For the first time, the celebration of independent world cinema, held annually in Park City, Utah, will be streamed online, as well as presented at venues across the United States
For the first time, the Sundance Film Festival is coming to screen near you. Next month the festival – which has celebrated independent film for decades at its base in Park City, Utah – will be held virtually instead, with movies presented online from January 28 through February 3. Films will be available to stream via Sundance’s digital platform across the U.S. (and, in some cases, internationally), and also will be presented on satellite screens nationwide, including arthouse cinemas, museums and drive-ins. [A complete list of venues may be found here.] On Tuesday the festival lineup was announced. The 2021 edition of Sundance will include 72 feature films from 29 countries (the majority of which are world premieres) and 50 short films, with half of the features directed by women or non-binary individuals. Of the full slate of films,51%, were directed by one or more filmmakers of color,15% by one or more people who identify as LGBTQ+. Screenings will also feature Q&As with filmmakers, who will no doubt discuss the added difficulties of creating – and completing – an independent film at a time when COVID has shaken up the entire motion picture production and exhibition industry.
