Sundance 2006

Snow falls, Deals follow

The old adage "last but not least" certainly applied yesterday to the Sundance premiere of The Darwin Awards.  Darwin, the last of the true Sundance buzz films to premiere was snatched up by the newly formed distribution shingle Bauer Martinez for an undisclosed price.  The film was directed by Finn Taylor (director of 2002 Sundance pic Cherish) and stars Joseph Fiennes, Winona Ryder, David Arquette, Juliette Lewis and the late Chris Penn who passed on earlier in the week.  Ryder, speaking during the Q+A following the premiere screening of Darwin said in reference to the passing of Penn: "I really hope people go back and watch his movies. He was such a fantastic actor. He's not just Sean's little brother. He was Chris Penn."

The Sundance Experience Online

Sundance Institute announced today a record number of people have experienced the 2006 Sundance Film Festival at www.sundance.org.  Online visitors have downloaded a range of free Festival programming including fifty short films from the Festival, daily video highlights, exclusive filmmaker interviews and behind the scenes footage from the event. 

Sundance/NHK Winners Announced

The Sundance Institute and NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) today announced the winners of the 2006 Sundance/NHK International Filmmakers Awards.  Marking the 10th anniversary of the Award, this year’s winners represent the best in independent voices from around the globe. 

Art and Technology: Intel's Digital Experience

This week Intel hosted a Sundance workshop called "Emerging Technologies and the Delivery of Digital Content", which focused on the ever-changing convergence of art and technology.  Such topics discussed were Movies on the Go, Adobe HD Editing Platform, Mobile HDV editing, Digital Home Ent with Intel Viiv Technology, and Tivo to go with Tivo Desktop.

Eyes On The Prize

With only 72 hours left until the announcement of the Festival awards, speculation is running high on what films are in contention for prizes. A Sundance award can be a mixed blessing….it can either help a film that goes undistributed renew interest among buyers or it can be a kiss of death of unreasonably high expectations. Either way, the guessing game of who will win is now the talk of the town.

Business Buzz 2

Sundance finally has its major documentary sale. After last year’s bonanza year with such celebrated titles as MARCH OF THE PENGUINS, SUPER SIZE ME and Oscar winner BORN INTO BROTHELS, the Sundance Documentary Competition has become a hunting ground for a wide array of distributors, who realize there is much coin to be made in non-fiction.

Business Buzz 1

As the Sundance Film Festival hits its half way point, a clearer picture is emerging of business activities here. Almost all of the films in the main Competition sections have had their initial screenings, so a wait and see attitude has settled in as agents circle the wagons to try and match some of the deals already announced here.

Sundance Collection Embraces High Tech

Two films from the Sundance Collection were screened simultaneously in three cities using some exciting new technology. The program is part of a digital revolution for theatrical exhibition that is creating a stir here at the Sundance Film Festival.

French Invasion Stirs Sundance

The French are coming, the French are coming!!! This is not so much a battle cry as an indication of the force of the French contingent that has been highly visible at the Sundance Film Festival. Leading French sales companies Celluloid Dreams, Wild Bunch, Wide Management and Gaumont are here in force, representing multiple titles in the festival and pre-selling new projects. "Sundance is attracting more and more international buyers", one leading agent told me. "We are using Sundance as a way of previewing films for buyers in advance of the Berlin Film Market."

About COME EARLY MORNING

Pictured: Ashley Judd at the premiere of COME EARLY MORNING
Anne Thompson of the Hollywood Reporter checks in to give us updates from the premiere of COME EARLY MORNING and LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE which sold to paramount for $10 million.

Share the buzz with Anne Thompson : watch the video

Festival Fashion
Vintage or Vivienne Westwood?  Eastern European or East Village?  Charlotte Mickie, Festival Fashionista, takes to the streets of Park City to find out what festival-goers are wearing.
Watch the video