This is my last piece on this year’s Sundance Film Festival, I promise. This time it’s my overview of the experience.
First and foremost I had a great time. I was only there for maybe 85 hours, but I went to seven film screenings, three panels, three parties and lots of hanging out. I saw some great films, bad films and some in between. I met a lot of industry folk and learned a few things.
Among the things I discovered:
- Independent Film is in flux. The small little film that goes big- Sex, Lies and Videotape, Blood Simple, She’s Gotta Have It, Stranger Than Paradise, all 20-25 years old- is a thing of the past, BUT also maybe a thing of the future. A good story will go a long way.
- Distributors have no money for films that don’t have a name or can “open.”
- DIY distributing, when put in motion before production is a viable way to get your film seen.
- Sundance- it seems like all the films in the festival had some Sundance connection- getting into Sundance or the Institute is the trick, once in you are in.
- 5600 short films for 90 slots. Why even try entering?
- Where else can one go see a documentary like Old Partner– the Korean film about an old farmer and his 40-year old dying ox. That and the short film panel were worth the trip.
In short I learned a lot. glad I went, I look forward to going next year and hope we can take some students.
PeterH
Sundance Film Festival- a wrap
