One of the coolest events in downtown LA the past few summers has been Sundance's version of a fun festival weekend: Sundance Next Fest. While Next Fest may not be the high-powered industry fest that its wintertime sibling is, it is a great excuse to see some cool movies and see some awesome talks and bands do their thing. Every screening includes some kind of extra special add-on. What's more The Theatre at the Ace Hotel is one of the coolest venues to see a film in all of LA.
This year Next Fest has added a host of panels, an entire VR sidebar, and a much-needed "outdoor social hub" dubbed Next Door to hang and have a refreshing drink or two. We've got a preview of all of the events for you in the gallery below.
Sundance Next Fest kicks off this Friday. Check out more info plus ticket info at the Next Fest website.
Lovesong
Neglected by her husband, Sarah embarks on an impromptu road trip with her young daughter and her best friend, Mindy. Along the way, the dynamic between the two friends intensifies before circumstances force them apart. Years later, Sarah attempts to rebuild their intimate connection in the days before Mindy’s wedding.
DIRECTOR So Yong Kim
SCREENWRITERS Bradley Rust Gray, So Yong Kim
Shamir
20-year-old Shamir’s androgyne croon recalls Nina Simone and moves in and out of soul, r&b, house, disco, rap and pop – in the tradition of Prince, Grace Jones, David Bowie and Madonna. His albums include “Northtown” and “Ratchet,” an ecstatic dance-pop record that sparkles with the grit of a desert geode.
Morris From America
Thirteen-year-old Morris, a hiphop loving American, moves to Heidelberg, Germany, with his father. In this completely foreign land, he falls in love with a local girl, befriends his German tutor-turned-confidant, and attempts to navigate the unique trials and tribulations of adolescence.
DIRECTOR Chad Hartigan
SCREENWRITER Chad Hartigan
CAST Markees Christmas, Craig Robinson, Carla Juri, Lina Keller, Jakub Gierszał, Levin Henning
YOUTH TALENT SHOW HOSTED BY CRAIG ROBINSON
The screening of Morris From America will be followed by a youth talent show hosted by comedian/star Craig Robinson featuring participants from 826LA, Inner-City Arts, Stones Throw Records and Venice Arts.
White Girl
Summer, New York City. A college girl falls hard for a guy she just met. After a night of partying goes wrong, she goes to wild extremes to get him back.
DIRECTOR Elizabeth Wood
SCREENWRITER Elizabeth Wood
CAST Morgan Saylor, Brian 'Sene' Marc, Justin Bartha, Chris Noth
ELIZABETH WOOD + CATHERINE HARDWICKE IN CONVERSATION
Catherine Hardwicke’s first film as a director was the critically acclaimed Thirteen, which won multiple awards, including the Director’s Award at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival and Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations. She has since become best known as the director of Twilight, which earned the biggest box-office opening weekend for a female director; other credits include Red Riding Hood and Lords of Dogtown. Hardwicke previously worked as a production designer, and she holds a bachelor of architecture degree from UT Austin and did graduate work in animation at UCLA Film School. She frequently works as a mentor at labs for Sundance Institute, Film Independent, and the Ghetto Film School. Hardwicke recently directed episodes for AMC and pilots for CBS and MTV, and she just finished a new pilot, “Eyewitness,” for USA Network. Her most recent film, Miss You Already, stars Drew Barrymore and Toni Collette.
PRECEDED BY ANNIE, A MUSIC VIDEO BY NEON INDIAN
A karaoke video turned fever dream in which Alan has to traverse B-roll cityscapes, taped over TV shows, and phone sex commercial breaks in search of a missing ex-lover. Shot over 8 cities on Neon Indian’s last tour of Asia, all libidinal hell breaks loose in this glistening meta ode to laserdisc-era sing alongs. Directed by Alan Palomo, Neon Indian himself, this is the world premiere video of the song which Pitchfork described as “very much an electro-pop song for when temperatures grow more humid, our actions less responsible and the nights longer.
Goat
Reeling from a terrifying assault, a 19-year-old boy pledges his brother’s fraternity in an attempt to prove his manhood. What happens there, in the name of "brotherhood," tests both the boys and their relationship in brutal ways.
DIRECTOR Andrew Neel
SCREENWRITERS Mike Roberts, David Gordon Green, Brad Land, Andrew Neel
CAST Nick Jonas, Ben Schnetzer
Sunflower Bean
York trio’s full-length debut album, Human Ceremony, emerges at the intersection of dreamy modern psychedelica and urgent, fuzzed-out bliss. That push-and-pull colors the aural tapestry of these three musicians called “NYC's Coolest Young Band” by Rolling Stone.
Downtown & Dirty Shorts
A wide-ranging showcase of some of the funniest short films from the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, hosted by comedian Nick Kroll.
Affections
This comedy about isolation and loneliness follows a young woman who is adrift and seeking intimacy in the most unlikely places.
DIRECTORS Bridey Elliott
SCREENWRITER Bridey Elliott
CAST Bridey Elliott, Rob Michael Hugel, Matt Rachuba, Ted Travelstead, Julie Wright, Bud Cort
The Procedure
A man is captured and forced to endure a strange experiment.
DIRECTORS Calvin Lee Reeder
SCREENWRITER Calvin Lee Reeder
CAST Christian Palmer, Frank Mosley
A Resonable Request
A desperate son reconnects with his estranged father to ask an unspeakable favor that will change both of their lives forever.
