieves The Dead [Sundance] at The Playlist.

Since helming the Academy Award-nominated “Winter’s Bone” in 2010, Debra Granik has enjoyed shifting between a further dabble into feature-length filmmaking (“Leave No Trace”) in addition to documentary work (“Stray Dog”), which, when coupled with her eclectic decades-strong filmography clearly showcases an overabundance of ability and flair for skillfully adapting to any subject that comes her way. Another comfortable entry on her resume exists in “Conbody VS Everybody, “a six-part docu-series with a concept unlike anything she’s tackled prior while continuing to demonstrate her knack for creating something compelling while also supremely relevant to this day and age.

Continue reading ‘Conbody VS Everybody’ Review: Debra Granik Looks At Former Convicts Receiving A Lifeline A Gym Like No Other [Sundance] at The Playlist.

It might come as a surprise to most that the skirmish between Russia and Ukraine has been active for nearly a decade. However, international headlines would raise awareness to new heights upon Russia’s invasion of its neighbor in February of 2022. Amidst the casualties, breakup of families, and decimation of countless homes across the war-torn lands of Ukraine, a rise in civilian combatants found their way to the front lines of the conflict; these everyday individuals, coming from any number of normal jobs and personal lives, found themselves thrust into a situation in which the majority of whom never would have wanted to take part but would just as gladly lay down their lives for their beloved country.

Continue reading ‘Porcelain War’ Review: Ukrainian War Documentary Straddles A Line Between Art And Combat [Sundance] at The Playlist.