The Slamdance Film Festival, now in its 14th year, has always prided itself on the eclectic, exciting, something-for-everyone mix of people, parties and events that it brings together every year in Park City. The 2008 Festival will remain true to that tradition, providing unique professional and social outlets for filmmakers, industry executives, the media, and the general public.

As always, Slamdance will run concurrently with the Sundance Film Festival, January 17-25, in Park City, Utah. Slamdance headquarters, box office and screening venues are all located at the Treasure Mountain Inn at 255 Main Street. For more information and for a complete listing of films in the Festival, log on to www.slamdance.com or call 323/466-1786. Festival passes and individual tickets are now on sale.

2008 PARTIES/EVENTS SCHEDULE

Thursday, January 17th
Slamdance Housewarming Party presented by Steaz Organic Beverages and Evil Twin Booking Agency
9:00 p.m., Star Bar (268 Main Street)

Featured performances include M1 of Dead Prez and Umi of P.O.W with an exclusive set by DJ Joro-Boro of WirelessFM and formerly of the Bulgarian Bar. For more information on artists go to: myspace.com/M1rbg, myspace.com/umisworld and joro-boro.com. Additional performances by Emcee Sick of Pseudo Slang (Fat Beats Records) - NY/Chi-based recording artist/vinyl enthusiast with a rare DJ set + live performance, and The Uprok Records DJs (Salt Lake City).

Evil Twin Booking Agency organizes university and non-traditional tours for speakers, films and artists. It's entertainment for people who think and act. Clients include Dead Prez, The Yes Men, Lost Film Fest, Joro-Boro, Greg Palast, Timothy Speed Levitch, Bernardine Dohrn of The Weather Underground, Who Killed The Electric Car?, Mark Achbar dir., The Corporation, Derrick Jensen, Ed Begley Jr., and many more. Contact Liz Cole or Scott Beibin. info@eviltwinbooking.org http://www.eviltwinbooking.org

Steaz Organic Beverages are delicious, fair-trade-certified and sweetened with organic raw cane juice. They are available at all Whole Foods Markets. The energy drinks are powered with Yerba Mate, Acai, Green Tea, and Guarana (Try a HIPPIE KICKER = Steaz Energy + vodka). The sparkling green teas come in a variety of flavors in both regular and diet.

Uprok Records is Utah's only retail store dedicated to everything hip hop. "From CDs and Vinyl Records to Spraypaint to Clothing, it’s the only stop you will have to make to know what's going on in town." Uprok is located at 342 S. State Street in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City. http://www.myspace.com/uprokrecords

TICKET INFO: The event is free to Slamdance passholders. Pre-sale tickets are $25, which includes three sponsored drinks. All tickets are 21+ and ticket buyer will need to produce ID when picking up ticket at Slamdance will-call (255 Main Street). $25 tickets available at door for general admission, cash bar. 21+ only.

Saturday, January 19th-Thursday, January 24th

Happy Hours in the Lounge
Every day at 5:00 p.m., Slamdance Lounge in the Treasure Mountain Inn (255 Main Street)
Happy Hours are open to Slamdance passholders only, based on venue capacity, and are sponsored by Langley Productions, Current TV, MySpace, Focal Press and IndieWire.

Sunday, January 20th
Hot Tub Social sponsored by Parish
6:00pm, Treasure Mountain Inn Spa
Hosted by co-founder Dan Mirvish and East Coast Director Paul Rachman, the Hot Tub Social offers a chance for 2008 filmmakers to hold court with a variety of surprise alumni in the kind of personal environment Slamdance is known for; those not brave enough to get in the hot tub are welcome to take advantage of the heated benches.

Monday, January 21st
7th Annual Filmmaker Sled-Off sponsored by Parish
Meets at 4:00 p.m., Treasure Mountain Inn lobby
Marking the seventh year of outdoorsy competition, Slamdance filmmakers face off against each other and anyone else brave enough to participate in the annual Sled-Off. Slamdance co-founder Dan Mirvish began this illustrious sporting tradition; all interested participants must bring their own sled.

On January 21st, during Happy Hour in the Lounge, there will be a special performance by the Miss Gay America contestants from the documentary feature competition film Pageant.


Tuesday, January 22nd
Film Commission Expo
1:00 p.m., Slamdance Lounge
Representatives from the Maryland, Tucson, Sedona, Mississippi, and Nevada Film Commissions will be on hand to discuss the shooting and production possibilities that their respective states/cities can offer to filmmakers. Free and open to all.

Tuesday, January 22nd
Screenplay Reading
2:30 p.m. Gallery Screening Room in the Treasure Mountain Inn
Reading of “Wonder Girls” by Anthony Meindl. “Wonder Girls” is the winner of the 12th Annual Slamdance Screenplay Competition. Free admission, open to all.

Wednesday, January 23rd
On January 23rd, during Happy Hour in the Lounge, Thunder from the documentary feature competition film Song Sung Blue will be entertaining Happy Hour attendees. Thunder is one half of the Milwaukee-based husband-and-wife singing duo Lightning & Thunder, who cover crooner Neil Diamond’s most popular tunes.

Friday, January 25th
Platinum Studios Presents the 2008 Slamdance Film Festival Closing Awards and Reception
9:00 p.m., Main Screening Room in the Treasure Mountain Inn
Announcement of 2008 award winners and closing remarks, mingling. Open to Slamdance passholders only.


2008 FIRESIDE CHATS SCHEDULE

The Fireside tradition started at Slamdance ’99 as a way for filmmakers to meet with other filmmakers and industry figures in an informal setting. To date, more than 200 speakers have participated. The Chats feature festival directors, producers, executives, musicians, distributors, technology gurus, and other movers and shakers in indie filmmaking. Chats run daily from 1:00-2:00 p.m. January 18th-24th in the Gallery Screening Room at the Treasure Mountain Inn. All Chats are moderated by Steve Montal except where noted below. Free admission.

Friday, January 18th
“Filmmakers on Filmmaking”
Sponsored by Kodak
Panelists include filmmakers with films in the 2008 Slamdance and Sundance film festivals. Discussion includes getting a film made, various new film production and post-production technologies, and how to get a film noticed. Moderated by Lorette Bayle, Kodak Account Executive: Independent Features, and independent filmmaker.

Saturday, January 19th
“Alternative Funding Methods for Indies”
Sponsored by Film Riot
Delve into alternative methods to raise money for indie films. Speak with filmmakers and Internet gurus who are using innovative techniques to take the guesswork out of funding indie films so that you can focus on your story and making the best film possible.

Sunday, January 20th
“Online Communities”
Sponsored by OurStage
Explore the developments in online distribution for indie filmmakers including building online communities and marketing with digital media. The discussion will also focus on the use of social networking sites to develop and promote independent film.

Monday, January 21st
“New Technologies and Online Distribution”
Sponsored by DivX
Learn about the latest developments in digital distribution and exhibition of independent films. Panelists include experts who will speak about new opportunities in areas such as digital distribution, mobile devices, wireless networks and online.

Tuesday, January 22nd
“The Art, Craft and Business of Screenwriting”
Sponsored by the Slamdance Screenplay Competition
Topics include how to work and communicate with producers, executives, agents and managers, how to fully develop material, the Writers Guild's protections and benefits for writers, the role of competitions and how past Slamdance competition winners got produced and screened as festival features.

Wednesday, January 23rd
“New Production Technologies”
Sponsored by Panasonic
Fall in love all over again with the latest technology for indie filmmaking. Spend time with HD gurus who have shot using different formats and equipment including the HVX200. A discussion of managing budgets and workflow for indie filmmakers will be included in this panel.

more on fest21.com Park City blog