Tomorrow marks the official start of the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, and Cinemacy is so excited to be returning to Park City, UT to cover the best of the fest from start to finish! 

The weather predicts snow, and the lineup predicts over 100 innovative and groundbreaking independent films from all over the globe. Founded by Robert Redford in 1978, the Sundance Film Festival is a cultural tastemaking event that sets the tone for the coming year in indie film– some of last year’s notable gems that went on to box office and critical acclaim include Call Me By Your Name, The Big Sick, and Mudbound. And although the ink is not yet dry on Cinemacy’s film festival schedule– there are more events, panels, and performances to attend than there are hours in the day– we have narrowed down some of our most anticipated events. 

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

It is undeniable that female artists are shaping the film industry at this very moment, creating a platform and a call to action for equality and respect.  The result is a major societal and revolutionary re-vamping of the system, and that is why this year, in particular, it feels extremely important to highlight the contributions and impact that women have made in cinema. It is with delighted anticipation that Sundance is hosting various discussions highlighting these current events with universally inspiring women, including Ava DuVernay, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Joan Jett, Octavia Spencer, and so many more. There will be conversations based on how storytellers transform not only the arts but society at large, and how the stories we tell will shape our future. 

Brett Dennen

As a whole, the biggest draw of the festival may be the films, but Sundance also caters to the music-driven crowd with the inclusion of various pop-up performances and lounges. The ASCAP Music Café is a great place to re-group after spending the day in the snow or a theatre, and this year they are celebrating their 20th Anniversary with an impressive lineup. Brett Dennen and Ethan Gruska are just a couple of the artists set to perform, spotlighting music’s essential role in the art of filmmaking. And in keeping with the theme of music, another scheduled event is the “Scoring for Sundance” panel, which gives the opportunity to hear from various composers as they discuss the art of music over a hot cup of coffee.

(L-R) Burden; I Think We’re Alone Now; Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot

When all is said and done, however, it is the films that inspire us most. Out of 13,468 submissions, 110 feature-length films were selected to screen at this year’s festival. What is Cinemacy most looking forward to? For starters, covering master filmmaker Gus Van Sant’s drama Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far On Foot starring Joaquin Phoenix, Jonah Hill, and Rooney Mara; cinematographer-turned-director Reed Morano’s sci-fi feature I Think We’re Alone Now starring Peter Dinklage and Elle Fanning; and the sensitive drama, Burden starring Garrett Hedlund, Andrea Riseborough, and Forest Whitaker.

Follow Cinemacy along on our journey to Sundance and beyond on Instagram and Facebook to get an insider’s look at all the happenings at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival!