Slamdance 2015: ScreenAnarchy Raises The Curtain With 10 Must-Sees

Benjamin Umstead, Editor, U.S.; Los Angeles, California (@filmbenjamin)

January 23 2015, 8:00 AM

The always surprising and exciting Slamdance Film Festival kicks off today, so we've got ten selections from their narrative and doc competitions, Beyond and special screening slates that you are gonna wanna keep an eye on. The festival looks to be heavy on genre offerings this year, from phantasmagorical boyfriends (Clinger), cubicle bound vampires (Bloodsucking Bastards) and all-girl murder mysteries (Body). These, and others, could be the next of the best, the little films from outta nowhere that knock your socks off.

Slamdance takes place in Park City, Utah at Treasure Mountain Inn til January 29th.

Ratter - Narrative

Branden Kramer's cyber thriller stars Spring Breaker's Ashley Benson as a grad student who is being stalked through her digital devices. Unsettling, clever and smart stuff, the entire movie was shot on these technologies. High on our list of films to break out at this year's fest.

Tired Moonlight - Narrative

Britni West's feature debut takes the words "American Dream" into whole new territory. A 16mm shot visit to Montana that yields wonders and magic aplenty, is chock full of characters that feel outta a Tom Robbins yarn, or rather probably inspired a Tom Robbins yarn. The most enchanting film of Slamdance.

Female Pervert - Beyond

You may have caught the dildo/theremin centric clip we ran last week from Jiyoung Lee's comedic look at female sexuality. The film keeps the weird if charming vibe throughout its length, with a sincerely off-beat and loveable performance from Jennifer Kim as our titular heroine.

Bloodsucking Bastards - Opening Night Film

Vampires come to the office space in Brian James O'Connell's comedic horror romp. A fun kickoff to this year's festivities.

20 Years Of Madness - Documentary

Jeremy Royce joins maverick video madman Jerry White Jr. as he returns to his home town to catch up with his old crew, who 20 years ago made one of the most outrageous cable access shows the world has ever known. The DIY spirit looks to be alive and well at Slamdance this year through this film.

Darkness On The Edge Of Town - Narrative

I'm gonna call Patrick Ryan's debut feature a noir-western. A moody revenger set in Ireland, the film follows a teenage sharp shooter as she unravels the murder of her estranged sister. Enticing looking stuff.

Sweet Mickey For President - Documentary

Amidst the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, The Fugees' Pras Michel returns home to support local musician Michel Martelly as he takes aim at the top seat: that of the president of the country.

They Look Like People - Narrative

Exploring the space between nightmare and reality, director Perry Blackshear charts a young man's flight from what he deems to be a malicious army of shape-shifters.

The Resurrection Of Jake The Snake - Documentary

Pro 80s wrestler Jake "The Snake" Roberts questions what his destructive life 30 years on has done to the state of his health and family in this intimate chronicle of redemption and rebirth.

High Performance - Narrative

Austrian filmmaker Johanna Moder's comedy follows two brothers (one a free spirit, the other a rigid workaholic) who fall for the same woman. Hijinks, very, very awkward hijinks, ensue.