Sundance

By James Nelson

PARK CITY, Utah-The 2020 edition of the Sundance Film Festival (SFF) opened with glitz, glamour, loads of anticipation and a light dusting of snow for the annual winter wonderland home of movies and movie makers.

Celebrity Taylor Swift quickly fired up the buzz saws with her appearance on the red carpet for Miss Americana which offers a fascinating introspective on life as a superstar. The movie premiered to a packed theater and ended with thunderous applause.

Happy Happy Joy Joy-The Ren & Stimpy Story examines the animated series that generated controversy while entertaining audiences. Directors Ron Cicero and Kimo Easterwood use archival footage and interviews to bring the story forward. The film is one of the documentary premieres at the festival.

Other talked about films include Ironbark an English and Russian work with English subtitles revealing a British mans’ true account of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The there’s Tesla a look back at the pioneering energy work of Nikola Tesla that would alter the world.

In the Special Events category Hilary will be screened at the festival with much anticipation of Hilary Clinton showing up for the world premiere. The film is directed by Nannette Burstein and offers never before insight to the former First Lady, politician and presidential  candidate.

Festival panels are always popular, and this year is no exception with intriguing session titles like The Movie That Blew My Mind, Shouldering the Future, Women Hold Up Half the Sky and How Can Artists Reshape Politics?  Live music and swarming paparazzi add the Hollywood flavor to the otherwise quiet ski resort community in northern Utah.

The long running SFF is viewed by many in the film industry as one of the best places for independent voices to be heard and their work showcased on the silver screen.

The 2020 SFF will be screening 120 films after receiving over 15,000 submissions from around the world. The films will be showing in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah as well as screenings at the Sundance Mountain Resort.