Every year creative minds flock to Park City, Utah, for the Sundance Film Festival. A mecca for the film industry, the festival is home to creators, actors, directors and fans. For those who aren’t familiar with Sundance, the festival takes place each year in January and is a judged competition for films that are making their premiere at the festival. While the festival may only last a week, many films are picked up by distribution companies and then released throughout the year so you can follow Sundance films all year long. Here is an idea of what to look out for from Sundance 2014. This year the U.S. Dramatic Prize went to “Whiplash,” starring Miles Teller. “Rich Hill” took home the U.S. Prize for documentaries. The film focused on the small town of Rich Hill, Mo., which has a population of only 1,396.
Elon University junior Jenny Sekulow recommends “Whiplash” as a must see. Sekulow attended the festival this year as part of her Winter Term course – The Sundance Experience – and said her favorite part of the festival was “being able to watch these films and know everyone around you is there for the same reason you are.” J McMerty, the Elon professor who runs The Sundance Experience, agrees that “Whiplash” was one of his favorite films, along with “Love is Strange,” a film about a gay couple that finally ties the knot after being together for 39 years.
As festival known for breaking down barriers and acknowledging creative risk, Elon junior Brian Mezerski, who attended the festival in 2013, said his Sundance experience “completely changed how I watch movies now and think of independent filmmaking. I enjoyed the actual atmosphere of Park City the most while there. The filmmakers, the public, the happenings all came together to enjoy each other's work. And that was cool to experience.”
Emily Hines, also an Elon junior, agreed, saying that when she attended Sundance 2013 she was most surprised by the “sense of community. The people in line around you were chatty and more than happy to spend the time in line getting to know you.”
Sundance is more than just a film showcase. It is an opportunity for creative collaboration and networking. It has been the starting point for many well-known films and filmmakers. The effects of Sundance reach far beyond the weeklong event, and each year the films can be seen at local cinemas upon release.
Want more from Sundance 2014? Keep an eye out for these recommendations from Elon students who were there.
“Rudderless”
“Song One”
“Cooties”
“Calvary”