You have got to hand it to the good folks at Sundance. As if having the most important festival on the US indie calendar wasn't enough, they go and create one of the most innovative and interesting mini-festivals happening today. This is the future of film festivals folks: bite sized and experiential (see: Stanley, for instance).
Sundance NextFest technically kicked off last Sunday with a Hollywood Forever Cemetery screening of fest fave Cop Car. But the main event, a weekend of special screenings followed by live events (music, talks, etc.) starts this Friday August 7 and runs through Sunday at August 9 at LA's historic Ace Hotel.
If great movies, famous musicians, and interesting chats wasn't enough, Sundance just announced they'll also have the live flying virtual reality experience Birdly available for ticket holders as well. Whaaat?
We've got the six events of Sundance NextFest previewed for you below. Visit the Sundance NextFest website for more info and Let us know if you'll be checking it all out.
Mistress America
Noah Baumbach's latest casts muse, lover, and co-screenwriter Greta Gerwig as an idiosyncratic and rather oblivious New Yorker playing big sis to her newfound sibling played by Lola Kirke. It's a Baumbachian romp sure to make fans of him or his GF very fond.
Sky Ferreira
We don't pretend to be experts on pop music here at ScreenAnarchy, but we did learn from Sky Ferreira's Wikipedia that she was discovered on MySpace, has opened for Miley Cyrus, and was an actor in Eli Roth's The Green Inferno. Just another everyday Millennial.
Finders Keepers
Bryan Carberry and Clay Tweel's stranger-than-fiction documentary follows an amputee on a journey to retrieve his mummified leg from someone who refuses to give it up. Read more in Zach Gayne's review.
Thomas Middleditch & Aubrey Plaza
This screening will feature a conversation with Silicon Valley star Thomas Middleditch that will be moderated by actress Aubrey Plaza. As far as we know, neither are amputees.
Entertainment
Rick Alverson's NEXT-premiering comedy is packed with such stars as Gregg Turkington, John C. Reilly, Tye Sheridan, Michael Cera, Amy Seimetz, and Lotte Verbeek. Check out Ben Umstead's Sundance Review for more.
Sharon Van Etten
Brooklyn indie folk rock queen Sharon Van Etten will play a solo set following the film. She's been featured on recordings with The National and on Boardwalk Empire.
Cronies
Michael Larnell's follow-up to It Soothes My Soul is this Spike Lee-produced story of two dudes testing the bonds of friendship.
Robert Townsend
A conversation with this independent film industry vet perhaps best known for his work with Eddie Murphy and for writing, directing, and starring in Meteor Man will follow the film.
Turbo Kid
This 80s nostalgia-soaked actioner set in the apocalyptic future of 1997 is the brainchild of François Simard, Anouk Whissell, and Yoann-Karl Whissell. Ard had plenty good to say in his review here.
Neon Indian + Toro Y Moi
Whether DJ sets or all out rock, these two uber hot acts are sure to please the Sundance NextFest hipsters.
Birdly
We don't know a whole lot about this virtual reality flying experience, but just based on this photo it looks pretty amazing. Our only question, why the prison jump suit?