The Sundance Film Festival can be a film lover’s dream. But it takes some know-how to navigate the festival and make the most out of its packed program.
That’s where we can help. Last year I wanted to capitalize on everything the festival had to offer. So I decided to throw myself into the experience and try to see as many films as possible.
I poured over the schedule and selected films that sounded intriguing. I tried to make my way into sold-out movies (and was often successful). But Sundance isn’t just about the movies. I also sought out interesting film-related panels. I walked along Main Street and watched the Sundance crowds on the lookout for celebrity sightings.
I spent almost every day at the festival, riding the shuttles and feeling like I was somehow a part of this insider’s world. So after my immersive Sundance 2014 exploits, I can now share my first-hand lessons with you.
Whether you’ve always wanted to attend Sundance but didn’t know where to start, or you’re trying to simply experience more this year, here are the lessons I learned that can help you make the most of Sundance 2015.
1. Try to attend a film’s premiere.
The team behind the documentary “Dinosaur 13” answers questions at its 2014 Sundance premiere. Photo credit: Ryan Johnson.
Each film typically has five screenings throughout the festival. But that first showing is when you’ll get the most bang for your buck. That’s because the filmmakers and casts generally attend the first screening. After all, this is their big premiere. So they will watch the movie with the rest of the crowd – and afterwards hop on stage to answer audience questions about the process of making the film. This is one of the best parts of the festival. You’ll hear reasons why a screenwriter wrote a certain scene or a director cast a certain star. They’ll tell you how long they’ve been working on the project and why it was so important to them. In essence, you get a peek behind the curtain. Filmmakers who are excited about their movies make you appreciate their art form, too. (Filmmakers sometimes stay through the rest of the festival, but seeing the actors later is unusual, though occasionally they attend screenings the morning after a premiere.) Aside from the Q&As, seeing a movie before anyone else creates a palpable excitement in the air. Many people in the crowd will likely have worked on the film. So it’s fun getting a chance to see their hard work pay off. They, in turn, want to see your reaction. The only downside? Getting tickets to premieres can be tough.
2. “Sold out” shouldn’t stop you.
Check out the ewaitlist for sold-out shows.
Most of the big anticipated premieres sell out quickly. So you’ll have a hard time buying tickets in advance. And movies that get good “buzz” throughout the festival become harder and harder to see. But don’t fret – you still have two options. If there is a show you really want to watch, try the main box office in Park City or Salt Lake the morning of the movie. Each day at 8:00 a.m. they sell a limited number of tickets to that day’s screenings. (People will be lined up before 8:00 so it’s best to arrive early.) Your other option is to waitlist. After registering online at ewaitlist.sundance.org and then downloading the Sundance 2015 app, you can check in to a movie on your phone two hours before a show and receive a number to stand in line. Then show up at least 30 minutes before the movie and try your luck. Granted, with so many people trying to waitlist at the exact same time, your number will seem randomly generated. But it will help you decide if you want to wait in line. The good news is – it’s worth the effort. I tried to waitlist 15 times last year and got into 10 movies. And I didn’t always have a low number. Sometimes I got in when I thought there was no chance, and other times I was sure I would get in and didn’t. You never know what to expect so it’s definitely worth a try. Waitlist tickets are $15, cash only.
3. Be social while waiting in line.
Tonya Papanikolas makes new friends in line at Sundance.
Waiting in line to get into a film is an opportunity to meet other film lovers. This is part of the Sundance adventure: comparing stories and finding out what movies people have loved. I met folks from all over – Kansas City, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Chicago. Those who make the effort to attend the festival love movies of all kinds – and you feel like you are part of a shared culture by engaging in the experience with those around you. So don’t be shy. Strike up a conversation with a few strangers. You might even meet someone in the film business. I talked to a Sundance documentary editor and a filmmaker from Seattle last year. It was fun getting the inside scoop from those in the industry.
4. Choose films that interest you.
Whiplash became a big hit in 2014. Photo credit: Daniel McFadden
Sundance programmers who select films for the festival work hard to ensure there really is a movie for everyone. So with a diverse lineup, you should have an easy time picking something you’d enjoy. Sundance tries to make it pretty clear in the film descriptions if the movie is cutting-edge or offbeat. They want you to see something you’ll love; they are not trying to lure you in and fake you out. Your best bet is to pick topics or plots that sound interesting to you. And don’t just go for the A-list casts. Some wonderful films don’t have big stars attached. Last year “Whiplash” didn’t showcase high-profile, big-name stars, but it quickly became the jury and audience favorite in the U. S. Dramatic Competition. Make room in your schedule for films you start hearing about that you may have overlooked. (This is where waiting in line comes in handy.)
5. Don’t neglect the documentaries.
Choose from interesting documentaries like “Dreamcatcher.” Photo credit: Kim Longinotto.
I don’t normally gravitate toward watching documentaries, but this is one place you can’t pass them up. Sundance features such a wide variety of topics. This year you can see everything from biographies on Evel Knievel and Marlon Brando (“Being Evel,” “Listen to Me, Marlon”) to a strange tale of a battle over an amputee’s mummified leg (“Finders Keepers”) to an uplifting story of a former teen prostitute who becomes an advocate for change (“Dreamcatcher”). Filmmakers in this category have something to say and love talking about their topic. I find they often stay in Utah beyond the first screening so you might get to meet them at later screenings, too. Sundance has made a strong commitment to highlight intriguing documentaries. It’s an integral part of the festival; you don’t want to miss out!
6. Check out the panels and other non-movie offerings.
Robert Redford talked about failure in a successful panel last year. Photo credit: Ryan Johnson.
Everyone is so busy watching movies that many people forget about the other great Sundance offerings: art, music and panels. My favorites are the panels. They give you a chance to hear from a variety of filmmakers and actors on a wide variety of topics. Last year I spent a day hearing about different people’s experiences with failure. Robert Redford, Maggie Gyllenhaal and William H. Macy all talked about times they felt like a failure – in work and in life. It was fascinating. The bigger panels require tickets and are tough to get into. This year they include a “Serious Ladies” panel featuring funny women Lena Dunham, Mindy Kaling and Kristen Wiig. But other panels are open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis with topics ranging from scoring a movie to visual design to the intersection of science and storytelling. (Most of these panels are part of the At the Lodge panel series.) The Cinema Café also features informal chats every morning at 11:30. As for art, the Festival’s New Frontier venue showcases cutting-edge new media work and art that intersects with film. And the Sundance ASCAP Music Café (open to festival credential-holders) presents live daily performances of emerging and established songwriters and artists from 2-6 p.m.
7. Always have your camera ready.
Don’t miss out on photos like this at Sundance.
Whether you’re at the theater waiting to see a film or you’re walking up and down Main Street, you never know who you will suddenly see at Sundance. My advice? Don’t be afraid to join the paparazzi pack. In addition to premieres, the stars are often shuttled back and forth to interviews at sites along Main Street. Last year Selena Gomez came out of an interview surrounded by bodyguards, just 10 feet away from me. I knew it was someone famous, but didn’t see who. Within seconds hordes of people surrounded her, following her every move. Because the crowd grew so crazy, I decided to move back, feeling weird being a “celebrity stalker.” But because of that, I never got to see her. Instead, I saw other people’s photos posted on Twitter, reminding me of what I missed so close to me. If you’re going to Sundance, you might as well give in and join the throngs of people excited to share that picture or story of the celebs they saw at Sundance. I learned my lesson the hard way and won’t be left out this year.
Comments
comments
