SUNDANCE 2008

Sundance 2008 Opening Night Film Announced

by Alex Billington
November 20, 2007

The 2008 Sundance Film Festival starts in officially 58 more days, and I'm already getting excited. Sundance tops off everything as my personal favorite event all year, even over Comic-Con, and this year is looking better than ever. We've already got our exclusive condo right in Park City set to go and the rest of our plans are being finalized. Kicking off the very first bit of coverage is the announcement of the opening night film that the fest will start with. This year it's one titled In Bruges written and directed by first-time feature filmmaker and award-winning playwright Martin McDonagh.

In Bruges stars Ralph Fiennes, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson. The film tells the story of hit men Ray and Ken, (Farrell and Gleeson, respectively) who, after a badly botched job in London, are ordered by their boss, Harry (Fiennes), to cool their heels in the bucolic city of Bruges, Belgium. Very much out of their comfort zones, the men find themselves drawn into increasingly dangerous entanglements with locals, tourists, and a film shoot. When their stay in Bruges takes a turn for the worst, Ray and Ken realize Harry may have plans for them other than a simple vacation.

"Martin McDonagh's hilariously sad first feature is seemingly modest; but, in fact, highly original. No filmmaker I know has made the English language, in all its profane - and here, quite Celtic - glory, such a purely, joyously cinematic medium," said James Schamus, CEO, Focus Features.

"In many ways In Bruges is a quintessential Sundance film-- it's brutal, philosophical, funny, and totally original," said Geoffrey Gilmore, Director, Sundance Film Festival. "Martin McDonagh is a masterful storyteller, a tremendously gifted playwright and provocative risk-taker and we are thrilled to showcase his feature-length directorial debut."

Last year's opening night film was Chicago 10, which hasn't even opened nationally yet and doesn't have too much buzz. So far I already like the way this year's fest is heading! A hitmen movie as the kick off film? Sounds better than a documentary about the Chicago riots.

The rest of the films at the festival and full schedule will be announced on Wednesday, November 28th. The festival runs from January 17th to 27th in Park City, Utah. For more info, visit sundance.org/festival/.

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