DIRECTORS Andrew Laurich
SCREENWRITERS Gabriel Miller, Andrew Laurich
CAST John Ennis, Stephen Ellis
Thunder Road
Officer Arnaud loved his mom. - Sundance Film Festival 2016 Short Film Grand Jury Prize Winner DIRECTORS Jim Cummings
SCREENWRITER Jim Cummings
CAST Jim Cummings, Kitty Barshay, Francesca Biasolo, Melissa Papel, William Daubert
Too Legit
After becoming pregnant from a sexual assault on campus, a young woman goes on a journey to find out if the rape was "legitimate." This film was inspired by the statements of Senate candidate Todd Akin.
DIRECTORS Frankie Shaw
SCREENWRITER Frankie Shaw
CAST Zoe Kravitz, Te
Under the Shadow
Tehran, 1988: As the IranIraq War rumbles into its eighth year, a mother and daughter are slowly torn apart by the bombing campaigns on the city coupled with the country's bloody revolution. As they struggle to stay together amidst these terrors, a mysterious evil stalks through their apartment.
DIRECTOR Babak Anvari
SCREENWRITER Babak Anvari
CAST Narges Rashidi, Avin Manshadi, Bobby Naderi, Ray Haratian, Arash Marandi
BABAK ANVARI + JOHN LANDIS + SIMON BARRETT IN CONVERSATION
Landis has directed many films including Animal House, The Blues Brothers, An American Werewolf in London, Trading Places, Three Amigos!, and Coming to America. His documentaries include the Emmy winning Mr. Warmth about Don Rickles and Slasher, about a used car salesman.
PRECEDED BY BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE, A MUSIC VIDEO BY MARK PRITCHARD FEATURING THOM YORKE
Isolated and alone, a wandering stranger from another world finds himself stranded. Surrounded by an unforgiving – yet hypnotically breathtaking – landscape, we inquiringly watch as he makes his way. Who he is, where he’s from or why he is here is unknown, but what we do know is his time is running out. Our strangers curiosity is mesmerising, we watch as he explores the planets mountains and rocks; crushing fundamental laws of nature along the way.
The Greasy Strangler
When Big Ronnie and his son Brayden meet lone female tourist Janet on Big Ronnie’s Disco Walking Tour—the best and only disco walking tour in the city—a fight for Janet's heart erupts between father and son, and the infamous Greasy Strangler is unleashed.
DIRECTOR Jim Hosking
SCREENWRITERS Jim Hosking, Toby Harvard
CAST Michael St. Michaels, Sky Elobar, Elizabeth De Razzo
Big Freedia
Known as the “Queen of Bounce,” Big Freedia is a NOLA-based rapper who’s brought the Bounce movement — a vibrant twist on hip-hop — to a world-wide stage with her hit reality show on Fuse TV. Featured earlier this year on Beyoncé’s “Formation” track, Big Freedia’s third full-length studio album is due out this fall.
PRECEDED BY ROYAL, A SHORT FILM BY FLYING LOTUS AKA "STEVE"
Unearthed from Los Angeles's worst quake nightmare. The story of Royal begins where the curses of human survival have left off. Inside the dark rooms and dim minds of Missy and Kenneth. Some of the strangest secrets find their way out from behind the curtain, revealing wounds that may never heal.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION: NEXT FEST FILMMAKERS TALK FILMING IN LA
SATURDAY, AUGUST 13 | 11 A.M.
ACE HOTEL DTLA, SEGOVIA HALL, 2ND FLOOR
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Los Angeles has a reputation for being an expensive place to shoot. But the truth is, you can save a lot by staying local. Filmmakers will offer tips on finding the right locations and how FilmLA can assist, which neighborhoods are film-friendly, which areas can double for out-of-state locations, everything you need to know about permits, securing street closures, shooting scenes in cars, and other elements that can significantly stretch your budget.
BITTORRENT AND MONETIZATION IN THE DIGITAL AGE
SATURDAY, AUGUST 13 | 2:30 P.M.
ACE HOTEL DTLA, SEGOVIA HALL, 2ND FLOOR
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
The rise of streaming, crowdfunding, and direct distribution have changed the landscape for artists. Industry leaders and indie artists such as Thom Yorke, Lucy Walker, Diplo, Fool's Gold, A24, Sony Picture Classics, Drafthouse, and Oscilloscope are using BitTorrent Now to promote and distribute films, music, and more. Let's talk about that.
SHORTS MASTER CLASS
SUNDAY AUGUST 14 | 2:00 P.M.
$75
The Short Film Master Class is geared towards directors, but anyone interested in shorts should attend—from writers to actors, producers, and crew—to learn more and connect with others in their community. Whether you are starting your first project or have worked for years, the advice and real-world stories will entertain and educate.
Tickets to the Short Film Master Class includes admission to the Downtown & Dirty Shorts at noon.
A curated slate of twelve mobile VR experiences will be available as part of Sundance NEXT FEST, representing some of the most compelling independent narrative and documentary VR storytelling today. Google Cardboards will be given away onsite.
- Bison Herd Danfung Dennis
- Cardboard Crash Vincent McCurley, Loc Dao
- The Click Effect Sandy Smolan, James Nestor
- Collisions Lynette Wallworth
- Defrost Randal Kleiser
- Evolution of Verse Chris Milk
- fabulous wonder.land Toby Coffey, Lysander Ashton, Ollie Lindsey (Royal National Theater)
- A History of Cuban Dance Lucy Walker
- Kia Nony de la Pena
- Sisters: A Mobile VR Ghost Story Andrew Goldstein, Robyn Gray, Michael Murdock
- Sonar Philipp Maas, Dominik Stockhausen, Alexander Maas
- Waves of Grace Chris Milk, Gabo Arora