sundance

Memorable quotes from Sundance 2012

This year’s edition of the Sundance Film Festival, like most years, featured an abundance of witty, memorable lines. Here are some of the best quotes heard in films that screened during this year’s fest….

The Best of Sundance 2012

Now that the 2012 Sundance Film Festival is just a snowy, hectic memory, it’s time to bestow our own awards on the films we can’t get out of our heads….

Oscar-winning MAN ON WIRE director James Marsh rips Best Doc Oscar noms, talks brilliant new film SHADOW DANCER

The opening salvo was fired on Nov. 18. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released their short list of 15 films for the Best Documentary Oscar, and many in the industry were up in arms. Where was THE INTERRUPTERS? No SENNA? Then, the actual nominees for the Academy Award for Best Documentary were announced on Jan. 24, and people were appropriately outraged.

One of the biggest snubs was PROJECT NIM, the poignant doc by Oscar-winning MAN ON WIRE filmmaker James Marsh about Nim, a chimpanzee who in the became the focus of a groundbreaking experiment in the 1970s attempting to teach apes to communicate. For a time, Nim was even raised in an apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

Following MAN ON WIRE and PROJECT NIM, James Marsh is back at the Sundance Film Festival with SHADOW DANCER—a brilliant IRA drama set in 1990s Belfast about a young mother, played by Andrea Riseborough (in a spellbinding performance), who is forced to collaborate with an MI5 officer (Clive Owen) and act as an informant spying on her own brothers. The slow-burning thriller is already garnering comparisons to TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY, and is one of the best films to screen at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.

Follow the Sundance Film Festival Awards LIVE!

Still bummed you couldn’t make it out to Park City? Well, Sundance Channel will be at the awards ceremony tonight and we promise to bring you up-to-the-minute reports on the winners, the losers and who is passing out from “altitude sickness”. Make sure you are following @SundanceChannel so you don’t miss a thing. And, if you’re really committed, you can watch a live stream of the whole shebang. The festivities begin tonight at 9 ET/7 MT.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt opens up about hitRECord and DARK KNIGHT RISES’ Occupy Wall Street vibe

It’s more than an hour ‘til show time and the ticketholder tent outside the 1,270-seat Eccles Theatre, the Grand Théâtre Lumière of Sundance, is bursting at the seams for Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s hitRECord: A Night at the Movies. Thus, the less punctual attendees are forced to brave the heavy snow and form a long line wrapping around the theatre. Judging by the high volume of beanies, as well as girls dragging their boyfriends around like disgruntled parents, the crowd is skewing very young—save a handful of older men who look like Julian Schnabel.

KID-THING premiere photos: A total charm offensive

Actor-director (and parent sharing) duo David and Nathan Zellner returned to Park City with KID-THING. And despite the fact that they were often upstaged by their adorable, and incredibly talented, star Sydney Aguirre, the brothers Zellner charmed their way through Park City. Find out more about the film and check out our entire gallery of the day:

Top Ten: Bad girls, good films at Sundance 2012

Everybody loves a bad girl, and the indie crowd at Sundance is no exception. This year we had ladies heating up the phone lines, facing off with nature and, well…doing drugs in the powder room. But, mirror, mirror on the wall? Who is the best bad girl of them all? You’ll have to read on to find out:

My Premiere: Watch SAVE THE DATE director Michael Mohan premiere his film

Director Michael Mohan says his film SAVE THE DATE was a huge team effort, but the night (or afternoon, really) belonged to him. Follow Michael from writing his opening remarks to catching up with his cast and letting the applause from his premiere fill in. Check out all of the photos…and watch the My Premiere video.

THE HOUSE I LIVE IN: A fascinating expose on the (racist) war on drugs

Since 1970, it has cost America $2.5 trillion and led to 44 million arrests.

Due in large part to its excessively draconian laws, with only five percent of the world’s population, the United States accounts for 25 percent of its prisoners.

Watch: FILLY BROWN stars Edward J. Olmos, Lou Diamond Philips, Jenni Rivera & Gina Rodriguez

FILLY BROWN is a hip-hop, coming of age story set against the backdrop of a broken family and the less glamorous side of Los Angeles. Edward J. Olmos Lou Diamond Philips and Jenni Rivera support a brilliant performance by festival “it girl” Gina Rodriguez. It’s a gritty performance, but Rodriguez has scored legions of new fans in the criticsphere. Find out what the cast had to say about working with such an amazing ensemble.

Watch Buzz on the Bus and get the skinny on Sundance 2012

Pop quiz: Where is the best place to get honest opinions on Sundance Film Festival flicks? Well, SUNfiltered, but the Park City buses are a close second. This mountain town has a free, killer public transportation system and it ramps up during the festival. It’s the best way to get around and the best place to find out if that weird, Mongolian documentary is really worth braving the waitlist for. Don’t believe me? Watch and learn, grasshopper:

Sundance 2012 trends: Women behaving badly, star-studded bombs, and physical handicaps

Now that we’ve reached the home stretch of this year’s Sundance Film Festival, it’s time to take a long, hard look at some of the major trends of this year’s fest…

Video: Emily Blunt and Mark Duplass talk love and loss in YOUR SISTER’S SISTER

YOUR SISTER’S SISTER tells the story of a different kind of love triangle. Emily Blunt, Mark Duplass, Rosemarie DeWitt and director Lynn Shelton (HUMPDAY) stopped by to talk about how the process of collaborative filmmaking differs from your average studio fare. Watch more to learn more:

Watch a conversation on WEST OF MEMPHIS with Damien Echols, Amy Berg & Lorri Davis

Damien Echols spent 18 years behind bars for a murder he didn’t commit. That story has already been the subject of three documentaries and countless appeals, but Amy Berg’s take on the story of the West Memphis Three goes further. The film exposes new evidence and different voices. Echols, Berg and producer Lorri Davis (who is married to Echols) filled in Festival Insider:

Video: Lizzy Olsen & Josh Radnor drop knowledge on LIBERAL ARTS

Have you ever wanted to know what it is like to shoot a sex scene while your parents are on set? Well, Josh Radnor fills us in over at Festival Insider:

2012 Sundance Film Festival announces Jury Prizes in short filmmaking

Sundance Institute this evening announced the jury prizes and honorable mentions in short filmmaking at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. The awards were presented at a ceremony in Park City, Utah. These award recipients will also be honored at the Festival’s Awards Ceremony, hosted by Parker Posey on Saturday, January 28 at 7:00 p.m. MT and live streamed at www.sundance.org/live.

