Last Day At Sundance - Reflections on a Good Year

When we first get the film titles, about three weeks before the fest, we pour over the schedule and try our best to pick films to see - most days four to five beginning at 8:30 a.m. and often ending at around 11 p.m. trying to avoid the black ice on the ground.

A full house at the Eccles, a 1200 seat auditorium

To be honest, most of the titles are complete mysteries to us and so we go into the festival not entirely knowing what we are going to see, just trying our best to pick a film based on liking the directors previous work, or liking the actors, or that the time slot works as there are five films to choose from in each slot. It's not until the first couple days does word of mouth enter into the  equation, or blogs or early reviews in some of the trades. While I went into the festival without a large number of films on a must-see list, I have been more than pleasantly surprised at just how many films this year I wound up really liking, and know that we'll be bringing them to a Sundance Cinema near you (San Francisco, Houston, Madison, Seattle and Los Angeles). That's exciting and gratifying. And it makes me proud of the eagle eye programmers at Sundance.
This morning when I was at the Eccles, I snapped a shot of this theatre seat,

because this was Roger Ebert's seat, and one year I screwed up my courage and introduced myself. He was so nice - he asked me to move my floppy hat so that he could see my eyes while we chatted. I think this chair should always remain empty out of respect.


Of the three movies I saw today, I think my favorite was Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon in 'The Trip To Italy', directed by Michael Winterbottom.A 'continuation' of 2010's 'The Trip', about the search for fine dining in the UK, this is a much more lush and gorgeous and food-tastic trip through the coast of Italy. Loved it.

Signing off, and see you all at the movies.

- Nancy

Day 5 : A Moving Tribute to Roger Ebert & George Takei is Not Just From Star Trek

As I do sometimes, I need to begin with the last movie of the day, as it's sitting with me the strongest. Especially this one. 'Life Itself', by Steve James (Hoop Dreams), a touching tribute to the late film critic Roger Ebert. Primarily shot the last few weeks of his life,

it was a no-holds-barred look at his early days in journalism, to his Pulitzer Prize and rise to fame alongside Gene Siskel, with whom he shared a very complicated and thorny relationship. When he turned 50, he married the amazing Chaz Ebert, and in the film you see the love and devotion the two have for each other. It was emotional for me because like so many, I felt I knew him through his writing - most especially the blog he wrote the last few years of his life when he'd lost the ability to speak, drink and eat. I really hope that many people will get a chance to see it. My first film of the day was a fairly lite movie called 'Happy Christmas', starring Anna Kendricks as a young lady who lands of her brothers doorstep and wreak some havoc on his family. We get a bit of Lena Dunham in this one too, always fun.

Seattle's Lynn Shelton (Your Sister's Sister) premiered her latest slice of life movie with 'The Laggies', starring Keira Knightly as a young woman trying to decide whether to marry her high school boyfriend, and meets a group of high school students to hang out with. Love interest: Sam Rockwell. Can't wait to bring it to our Seattle theatre.
I was very pleasantly surprised by the documentary 'To Be Takei', about the actor George Takei who has been extremely involved with the LGBT rights movement, and as a resident of Japanese internment camps during WWll, a person who was partially responsible for bringing that part of US history to light, and getting reparations.

We got a great 'hit' in Leah Garchik's column today in the SF Chronicle - check it out here, and check back with all of you tomorrow!

Day 4 - Star Power - Parties & Movies

Sunday morning and the alarm rang at 6.45. Seems a bit extreme, no? But there's no rest for the wicked and three cups of Martha's later, I was ready to hit the first film of the day, 'The Skeleton Twins', by Washington State local Craig Johnson. Starring Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig, this film is part of Sundance Film Festival USA

at our Seattle location on Thursday, January 30th. There are some seats left, and they can be purchased here.
The two play twins who grew up under a strained childhood, and are estranged for years until Hader attempts suicide, and goes to live with his sister to recover.Good script and cast including Luke Wilson and Modern Family's Ty Burrell.
I blew off an invite to the British Film Brunch (not in the mood for bangers and mash), and instead watched a fascinating doc called 'Ivory Tower' about the history of 'free education' in America, and what the modern system has become. Students seeking an education these days find themselves strapped with insurmountable debt when they graduate, and there's a real dialogue about the worth of a four year education.

We caught about half of a really enjoyable 'Appropriate Behavior' about a Persian bi-sexual woman struggling with love and meaningful employment in Brooklyn. Really loved it and regretted having to leave early - but parties await. First is the party of the year we most look forward to, hosted by our sisters at the Sundance Channel. It's a grand party every year, hosted by the head of the Channel, my pal Sarah Barnett.
This year did not disappoint, with yummy food, a fully hosted bar, and lots of entertainment.

Here's a bad shot I took with my iphone of Maggie Gyllenhaal who stars in the Sundance Channels new series 'The Honorable Woman'.

Loads of our pals from the other Sundance entities. But, another party begged for my attendance - the annual Industrial Light & Magic party I'm lucky to be invited to, and its always a grand time with local Bay Area friends old and new. And one of my very favorite actors, William H. Macy was there. I interviewed him once - such a nice and polite man, let alone a great actor.

Tomorrow starts at 8.30!!!

Day 3 : Good Films - Blazing Sun - Black Ice

I like the way the day started. John Slattery has been obsessed with a book called 'God's Pocket' for 10 years. The rights weren't available, but he worked on the screenplay and pursued the financing and finally it all came together in the film that premiered at Sundance this year. Once again, here's a photo from the premiere that I didn't attend. There's Trevor Groth on the end, he's the head of programming
at the festival slumming with Slattery, Christina Hendricks and Philip Seymour Hoffman, stars of the film about a working class area of Philly.

