(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
The Sundance Film Festival opens tomorrow for its final Utah edition before relocating to Boulder, Colorado in 2027. This year's fest carries emotional weight—it's the first since founder Robert Redford's death in September, and staff will also honor longtime communications chief Tammie Rosen, who passed in December.
The numbers: 90 new features culled from 16,200+ submissions, with only about a dozen arriving with distribution already attached. Translation: open season for buyers. And there are plenty of new hunters in town:
- Warner Bros. is debuting an unnamed Gen Z-focused specialty label led by ex-Neon marketing guru Christian Parkes (the 'Longlegs' whisperer)
- Paramount's Republic Pictures is shopping under new acquisitions head Lia Buman
- Row K, which splashed at TIFF, is positioning to be aggressive
- Newcomers 1-2 Special, Black Bear, WILLA, and freshly launched Subtext (founded by vets from Utopia, The Orchard, and Pulse Films) are also hunting
Cautious optimism is the vibe. Last year looked quiet initially but ~65% of the program eventually landed homes. Post-Covid, deals just trickle in slower.
Buzzy titles to watch: ‘The Invite’ (Olivia Wilde directing herself, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, Edward Norton), ‘The Gallerist’ (Jenna Ortega, Natalie Portman), ‘Wicker’ (Olivia Colman), and horror entry ‘Buddy’ from the ‘Barbarian’ producers.
Looking ahead… The festival kicks off tomorrow and runs through February 1.
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