SUNDANCE 2010

Sundance Film Festival USA Coming to Eight Cities in January

by Alex Billington
November 5, 2009

Sundance is coming to you! Yesterday, the Sundance Institute announced that they would be launching Sundance Film Festival U.S.A., a groundbreaking initiative in which the Sundance Film Festival will expand nationwide on the night of Thursday, January 28th, 2010 to local theatres in eight cities. On that day, eight filmmakers and their films will be dispatched from Park City to cities across America, for the first time providing audiences the opportunity to experience screenings direct from the Festival in their home town art houses and to engage in live conversation with Festival artists. Now this is a really cool idea!

"The concept behind Sundance Film Festival U.S.A. is to ignite dialogue as people across the country engage in a collective film experience. It is an extension, really, of the work we have done for decades: supporting the independent voice, bringing artists to the table and inserting art more and more into the social context of how we live," said Robert Redford, Sundance Institute President. "We hope by speaking with artists about their work and experiencing the Festival as it is happening, audiences will be inspired to share opinions, discuss the key issues of our day and reflect on the role art plays in social change."

The eight cities and the respective theaters hosting the screening include: Ann Arbor, MI (Michigan Theater), Brookline, MA (Coolidge Corner Theatre), Brooklyn, NY (BAM), Chicago, IL (Music Box Theatre), Los Angeles, CA (Downtown Independent), Madison, WI (Sundance Cinemas), Nashville, TN (The Belcourt Theatre), and San Francisco, CA (Sundance Kabuki Cinemas). An introduction video featuring Robert Redford and highlights from the Festival will precede the screenings. Select films have not been announced yet (in December). Tickets will be available through each theatre’s individual box office.

As a die-hard fan of the Sundance Film Festival, I think this is a great idea, and I love the concept. Other festivals have tried similar at-home events, but none of them are effective. This seems like a much more well thought out event that will go over very well in each of the eight cities. If only they could expand wider and to other locations (I vote for Colorado!), but I'm sure that will happen in future years if this goes well. If you're in one of those eight cities, make sure you check this out! Seems like it'll be a great opportunity to see a new Sundance film. As always, you can get more info on the official festival website: festival.sundance.org.

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Related categories: Indies, Sundance 10