Tough folks, great script and super direction.

 I took a break in the afternoon, and walked up to Main Street in search of a giftey for my husband who was gallantly at home following the full-page, single-spaced list of instructions for household chores I'd left him with. Anyway Main Street was chock full of MOBS of people who I don't think were seeing one movie, more like had entered Park City on a magic carpet made of fur coats and beer. An odd, huge crush of folks. I was eager to get back to my own little slice of heaven,

also known as the Press & Industry tent. This is where we line up with the hopes of getting into our private screenings every two hours or so. Now, my good buddy Rob Thomas, the movie reviewer and blogger extraordinaire took a similar shot and swore he wouldn't put in on his blog, but he lied. And I'm only forgiving him because he walked me home tonight.
The last two movies of the day were fantastic. 'Last Days in Vietnam' is a tremendous documentary by Rory Kennedy about the back story on the Saigon airlifts during the last days of the war. I was moved and shocked  

 about how much I didn't know. I also thought it was an amazing circle that Rory Kennedy made a film that was about the end of what JFK had started.  The last movie of the night was really good, and I'm sure it will be picked up -'Infinitely Polar Bear' starring Mark Ruffalo as a bi-polar Bostonian from a blue-blood background who has to deal with caring for his daughters while his wife gets her MBA. Great script, and the kids are stellar.

Tomorrow has loads of movies and two great parties...

Day 2 - Compelling 'Camp X-Ray' & Fabulous 'Lunchbox'

Today Peter Sattler's 'Camp X-Ray' had its public and industry premiere at Sundance. I was on the shuttle heading to our screening and sat next to a guy on the bus who just raved about it. Here's a shot from the red carpet - our screenings have no carpet. Well, ok, there's carpet...it's all weather gray plastic that looks like it's wet all the time. I digress. The film stars Kristen Stewart as an Army Private MP assigned to the prison at Guantanamo Bay. 'Guests' there are referred to as 'detainees', because 'prisoners' are subject to the Geneva Convention rules. She strikes up a relationship with one of the detainees, played brilliantly by Peyman Moaadi (A Separation). You, too, can see this compelling drama at the Sundance Kabuki in San Francisco on Thursday January 30th during Sundance Film Festival USA, with director Peter Sattler there in person. Tickets on sale now!

But my day started out fantastically with a film called 'The Lunchbox', starring my very favorite Indian actor Irrfan Khan (TV's In Treatment, Life of Pi, Salaam Bombay). Khan plays a terribly lonely widower who works in a Mumbai office where lunch is delivered each day as part of an elaborate system. He begins to receive amazingly flavorful meals mis-delivered and strikes up a relationship with a lonely housewife. The scenes of crowded and crazy Mumbai, juxtaposed with the characters isolation is part of a wonderful story from first time filmmaker and screenwriter Ritesh Batra. A must see. Also caught a film that was part of the NEXT Film Festival we held at our Los Angeles theatre called 'The Fox Merkins' about women who specialize as lesbian prostitutes (clever), and Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright and Willem Dafoe in 'A Most Wanted Man', a taught thriller about espionage and the 'fight against terrorism'.

It was a rather satisfying day...and so much more tomorrow. 1 caramel apple on Main Street before the Texas Film Party where I got to hug my friend Clifford Pugh, editor of CultureMap Houston. Clifford will be moderating our screening of 'Cold in July' on January 30th as part of Sundance Film Festival USA.

Day One in Town - The Traditions

Ever since the our company has been coming to the Festival (2007), we've had a few little traditions. One: I'm responsible for securing housing arrangements that are convenient, comfortable and able to swell and ebb with a tide of friends, family and guests as needed. We always host a number of students who are in film school or interested in film. This year, one of the students has a film accepted at the Festival, MEMPHIS. I'll report on her experience later. Very proud.

 Another tradition is the trip to the grocery store to make certain that we all don't starve during the difficult chores that await us each day. This trip involves slowly taking a cart and hitting every single aisle, placing foodstuffs most of us (I hope) would not be eating year round, sprinkled with our comfort foods of home. This year I just had to memorialize the 'dry goods' counter.

Another marvelous tradition is our annual kick-off dinner at Zoom Restaurant on Main Street in Park City. Last night was fabulous, we were waiting for some stranded East Coast guests so we had miles of appetizers, bottles of fine wine (I had bubbly), and a fabulous meal. I had fresh caught trout (no head, thank you). Just a great time.

Today is Day one for movies, and tonight, please check back for a taste of how my day went.

Sundance Cinemas at the Fest In Search of Snow, Caramel Apples And Movies

Am I ready? No. Am I packed - let's just say over packed. Coming from California where our median temperature has hovered around the 70's, there's a bit of anticipation and fear about heading into the teen's. But oh, those mountains. Oh, the excitement, oh, the movies and the friends and the sore butt that lies ahead. Once again the Sundance Cinemas team is taking over The Struggler on Park Avenue, a mere grocery cart ride to Albertson's for sustenance, a half block from the shuttle, and walking distance to most of the theatres and Main Street. We've scored a very great place to stay. Me especially - as I'll once again be ensconced in my own little suite. I'll be posting every day about all the movies, parties and odd sightings. This year my trusty iphone will be my camera. Please keep in touch here and on facebook for a close-up view of the best film festival around. That would be the Sundance Film Festival.