You hear that sound? It's the quickly accelerating buzz of the indie film world as it descends on the little ski village of Park City for the annual mecca of film sales and shwag that is the Sundance Film Festival.
ScreenAnarchy will have a suitably sizable crew of writers there to give you all the dirt on what's worth watching out for. But before we get to the meaty reviews and interviews, we're going to start with a few quick tours of what on tap. Today we star with a look at the three main narrative competitions that are the US Narrative, World Narrative, and NEXT comps. Enjoy!
Operation Avalanche
He's back! The Dirties director Matt Johnson's second film is this found footage flick about the CIA's taping of the moon landing. Lionsgate is distributing the XYZ-produced feature.
Next
Swiss Army Man
Comedy directing duo Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert make their feature debut with this Paul Dano, Daniel Radcliffe, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead-starring film about a dead body and a suicidal man.
US Dramatic
The Lure
Agnieszka Smoczynska's debut feature is this Polish tale of two mermaid sisters who go to work in a night club.
World Dramatic
Goat
Darkon director Andrew Neel directs this Nick Jonas-starring story of frat abuse co-written by David Gordon Green.
US Dramatic
Brahman Naman
Controversial Indian director Q returns with this story of nerds trying to lose their virginity on a University field trip. Something tells me this will defy its clichéd-sounding plot.
World Dramatic
First Girl I Loved
Kerem Sanga's third feature (The Young Kieslowski, Trigger Finger) is this story of a love triangle between a lesbian, a nerd, and the most popular girl at high school.
Next
Lovesong
Jena Malone, Riley Keough, Brooklyn Decker, Amy Seimetz, Ryan Eggold, and Rosanna Arquette star in this road movie about mother, daughter, and best friend by Kim So Yong.
US Dramatic
The Birth of a Nation
Actor Nate Parker takes a feature turn as director (along with starring) in this provocatively-titled story of a slave teacher planning a rebellion. Armie Hammer, Aja Naomi King, Jackie Earle Haley, Gabrielle Union, and Mark Boone Jr. costar.
US Dramatic
Sand Storm
Two Beduin women struggle after their lives are shattered in Elite Zexer's featured directorial debut.
World Dramatic
The 4th
Actor Andre Hyland stars and directs this comedy about mishaps at a July 4th cookout.
Next
Southside With You
Richard Tanne's directorial debut is this delightful sounding dramatization of the wooing of Michelle by Barack.
US Dramatic
Between Sea and Land
Manolo Cruz stars and co-directs (with Carlos del Castillo) this Colombian film about a bedridden man dreaming of the sea.
World Dramatic
The Intervention
Clea DuVall has assembled an all-star indie comedy cast for this film about a couple's retreat turned (title of movie). The lineup looks like this: Melanie Lynskey, Cobie Smulders, Alia Shawkat, Natasha Lyonne, Ben Schwartz, and the director herself.
US Dramatic
Dark Night
Memphis director Tim Sutton's new feature is a day in the life of six individuals, one of whom is a cineplex killer.
Next
The Free World
The writer of Gus Van Sant's Restless, Jason Lew makes his feature directorial debut in this story of a wrongly imprisoned man and dangerous woman. The film stars Boyd Holbrook, Elisabeth Moss, Octavia Spencer, Sung Kang, and Waleed Zuaiter.
US Dramatic