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Sundance Film Festival · 2016

Sundance Film Festival 2016

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Pure, bold works distinguished by an innovative, forward-thinking approach to storytelling populate this program. Digital technology paired with unfettered creativity promises that the films in this section will shape a “greater” next wave in American cinema.

Programme

10 films · 4 reviews

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The 4th

It's the Fourth of July in Los Angeles, and Jamie, a broke illustrator who is behind on his rent, tries to throw a cookout while his overbearing roommate is out of town, but everything seems to go wrong.

(Country: US; Year: 2016; Director: Andre Hyland; Writer: Andre Hyland; Stars: Andre Hyland, Johnny Pemberton, Eliza Coupe, Yasmine Kittles, Anna Lee Lawson, Paul Erling Oyen)

Dark Knight

A suburban landscape plays witness to the inevitable, unfolding events that culminate in a Cineplex massacre. Over the course of one day, from sunrise to midnight, six strangers - the shooter among them - share in this new American nightmare.

(Country: US; Year: 2016; Director: Tim Sutton; Writer: Tim Sutton; Stars: Robert Jumper, Anna Rose, Rosie Rodriguez, Karina Macias, Aaron Purvis, Eddie Cacciola)

The Eyes Of My Mother

Review preview for The Eyes Of My Mother

Magalhaes is superb throughout and perfectly in sync with the childlike perspective on events that Pesce brings us.

Jennie Kermode · 4.5 out of 5
A young woman tries to work out how to live after emerging from a childhood scarred by brutal violence.

(Country: US; Year: 2016; Director: Nicolas Pesce; Writer: Nicolas Pesce; Stars: Clara Wong, Kika Magalhaes, Flora Diaz, Will Brill, Joey Curtis-Green, Paul Nazak, Diana Agostini, Olivia Bond) , Trailer

Full review

First Girl I Loved

Seventeen-year-old Anne just fell in love with Sasha, the most popular girl at her LA public high school. But when Anne tells her best friend, Clifton - who has always harbored a secret crush on her - he does his best to get in the way.

(Country: US; Year: 2016; Director: Kerem Sanga; Writer: Kerem Sanga; Stars: Pamela Adlon, Tim Heidecker, Dylan Gelula, Brianna Hildebrand, Mateo Arias, Jennifer Prediger, Cameron Esposito, Erik Griffin, Ana Dela Cruz, John Redlinger, Dominic Flores, Sergio Blanco, Shawn Schminke, Laura Patalano, Linda Victoria Romo)

The Fits

Review preview for The Fits

The physicality and fluidity of adolesence are brought to the fore by Anna Rose Holmer in her tightly directed debut feature that avoids the bear traps of American coming-of-age cliche to offer a classy, thoughtful character study.

Amber Wilkinson · 4 out of 5
Portrait of a tomboy assimilating into a tight-knit dance troupe.

(Country: US; Year: 2015; Director: Anna Rose Holmer; Writer: Saela Davis, Anna Rose Holmer, Lisa Kjerulff; Stars: Makyla Burnam, Antonio A.B. Grant Jr., Royalty Hightower, Da'Sean Minor, Alexis Neblett, Inayah Rodgers)

Full review See: Saunder Jurriaans and Danny Bensi talk about Christine, The Fits, Frank & Lola , Anna Rose Holmer talks about adolescence, gender identity and self-determination in The Fits

How To Tell You're A Douchebag (Occasionally Dating)

This romantic comedy follows a misogynist who falls in love.

(Country: US; Year: 2016; Director: Tahir Jetter; Writer: Tahir Jetter)

Jacqueline (Argentine)

Review preview for Jacqueline (Argentine)

Britto is, essentially, targeting only low-hanging fruit.

Amber Wilkinson · 2 out of 5
Mockumentary about a whistleblower on the lam in Argentina.

(Country: US; Year: 2016; Director: Bernardo Britto; Writer: Bernardo Britto; Stars: Camille Rutherford, Wyatt Cenac, James Benson, Martin Anderson, Sarah Willis, Enrique Dura)

Full review

The Land

Review preview for The Land

Caple and his cinematographer Steven Holleran definitely get the look even if the story doesn't quite deliver.

Amber Wilkinson · 2.5 out of 5
A group of skateboarding friends fall foul of a drug queenpin.

(Country: US; Year: 2016; Director: Steven Caple Jr; Writer: Steven Caple Jr; Stars: Natalie Martinez, Kim Coates, Michael Kenneth Williams, Moises Arias, Erykah Badu, Rafi Gavron, Machine Gun Kelly, Linda Emond, Ashleigh Morghan, Michael Ray Escamilla, Dan Anders, Ryan Mulkay, Deanna Sherman, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Jessica Jones) , Trailer

Full review

Operation Avalanche

In 1967, four undercover CIA agents were sent to NASA posing as a documentary film crew. What they discovered led to one of the biggest conspiracies in American history.

(Country: US; Year: 2015; Director: Matt Johnson; Writer: Josh Boles, Matt Johnson; Stars: Sharon Belle, Matt Johnson, Krista Madison, Samantha Michelle, Owen Williams, Josh Boles, Emilie Paquet, Tom Bolton, Chris Gonsalves, Joe Anastasio, Madeleine Sims-Fewer)

Sleight

After a young street magician is left to care for his little sister following their mother's death, he turns to dealing drugs, but quickly runs into trouble with his supplier. When his sister gets kidnapped, he must rely on his smarts and sleight of hand to save her.

(Country: US; Year: 2016; Director: JD Dillard; Writer: JD Dillard, Alex Theurer; Stars: Stacey Dash, Dulé Hill, Seychelle Gabriel, Lyndsi LaRose, Jacob Latimore, Brandon Johnson, Cameron Esposito, Sasheer Zamata, Michael Villar, Klement Tinaj, Alex Hyner, Marilyn Flores, Mora Carew, Carrie Jo Hubrich, Storm Reid)