The 2017 Sundance Film Festival is now over, presenting over 100 feature films from all over the world. This 33 year-old festival paves the way for new filmmakers to make their mark and for seasoned veterans to flaunt their skills. While many films have premiered at other festivals or are part of ready-made film distribution centers such as Amazon and Netflix, there are still a vast majority of lower-profile movies that are seeking distribution at your local theater.
“A Ghost Story,” starring the Oscar-nominated actor Casey Affleck, has gotten a lot of buzz as has “Colossal” starring Jason Sudeikis and Anne Hathaway, set to open in April, but there are plenty of films even with well-known stars that are still in limbo. These are the films that should be on your radar as they are just as entertaining and worthy as the big-budget, much-talked about films.
DRAMAS
"Wind River” and “Walking Out,” both breath-taking dramatic films, plunged me into frigid temperatures as I witnessed the will to survive. Taylor Sheridan (“Hell or High Water”) wrote and directed “Wind River” creating an authentic Native American story, weaving history and current factual information into this gripping tale starring Graham Greene and Jeremy Renner. “Walking Out,” written by the Smith brothers, Alex and Andrew, is another emotionally charged film about a father and son whose survival depends upon one another. (Interview with Cinematographer Todd McMullien.)
Wind River Photo Courtesy of Sundance Film Festival
WORLD CINEMA
Films from around the world solidify the fact that while we may have a different culture, our needs and emotions are all very similar. “Pop Aye” brings us to Bangkok where we take a journey with Thana (Thaneth Warakulnukroh), a man in a mid-life crisis who stumbles upon his long-lost pet elephant and decides to return him to his true home. While the situations are simply hilarious, there is also the reality of the drama that connects you to this unique story. “Pop Aye” interview.