Park City’s iconic Egyptian Theater, home of the Sundance Film Festival. Photo Credit: Sebastian Petrou Griffith
The premiere film festival in the United States, Sundance is considered one of the “Big Five” film festivals worldwide, along with heavyweight events like Cannes and Toronto International.
Taking place primarily during January in Park City, Utah, Sundance emphasizes indie, genre-bending films, the likes of which are often associated with A24 or Neon. Indeed, both of these companies — together with other noteworthy independent producers and distributors — typically use the festival as an opportunity to unveil their upcoming films, as well as to buy distribution rights for any “hidden gems” that might crop up.
What is shown at Sundance often sets the tone for theater release cycles and the broader film zeitgeist for the rest of the year. For instance, past Sundance festivals have introduced the world to culturally renowned films like “Whiplash” (2014), “Napoleon Dynamite” (2004), “American Psycho” (2000) and the Best Picture-winning “Coda” (2020).
More recently, moviegoers might recognize 2024’s “A Real Pain,” which is expected to contend for awards at this year’s Oscars, plus well-known actor Glen Powell’s “Hit Man” and 2023’s popular horror flick “Talk To Me.”
Wednesday, Sundance released its lineup of 87 feature films for the festival’s upcoming rendition, and it looks to be right on track with the prestige of previous years.
Notably, A24 is expected to premiere several films, including “Opus” with Ayo Edebiri (“Bottoms”) and John Malkovich (“Being John Malkovich”), “The Legend of Ochi” with Finn Wolfhard (“Stranger Things”) and Willem Dafoe (“Poor Things”) and “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” with Lily Gladstone (“Killers of the Flower Moon”).
According to Deadline, roughly 80% of the features premiering currently don’t have a designated distributor, so it’s likely that more films will be picked up by well-known companies.
Sundance offers more than just dramas, though. Lovers of indie music might be interested in the premiere of “It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley,” a documentary about the heart-wrenching ‘90s alternative-rock artist who’s seen a recent resurgence in popularity.
In addition, horror fans can rest assured knowing that the genre will play a big part in the festival as usual, with heart-racing flicks like “Rabbit Trap” with Dev Patel (“The Green Knight”) and “Together” with Alison Brie (“Community”) also being included in the festival’s 2025 catalog.
For fans unable to put on their snow boots and make the trek to the mountains of Utah, no problem. Many of the aforementioned movies will be available to rent online for a limited time through Sundance’s website from Jan. 30 to Feb. 2, so cinephiles can take a sneak peek into 2025’s year of film from the comfort of their own homes.
The full 2025 Sundance film slate can be found on its website, with specific dates and times to be posted Monday. Individual tickets can be purchased starting Jan. 16.
