One can’t help but notice the buzz around Cincinnati during this year’s Sundance Film Festival. As the event contemplates its relocation options, Cincinnati emerges as one of the three shortlisted candidates, stirring a wave of hushed discussions among attendees. However, there seems to be a rather unenthusiastic response to the possibility that Cincinnati may be the festival’s new abode with attendees voicing their concerns: ‘Anywhere but there.’
This recent Sundance iteration came off a bit more understated than usual, showcasing an increased number of pioneering filmmakers making their debut. Consequently, Main Street lacked its usual star-studded character, until the festival’s inherent charm rejuvenated when Jennifer Lopez graced us with her presence for the debut of ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’ on Sunday.
While introducing the movie, director Bill Condon did not shy away from addressing the political climate, particularly the inaugural speech where President Donald Trump declared that the United States would only recognize two genders henceforth. ‘I think you’ll find a contrasting perspective in our film,’ Condon asserted, earning a round of applause.
In the post-screening Q&A session, Jennifer Lopez echoed a powerful message, asserting that, ‘Love has the power to bridge any chasm that separates us.’ Dylan O’Brien was also present, actively championing his latest project, ‘Twinless’, which marked the opening night movie of the festival.
‘Twinless’ was met with overwhelming applause from critics and audiences alike, becoming a hot topic of this year’s Sundance festival. Another movie that stirred hearts was ‘All That’s Left of You’, capturing a gut-wrenching saga of a displaced Palestinian family across generations.
Earning multiple standing ovations post-premiere, ‘All That’s Left of You’ was intended to commence production before a certain predicament occurred, leading to the film crew’s shift to Jordan. This story bears great personal significance to the creator, who drew inspiration from her own experiences of frequently traveling between Jordan and the West Bank during her childhood.
Sharing her inspiration, the creator recounted, ‘We were detained at the border for nearly half a day, and the contents of our luggage were thoroughly inspected.’ She shared this poignant memory with the audience present at the premiere.
Mingling with the more serious narratives, Sundance also offered a taste of comedy in the festival. ‘Oh, Hi!’, co-written by and featuring Molly Gordon, was met with hearty laughter from the audience. Similarly, the body-horror installation, ‘Together’, also premiered on Sunday, eliciting screams of both shock and delight as it depicted the characters morphing into a single entity.
Actress Joan Chen gave a warm, heartening tribute to the cast’s camaraderie at the widely anticipated premiere of ‘The Wedding Banquet’. Speaking of anticipation, ‘Opus’ filled the screening house on Monday night for its festival debut, catering to the demand for ‘new horror’ and further cementing its place in the A24 roster.
The Sundance Film Festival continued its tradition of upholding the Sundance Institute’s charity cause with an annual gala held on Friday, paying tribute to notable contributors. Additionally, on Monday, an esteemed director entertained an intimate dialogue about the festival, sharing his sentiments on the potentially imminent festival relocation.
He proposed that the festival should seek a cozy town with a minimum of two accommodating hotels, sufficient local eateries to handle the inflow of visitors, and an eclectic used-record store. In essence, a town that embodies a unique charm while in need of rejuvenation.
While the parties continued to brim with amicable energy as usual, this year’s festival presented a more modest offering of large studio events than the traditional Sundance setup. Several organizations hosted after-party celebrations to honor the film premieres.
Despite the logistical juggles, Sundance continues to be the beacon of American independent cinema. Aspiring filmmakers again flooded Park City, seeking to emulate the success of past festival favorites that launched bidding frenzies. At the least, attendees can rejoice they weren’t gathered for a festival in Cincinnati.