More Than Movies

The Big ‘Dance

If you plan to go out to Sundance next year, consider becoming a member at www.sundance.org (different levels are available, depending on how much you want to do and see).

Membership gives you early access to tickets, whether you want single-movie tickets or packages. It also gives you a discount on Sundance merch, always a hot commodity. For cinephiles, it’ an exhilarating immersion into independent cinema and a first look at some of the films we’ll be talking about in the months to come.

The Sundance Film Festival, an offshoot of the Sundance Institute founded by Robert Redford in 1981, was back in full swing in person (and virtually) in 2023 after two years of on-line screening only. It’s certainly the place to see and be seen in the industry, where fans can walk the streets with some of the biggest names in film, and party with entertainment and cinema glitterati.

While movies are shown in locations throughout the area, the hub of the action is the ski resort town of Park City, Utah, a vacation paradise not just in summer, but year round.

Normally a pleasant little resort city of 7,500 tucked in the Wasatch Mountains, the town explodes during Sundance with film buffs, film makers and film movers and shakers (in fact, most of the natives get out of town for the week and rent their homes to visitors for a pretty penny). Car service is a must, especially if you’re staying at nearby resorts. Ride sharing is available, but often your driver is from out of town and doesn’t know the back streets, a must during festival week. (Two feet of snow doesn’t help, either, especially when said back streets are still snow covered)

While this year’s festival ran from January 19 through January 29, the real action happens during that first weekend—in fact, many of the major sponsors pull their activations out of town after Monday. It’s a time for aspiring moviemakers to make connections, film industry veterans to reconnect after two years on line, and, oh yes, see some of the finest independent movies being made today.

Some of the hot movies being screened at Sundance this year were a series of documentaries, including “Little Richard: I am Everything” and “Still: A Michael J Fox Movie,” psychological thriller “Cat Person” and the mocumentary “Theater Camp.” Making headlines for all the wrong reasons was the drama “Magazine Dreams,” when the Sundance jury, including Marlee Matlin, walked out on the premiere because the caption technology wasn’t working.

The Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky film industry was well represented at this year’s Sundance, thanks to Film Cincinnati and its executive director Kristen Schlotman, starting with an open-to-the-industry Bengals-Bills watch party at the famed No Name Saloon on Main Street in Park City. Filmmakers, performers and Cincinnati ex-pats vacationing or living in the area stopped by to cheer on the Bengals to the divisional victory.

Film Cincinnati also partnered with Kentucky Film for a Monday afternoon reception to boost the film industry in the Bluegrass. More than 400 RSVP’d for the event at The Cabin, which featured Kentucky bourbon and live music.

– Betsy Ross

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