SUNDANCE 2019: JOHN’S TOP 10 PICKS
Article By John Pugh
Sources (Sundance.org)
There’s no better way to start off the new year than going head first into one of the most anticipated Film Festivals in the world. This year, the Sundance Film Festival achieved a record high amount of submissions of more than 14,200 films–that’s nearly 800 more than last year. The films range from shorts, documentaries, features, and world cinema. There are approximately 200 feature-length and short films showcased at this year’s event. The 2019 lineup reveals many newcomers and debut directors, including Oscar-nominated actor Chiwetel Ejiofor. Right down to the highly-anticipated familiars, like Jennifer Kent (THE BABADOOK) and Dan Gilroy (NIGHTCRAWLER).
Every year, thousands of people, from all around the world, attend the Sundance Film Festival. The festival’s films are played at venues throughout Park City, Salt Lake City, and the Sundance Resort. Tickets and seats to these films disappear soon after they are available to purchase. Many seats are occupied by the filmmakers and cast members themselves, who end the movie screenings with an informative Q&A.
The Sundance Film Festival also presents other panels. Such as; New Frontier exhibition of new media work, VR, Filmmaker Conversations, and Music Programming. In other words, there is a lot to do and see while visiting the festival.
Without further ado, here are my Top 10 Picks from the upcoming 2019 Sundance Film Festival:
THE NIGHTINGALE
Category: Spotlight (Australia – North American Premiere)
Director and screenwriter: Jennifer Kent
Producers: Kristina Ceyton, Bruna Papandrea, Steve Hutenski, Jennifer Kent
Cast: Aisling Franciosi, Sam Claflin, Baykali Ganambarr, Damon Herriman, Harry Greenwood, Ewen Leslie
Synopsis: 1825. Clare, a young Irish convict woman, chases a British officer through the Tasmanian wilderness, bent on revenge for a terrible act of violence he committed against her family. On the way she enlists the services of Aboriginal tracker Billy, who is marked by trauma from his own violence-filled past.
THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND
Category: Premieres (United Kingdom – World Premiere)
Director and screenwriter: Chiwetel Ejiofor
Producers: Andrea Calderwood, Gail Egan
Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Maxwell Simba, Lily Banda, Noma Dumezweni, Aissa Maiga, Joseph Marcell
Synopsis: Against all the odds, a thirteen-year-old boy in Malawi invents an unconventional way to save his family and village from famine. Based on the true story of William Kamkwamba.
VELVET BUZZSAW
Category: Premieres (U.S.A. – World Premiere)
Director and screenwriter: Dan Gilroy
Producer: Jennifer Fox
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Toni Collette, Zawe Ashton, Tom Sturridge, Natalia Dyer
Synopsis: A thriller set in the contemporary art world scene of Los Angeles, where big money artists and mega-collectors pay a high price when art collides with commerce.
EXTREMELY WICKED, SHOCKINGLY EVIL AND VILE
Category: Premieres (U.S.A. – World Premiere)
Director: Joe Berlinger
Screenwriter: Michael Werwie
Producers: Michael Costigan, Nicolas Chartier, Ara Keshishian, Michael Simkin
Cast: Zac Efron, Lily Collins, Haley Joel Osment, Kaya Scodelario, John Malkovich, Jim Parsons
Synopsis: A chronicle of the crimes of Ted Bundy from the perspective of Liz, his longtime girlfriend, who refused to believe the truth about him for years.
THE UNTITLED AMAZING JOHNATHAN DOCUMENTARY
Category: U.S. Documentary (U.S.A – World Premiere)
Director and screenwriter: Ben Berman
Producers: Miranda Bailey, Ben Berman, Russell Groves, Amanda Marshall, Jacob Perlin
Cast: Johnathan Szeles
Synopsis: What begins as a documentary following the final tour of a dying magician — “The Amazing Johnathan” — becomes an unexpected and increasingly bizarre journey as the filmmaker struggles to separate truth from illusion.
THE SOUND OF SILENCE
Category: U.S. Dramatic (U.S.A. – World Premiere)
Director: Michael Tyburski
Screenwriters: Ben Nabors, Michael Tyburski
Producers: Ben Nabors, Michael Prall, Tariq Merhab, Charlie Scully, Mandy Tagger Brockey, Adi Ezroni
Cast: Peter Sarsgaard, Rashida Jones, Tony Revolori, Austin Pendleton
Synopsis: A successful “house tuner” in New York City, who calibrates the sound in people’s homes in order to adjust their moods, meets a client with a problem he can’t solve.
RELIVE
Category: Premieres (U.S.A. – World Premiere)
Director: Jacob Estes
Screenwriters: Jacob Estes, Drew Daywalt
Producers: Jason Blum, Bobby Cohen
Cast: David Oyelowo, Storm Reid, Mykelti Williamson, Alfred Molina, Bryan Tyree Henry
Synopsis: After a man’s family dies in what appears to be a murder, he gets a phone call from one of the dead, his niece. He’s not sure if she’s a ghost or if he’s going mad — but as it turns out, he’s not. Instead, her calls help him rewrite history.
WE ARE LITTLE ZOMBIES
Category: World Cinema Dramatic (Japan – World Premiere)
Director and screenwriter: Makoto Nagahisa
Producers: Shinichi Takahashi, Tahei Tamanishi, Haruki Yokoyama, Haruhiko Hasegawa
Cast: Keita Ninomiya, Satoshi Mizuno, Mondo Okumura, Sena Nakajima
Synopsis: Their parents are dead. They should be sad, but they can’t cry. So they form a kick-ass band. This is the story of four 13-year-olds in search of their emotions.
LITTLE MONSTERS
Category: Midnight (Australia – World Premiere)
Director and screenwriter: Abe Forsythe
Producers: Jodi Matterson, Bruna Papandrea, Steve Hutensky, Keith Calder, Jessica Calder
Cast: Lupita Nyong’o, Alexander England, Josh Gad
Synopsis: A film dedicated to all the kindergarten teachers who motivate children to learn, instill them with confidence and stop them from being devoured by zombies.
Watch for further updates regarding the 2019 Sundance Film Festival out of Park City, Utah!
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