Chris Rock and Julie Delpy on TWO DAYS IN NEW YORK, interracial relationships, and Rock’s Love For Melissa McCarthy

Oscar-nominated actress-cum-filmmaker Julie Delpy’s filmmaking debut 2 DAYS IN PARIS centered on Marion (Delpy), a photographer struggling in her relationship with her neurotic, American boyfriend, Jack (Adam Goldberg). The film went on to become a huge indie hit, grossing nearly $20 million worldwide.

The French-American filmmaker has returned with a sequel of sorts, and enlisted comedian Chris Rock to play Mingus, her new boyfriend. The couple lives together in New York with a child from Marion’s previous relationship with Jack and things are going smoothly—that is, until her family, including father Jeannot (Albert Delpy, her real-life Dad) and sister, Rose (Alexia Landeau), decides to pay the couple a visit following the death of Marion’s mother. Rose’s new boyfriend, who just happens to be one of Marion’s exes, ratchets up the awkwardness, attempting to impress Mingus by quoting Salt-n-Pepa and buying weed in plain sight. Adding to her anxiety, Marion has an upcoming make-or-break photo exhibition.

My Premiere photos: Rick Alverson joins Tim & Eric for THE COMEDY

THE COMEDY was one of the more highly anticipated films of this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Despite a mixed critical response, and one of most awkward Q&As I’ve ever seen, people are still talking about it and director Rick Alverson is getting kudos for drawing a stellar dramatic performance out of funnyman Tim Heidecker . Check out our gallery from the big night, featuring Alverson, LCD Soundsystem (ex-) frontman James Murphy, Eric Wareheim & Tim Heidecker.

Photos of festival faves John Hawkes & William H. Macy: Indie duo in town for THE SURROGATE

They must be shooting Shameless, because William H. Macy was rockin’ his Frank Gallagher look. It works for him, so much so that John Hawkes grew a moustache to match. The hirsute duo joined THE SURROGATE director Ben Lewin at Sundance Channel HQ to talk about the film and their $6 million sale. THE SURROGATE is one of the most buzzed about film in the festival this year, so catch up with our gallery a quick description:

The wackiest sci-fi flick at Sundance: Paul Giamatti and filmmaker Don Coscarelli on JOHN DIES AT THE END

JOHN DIES AT THE END, the latest bizarro sci-fi flick from genre filmmaker Don Coscarelli (of BUBBA HO-TEP fame), opens with a bang.

A designer drug called “soy sauce” grants users a paranormal, out-of-body experience, but also transforms them into disgusting, insect-filled zombie creatures. John (Rob Mayes) is frantic. He calls his best friend—and fellow slacker—Dave (Chase Williamson), who rushes over to his house. They soon encounter a cute, unassuming girl with a scar on her face. Before the two guys can say “soy sauce,” she explodes into hundreds of snakes that bite and tear at the two pals. John runs up the stairs to try and escape, but the door handle turns into a penis, which he refuses to turn. Then, various meats from the basement freezer—sausages, steaks, chickens, etc.—begin shooting across the floor, forming a “meat monster” with a turkey for a head who addresses the boys in a demonic voice.

Visit Sundance’s inner sanctum: Check out video from the director’s brunch

One of the most exclusive events each year at the Sundance Film Festival is the director’s brunch. It’s an opportunity for all of the directors, from opening night hits to shorts, to kick back, relax and talk craft. There is no stress over sales or audience reactions, just bagels and a chance to mingle. It’s one of Sundance founder Robert Robert’s favorite festival events. And now you can get inside and see why.

Vera Farmiga, David Duchovny and Common party in Park City

Lots of folks were packing up and heading out this morning, but they were obviously out in force last night. And it’s not an indie festival if Vera Farmiga doesn’t show up looking understadedly amazing. That woman just looks awesome in a hood. I could go on, but I won’t. Check out all the party people on our gallery.

Adorable photos of fashionable puppies in Park City

Dogs love indie films. That’s a fact. My aunt has two labradors who are big Almodóvar fans. But, they’re not really snobby about it. They enjoy big budget Hollywood movies, too! They’ve never been to Park City, like the dogs in this gallery, but maybe one day.

Richard Jenkins sees a double rainbow at Sundance with Jason Mraz

I’ll admit it. I don’t like that song one bit, but seeing Richard Jenkins (LIBERAL ARTS, Six Feet Under) sing along to Jason Mraz at his premiere party the other night certainly warmed my cockels. Celebrities, they’re just like us! They record their favorite acoustic performances on their iPhones!

Video: Joe Berlinger talks West Memphis Three and Oscar

Sundance Film Festival veteran, and Iconoclasts producer/director, Joe Berlinger stopped by Sundance Channel HQ right after he found out his film about the West Memphis Three, PARADISE LOST, had been nominated for an Oscar. Lucky us! Check out what Berlinger has say about some of the controversy surrounding the film, why the fight for justice isn’t over yet and how the Oscar nomination might help: