Beginning Thursday, January 22, and culminating Sunday, February 1, the 42nd annual Sundance Film Festival unfolds in Park City, Utah, marking the culmination of its storied residency in the state. This edition is particularly poignant as it proceeds without its esteemed founder Robert Redford, who died in September 2023 at age 89.
The festival maintains its core mission of spotlighting cinema through an ambitious slate of 90 feature film premieres, promising fresh voices and familiar contributors alike. Eugene Hernandez, Sundance's public programming director, characterizes the lineup as "broad, eclectic and bold," emphasizing a blend of emerging talent and acclaimed artists returning to Sundance roots. This curated mixture anticipates generating a distinctive energy and resonance unique to this final Utah gathering.
Daily screenings run from early morning hours up to midnight, granting attendees extensive viewing opportunities culminating in awards announced on January 30. The sustained high volume reflects Sundance's commitment to comprehensive cinematic exploration even amid its transitional phase.
Anticipated attendees encompass an impressive roster of actors and artists poised to grace Park City’s mountain setting, including Natalie Portman, Ethan Hawke, Russell Crowe, Brittney Griner, Seth Rogen, O’Shea Jackson Jr., David Duchovny, Olivia Wilde, Daveed Diggs, Channing Tatum, Courtney Love, Chris Pine, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Salman Rushdie, Alexander Skarsgård, Olivia Colman, John Turturro, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Their participation underscores the festival’s continued prestige and appeal.
Honoring Robert Redford's indelible legacy forms a central narrative throughout the festival. The annual fundraising gala on Friday night will include tributes celebrating Redford’s contributions. Furthermore, the lineup features a screening of "Downhill Racer," Redford’s seminal 1969 independent sports drama, along with restored legacy films such as "Little Miss Sunshine" and Barbara Kopple's documentary "American Dream," highlighting films emblematic of Sundance’s cinematic heritage.
The contemporary programming showcases several buzzworthy productions. Olivia Wilde’s third directorial feature, "The Invite," presents a narrative involving an unhappily married couple hosting a dinner party, featuring Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton. Gregg Araki’s "I Want Your Sex," described as a "sex-positive love letter to Gen Z," stars Wilde and Cooper Hoffman portraying a boundary-pushing artist and an intern. Natalie Portman headlines Cathy Yan’s satirical take on the art world "The Gallerist," complemented by Zach Galifianakis, Jenna Ortega, and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Pop star Charli XCX contributes supporting roles in both "I Want Your Sex" and "The Gallerist," with her leading showcase being "The Moment," a self-referential mockumentary. Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgård feature in "Wicker," a whimsical tale involving a fisherwoman and a basket weaver. Russell Crowe appears as a work camp warden in 1930s Oregon in "The Weight," with Ethan Hawke as a prisoner. Additionally, Gemma Chan and Channing Tatum star as parents navigating a child’s exposure to a crime in "Josephine."
The festival’s nonfiction segment includes a film exploring artificial intelligence co-directed by Daniel Roher, along with documentaries about Courtney Love, lead singer of the band Hole and widow of Kurt Cobain, and WNBA star Brittney Griner, who endured nearly a ten-month detention in Russia.
Digital accessibility has become an integral aspect of Sundance experience. Starting January 29 and extending through February 1, audiences globally may stream films in competition at prices starting from $35 per title. This hybrid approach stems initially from pandemic adaptations but now serves as a permanent avenue for expanding Sundance’s reach beyond physical attendance.
Regarding theatrical distribution, select films such as "The Moment," scheduled for release by A24 on January 30, have secured near-term theatrical windows. However, other films may vary widely in timing from weeks to over a year before reaching theaters or streaming platforms, contingent on post-festival acquisitions.
Sundance's evolution continues with plans to relocate next January, moving its annual gathering to Boulder, Colorado, closing the chapter on its Utah tenure with this 2026 edition.