20 years in and
Slamdance is still considered the upstart in Park City. A veteran with the spunk of youth then, the fest has become one of the premiere places to scope out first time directors and truly low-budget independents. Yes, the DIY spirit is alive and kicking (down doors) at Slamdance, and this year with the big anniversary, things look to be a good 'un. So let's take a gander at some highlights from the fest's narrative and documentary competitions, plus a few films from their Beyond (second or third time directors) program.
Slamdance 2014 runs from January 17-23.
Click here for the full line up.
Copenhagen
Student academy award winning filmmaker Mark Raso brings us a tale of angry young men, dark family secrets, and the transformative power of love. Like a smart pop song, Copenhagen consistently subverts expectations and finds magic in its melancholy.
Narrative
Goldberg & Eisenberg
Oren Carmi's absurdest drama about a programmer and a thief played well to audiences at Fantastic Fest last fall. We're sure it'll find more fans here.
Narrative
I Play With The Phrase Each Other
Young people love their cell phones. Young people live on their cell phones. Jay Alvarez's feature debut is comprised entirely of young city folks' conversations on their cell phones. Call it Slacker for the digital age.
Narrative
The Sublime And The Beautiful
Blake Robbins explores the days and weeks after a Kansas family's earth-shattering tragedy... and just how far a father is willing to go for closure.
Narrative
Elliot
Last year's Grand Jury and Spirit award winning narrative feature The Dirties explored the extremes someone obsessed with, and insulated by, movies can go to. Elliot may very well be this year's The Dirties. Except Elliot isn't fiction.
Documentary
Little Hope Was Arson
An East Texas community reels from the fires of a near dozen Churches, only to have to come and face their faith and the nature of their perceived good deeds head-on, when it is found out that the arsonists are some of their own.
Documentary
Skanks
A community theater in Birmingham Alabama decides to put on a gender bending musical. David McMahon is there to document it.
Documentary
Sometime I Dream I'm Flying
In this beautifully shot and beguiling doc, Aneta Popiel-Machnicka chronicles five years in the life of a young Polish ballet student.
Documentary
Crimes Against Humanity
Jerzy Rose seems to have crafted a movie that's just as wonky as his namesake. An academia infused, conspiracy fueled comedy, it sounds like an early Michael Chabon novel brought to the big screen. We'll see how this one plays.
Beyond
Forever Not Alone
Monja Art and Caroline Bobek focus in on a teenage crew of Viennese BFFs and a life-changing summer that will test their childhood bonds.
Beyond