Creation and Innovation: A look into Sundance 2017

Every year, eager audience members, filmmakers, and celebrities flock to the snow-capped mountains Park City, Utah to attend the Sundance Film Festival. Sundance is the largest independent film festival in the United States, with over 46,000 attendees in 2016. The festival gives the public an opportunity to sit in on screenings of submissions from hopeful filmmakers.

The submissions can cover subjects documentaries to feature-films. The submissions are often quirky or unique in different aspects; and praised for their individuality and peculiarity.

Never been to Sundance? Perhaps you have seen some of the movies that have premiered there. Some famous works that came out of the festival include Napoleon Dynamite, Whiplash, Heathers, American Psycho, Super Size Me, and The Usual Suspects. One of the big winners for the 2017 festival, and recipient of

the highly coveted Dramatic Grand Jury Prize, was a crime thriller entitled “I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore”, (a somewhat fitting title for this year) written and directed by Macon Blair. In his directorial debut, Blair offers an insight into a crisis of morality and optimism through the question “Is everyone really a jerk?”. Curious? Go check it out for yourself!

Whether the films are hits or not, having the accessibility to such an exclusive part of film culture is amazing, so take advantage of it! Next year, plan a ski and screen weekend with your friends to really get the most out of living in Utah.

It is also a great opportunity to support up-and-coming filmmakers. People all over the world work tirelessly to perfect the craft that they love, and want people to see.

Sundance offers a spectacular insight into the culture of cinematography. So, if you love movies, skiing, or celebrity hunting, definitely go and check out what Sundance has to offer.