After going virtual for two straight years, the legendary Sundance Film Festival returns to a live setting in Northern Utah from January 19th thru January 29th. It should be noted that there will still be a virtual component for those who don’t feel up to venturing out, but if you want the true, legitimate film festival experience–which includes filmmaker Q&As, storyteller panels, music-based events, and conversations with countless like-minded lovers of cinema– then nothing beats the sights and sounds that come with attending Sundance in person.
Not to be outdone, Sundance 2023 looks to, once again, have it where it counts; In the movie lineup department! This venerable fest will showcase features and shorts of multiple genres from all around the world over the course of 10 epic days.
So many noteworthy titles to get excited about and here in this article, I thought I’d cover 10 films in particular that I’m greatly looking forward to;
1. FLORA AND SON
John Carney, the director behind the outstanding music-based gems ONCE and SING STREET returns with FLORA AND SON, a Dublin-set story about a single mother who attempts to better her relationship with her son by way of a discarded guitar and the undeniable power of music. With a cast that includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Eve Hewson (daughter of U2 frontman Bono), FORA AND SON looks to be yet another winner from the gifted Carney.
2. ONYX THE FORTUITOUS AND THE TALISMAN OF SOULS
Based on a viral internet character he created, online entertainment titan Andrew Bowser crafts a movie for the midnight crowd in this throwback to the likes of beloved 80s genre gems like FRIGHT NIGHT, EVIL DEAD, and HOUSE. The story finds the title character joining a group of eclectic individuals on a trip to the mansion of one Bartok the Great where they all engage in a ritual to raise the spirit of an ancient demon. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize things are going to go south, fast! This one looks like a lot of fun and gets bonus points for the inclusion of RE-ANIMATOR lead, Jeffrey Combs.
3. INFINITY POOL
You know that old saying “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree?” Well, if Brandon Cronenberg’s POSSESSOR was any indication, that saying definitely applies because clearly, he looks to be a chip off the old block. But make no mistakes…This storyteller has carved out a path that is very much his own. With his new effort INFINITY POOL, the son of David tells the sci-fi-tinged tale of a novelist suffering from writer’s block who finds himself in hot water after tragedy strikes while he’s on a getaway at an exclusive resort in the middle of nowhere. I think it’s safe to assume that if you’re looking for horror, violence, and a heaping dose of satire then you’ve come to the right place.
4. BAD BEHAVIOUR
In what sounds to be a decidedly dark comedy, Jennifer Connelly is Lucy, a one-time child star who sets off on a journey of enlightenment by way of a silent retreat at a resort in the mountains. While there, she attempts to navigate a turbulent relationship with her stunt-performing daughter (played by the film’s writer/director, Alice Englert), and before long, the title of the film comes into play. BAD BEHAVIOUR also features Ben Whishaw as Lucy’s spiritual leader.
5. YOU HURT MY FEELINGS
Writer/director Nicole Holofcener (FRIENDS WITH MONEY, CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?) returns to Sundance with YOU HURT MY FEELINGS. Julia-Louis Dreyfuss stars in this comedy about a novelist who gets knocked for a loop when she overhears her husband sharing his true feelings on her latest book. Holofcner is quite the observant storyteller and her last collaboration with Dreyfuss resulted in the underappreciated gem, ENOUGH SAID. Suffice it to say, “You Hurt My Feelings” is a film well worth getting excited about.
6. STILL: A MICHAEL J. FOX MOVIE
Documentarian Davis Guggenheim (AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, IT MIGHT GET LOUD) gets up close and personal with the great Michael J. Fox in a film that explores the star’s career as well as his battle with an incurable disease. Fox is the ultimate optimist leaving very little doubt that this documentary will be as inspirational as it is hard-hitting.
7. THEATER CAMP
Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman direct this comedy about an eccentric staff at a rundown theater camp in New York that bands together in a valiant effort to keep the beloved camp afloat. Headlined by the likes of Broadway star Ben Platt and the hilarious Amy Sedaris, this one looks to be particularly relatable to the live theater crowd.
8. DIVINITY
DIVINITY is part of the Sundance “Next” collection, a category dedicated to pushing the “less is more” approach by way of limited budgets. From director Eddie Alcazar comes this retro sci-fi tale about a scientist in an otherworldly human existence who dedicates his life to a quest for immortality. This all leads to a groundbreaking serum called Divinity in a movie that promises to be a stunning and grotesque look at the future.
9. BLUEBACK
While Sundance does pride itself on plenty of more adult fare, it should also be noted that they also offer a handful of “Kids” films. One of the more noteworthy all-age appropriate titles at the 2023 festival is BLUEBACK from director Robert Connolly. Based on Tim Winton’s novella of the same name, this film features Eric Bana, Mia Wasikowska, and Radha Mitchell in a mother/daughter story set against the backdrop of the seaside fisherman town they call home. This one looks to be moving, poignant, and visually striking.
10. IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE?
Ella Glendining (who also serves as the main subject of this documentary) directs this film about what it’s like to live with a disability so rare that no reliable statistics on it even exist. By way of personal diaries, conversations with other disabled individuals, and interviews with the doctors treating her, IS ANYBODY OUT THERE? weaves an intimate portrait of what it’s like to live in Ella’s world.
Sundance 2023 will also feature several shorts including the likes of Luis Fernando Puente’s immigration story, I HAVE NO TEARS, AND I MUST CRY, Oscar Boyson’s midnight short, POWER SIGNAL, and Jiwon Han’s animated effort, THE SEA ON THE DAY WHEN THE MAGIC RETURNS.
For extensive Sundance 2023 coverage, keep checking back daily here at Cinemast.net.
For all 2023 Sundance Film Festival details, including how to purchase tickets, CLICK HERE!
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