Every year, one actress is anointed the queen of Sundance. First it was Parker Posey, then Christina Ricci, Patricia Clarkson, and now, Melonie Diaz. The 23-year-old actress who is still in school at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts has already had several Sundance Films (in 2003 with RAISING VICTOR VARGAS and in 2006 with A GUIDE TO RECOGNIZING YOUR SAINTS). This year, Ms. Diaz in four films, as well as being a juror on the Short Film Competition.

In BE KIND REWIND [sundance.org], Diaz plays next to Jack Black and Mos Def as a clerk in a video store. In ASSASSINATION OF A HIGH SCHOOL PRESIDENT [sundance.org] and HAMLET 2 [sundance.org], Diaz plays a high school student. And in AMERICAN SON [sundance.org], Diaz shows up as the unexpected love interest for the main character (played by Nick Cannon). Showing a remarkable range from film to film, Diaz may reign as an indy queen for quite awhile.

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Peter Bowen

Editor, FilmInFocus.com