Don’t forget the Women’s March Rally
It doesn’t look like it will involve a march down Main St. like last year’s event (which made the front page of the New York Times), but organizers are planning a Respect March for Saturday morning, Jan. 20 at 10 AM. It will take place across from the Library (often a Volunteer hub) concurrently with Women’s March Los Angeles which will reportedly feature remarks from Alfre Woodard, Jane Fonda, Scarlett Johansson, Larry Wilmore, Chloe Bennet, Rowan Blanchard, Yvette Nicole Brown, Sophia Bush, Laverne Cox, Common, Gloria Aldred, Nick Offerman, Tony Goldwyn, Paris Jackson, Megan Mullally, Idina Menzel, Maxwell Olivia Munn, Nicole Richie, Catt Sadler, Adam Scott and Olivia Wilde. There will also be performances from the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles and Melissa Etheridge. It won’t be blizzard conditions like last year, so unless you’ve got tickets you can’t give up for an 8:30 AM screening you really should be there.
Sundance’s juries appear worth the wait
We found out the head of the Cannes Jury in May (Cate Blanchett) before the makeup of Sundance’s juries in January, but the Institute finally landed some heavy hitters. The U.S. dramatic jury is made up of Rachel Morrison (historic ASC nominee for “Mudbound”), Jada Pinkett Smith (her son Jaden appears in NEXT title “Skate Kitchen”), Oscar winner Octavia Spencer (who may find out about another nomination before she finishes her jury duties), Michael Stuhlbarg (also a potential Oscar nominee and Spencer’s co-star in “The Shape of Water”) and Joe Swanberg (grumble, questionable taste). And, yes, that’s three actors on the top jury. I can’t honestly remember that ever happening before. As for the rest, RuPaul Charles will be selecting the NEXT Innovator Award for the NEXT program and the documentary jury will feature Chaz Ebert, Simon Chinn (“Man on a Wire”) and Ezra Edelman (“O.J.: Made in America”), among others. The World Cinema Dramatic Jury includes Ruben Östlund (“The Square”) who, honestly, would have been a more inspired pick for the U.S. Dramatic Jury.
Mama Ru and “Drag Race” are getting their own panel
Not only is RuPaul the one juror of the NEXT jury , but he’ll be appearing on a special panel saluting the Emmy winning “RuPaul’s Drag Race” on Friday, Jan. 27. I’m not saying I might make an appearance in the 30 minute doc that will screen before the panel, but I’m not not saying it either (I also might not know if I actually made the cut).
Indie Episodic program is going to be interesting
The Institute will tell you they don’t care about the acquisition market and make their selections with that mind (uh-huh), but they made a gutsy choice in their first complete “television” program. The Indie Episodic slate has a number of series that are actually looking for distribution. This isn’t a celebration of “indie spirit” like the festival has explored in the past to a limited degree. These are actually indie series looking for a home. Excuse our ignorance but, will that actually work? And will festival goers actually want to attend what is programmed in shorts model with one or two episodes of one show paired with one or two of another? Dare to be different, right?
Ruth Bader Ginsburg will make her way to Park City
Some of the most iconic women of the past four years are going to be attending Sundance this year as new documentaries about their lives are unveiled. The aforementioned Fonda and Aldred will be at the festival along with Joan Jett and none other than Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. All four are expected to participate not only in Q&A’s following their films premieres, but individual panels as well.
What are this year’s potential Oscar players?
Almost 12 months from their debuts at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” (a sneak premiere similar to “Boyhood” a few years before), Luca Guadagnino’s “Call Me By Your Name” and Dee Rees’ “Mudbound” are circling Best Picture nominations this Tuesday. The festival has been a consistent Oscar player for the past 12 years and that means everyone will be watching to see what contenders create some buzz this time around. Are Maggie Gyllenhaal (“The Kindergarten Teacher”), Laura Dern (“The Tale”), Chloë Sevigny (“Lizzie”) and Keira Knightley (“Colette”) Best Actress players this fall? Is Ben Foster (“Leave No Trace”), Chiwetel Ejiofor (“Come Sunday”), Robert Pattinson (“Damsel”), Joaquin Phoenix (“Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far On Foot”) and Rupert Everett (“The Happy Prince”) Best Actor contenders? Can Reed Morano duplicate her “Handmaid’s Tale” directorial honors with “I Think We’re Alone Now”? What film will actually pop as a potential Best Picture nominee? Could it be day one film “Blindspotting”? And will there be another surprise sneak screening this year? (And, no, despite Ryan Coogler’s association with Sundance don’t believe anyone that says “Black Panther” is sneaking there).
Look for complete coverage from Park City beginning Thursday, Jan 18 on The Playlist. If you want more immediate reactions follow me on twitter @thegregorye and my insta-story on Instagram @gregel17.
Good piece with thoughts that echo my own. My first few years I got caught up in the “festival bubble” a lot and gave average movies glowing scores. And got sick. I get sick here every year. The Sundance Flu is real, folks. Drink that free water or pay the price.