Valerie Thompson
Another year at Sundance is upon us and 25YL is set to cover everything. Before the juggernaut of junkets and snow-capped mountains cloud our vision, we’ve got some thoughts on which films will be the biggest hits. As always, let us know what your looking forward to at this year’s festival and keep up with 25YL throughout the festival for special coverage.
Brittany Runs a Marathon
Director: Paul Downs Colaizzo
Screenwriter: Paul Downs Colaizzo
Starring:
Life takes some surprising turns for a young New Yorker in this intriguing comedy. The debut effort from director and writer Paul Downs Colaizzo promises to be one of the festival’s biggest hits.
Troop Zero
Director: Bert&Bertie
Screenwriter: Lucy Alibar
Starring:
The female writing and directing team Bert&Bertie come to Sundance with a story that turns outsiders into heroines. It’s a smart, ambitious project that will have everyone talking long after the film ends.
Corporate Animals
Director: Patrick Brice
Screenwriter: Sam Bain
Starring:
Patrick Brice returns to Sundance with a clausterphobia inducing experience. Set in the close proximity of a cave, this battle for survival promises to be as exciting as it is disturbing.
Paradise Hills
Director: Alice Waddington
Screenwriter: Nacho Vigalondo and Brian DeLeeuw
Starring:
Alice Waddington’s film challenges the notions of being a young woman and confronts how society views this often exploited demographic. This take on boarding school is a challenging story that deserves an audience.
Fighting with My Family
Director: Stephen Merchant
Screenwriter: Stephen Merchant
Starring:
This late addition to the festival brings together British sensibilities and the world of wrestling. Not the most likely pairing, but it’s worth a look thanks to writer and director Stephen Merchant.
Late Night
Director: Nisha Ganatra
Screenwriter: Mindy Kaling
Starring:
The gender politics of late night TV take center stage in this tale from writer and actress Kaling.
Greener Grass
Director: Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe
Screenwriter: Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe
Starring:
Suburban life will never be the same thanks to the strangely fascinating film. Part Twilight Zone, part comedy du jour, this cinematic journey is all about challenging perceptions on every level.
Memory – The Origins of Alien
Director: Alexandre O. Philippe
Screenwriter: Alexandre O. Philippe
You don’t have to be a die-hard fan of the Alien series to appreciate this documentary about its inception. Full of notes and archival materials, Alexandre O. Philippe’s journey to the heart of the film’s history is required viewing.
