The indie movie industry is booming, as the public is drawn to films with unconventional plot lines that inspire deeper rhetoric about the workings of society. All aspiring indie moviemakers know that Sundance Film Festival is one of the top avenues to bring film projects to the forefront of the industry. Taking place in Park City, Utah, Sundance 2019 featured many thought-provoking films, including ones about significant historical events.
A hefty roster of A-list talent played major roles in film projects that premiered at Sundance 2019. Jada Pinkett Smith was the executive producer for Hala, a spellbinding film about a high school senior who develops a strong crush on her classmate, but it is in disagreement with her conservative Muslim upbringing. This was a very popular must-see film that created a lot of buzz at this year’s Sundance.
Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams starred in After The Wedding, an in intriguing film about an orphanage worker who receives a large grant from a generous donor and how their lives intersect when they meet. Shia LaBeouf also wrote and starred in Honey Boy, a fascinating film about a child TV actor and how his intense relationship with his domineering father develops over the years and affects him when he is older.
Another audience favorite with a strong female cast was Late Night, a hilarious film about a woman (Mindy Kaling) who joins an all-male team of writers for a major TV talk show with declining ratings and how she earns the respect she deserves from them and the host (Emma Thompson). This film shined a giant spotlight on how women, especially minority women, are treated in the workplace, white privilege, and why females need to continuously stand up for themselves in our patriarchal society.
The Report was another highly notable film that centered on unveiling the CIA’s horrific, torturous “enhanced interrogation techniques” during the Bush/Cheney era after 9/11. Starring big names like Adam Driver, Michael C. Hall, Jon Hamm, and Annette Bening, the film delved into how the CIA provided false information by stating that these deranged tactics were successful when they really weren’t. The main character, Daniel Jones (played by Driver) spent years compiling a report to bring these injustices to light.
Many of the films had world premiere screenings at Sundance 2019 that were followed by thought-provoking Q & A sessions with the talent. These special film showings were a great way for movie enthusiasts and industry influencers to get to know more about what it took to bring the film project to life. Nationally-renowned brands also hosted lounges that held cast lunches, premiere parties, and special invite-only panels for Sundance producers and stars to share insight on their movies with major tastemakers in the film arena.
If you are an aspiring filmmaker and hope to see your own special movie project on the big screen one day, definitely submit it to Sundance 2020. The Sundance Institute (a nonprofit organization dedicated to the discovery and development of independent artists in film and theatre) also offers fantastic Creative Producing Fellowships that provide financial assistance, mentorship, and other wonderful opportunities for filmmakers. There is no better way to get your project out and into the public eye.
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