Sundance – US Dramatic Films Weigh In

Details

Parent Category: Film Festivals

Category: Previews

Published on Friday, 21 January 2011 13:57

Written by L E Shannon

The 2011 Sundance Film Festival runs January 20-30 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah. The U.S. Dramatic Competition again offers a selection of features that support the Festival’s tradition as a career-launcher. Among several world premieres is the directorial debut of Academy Award™-nominated actress Vera Farmiga.

Another Earth
Director Mike Cahill, with co-Screenwriter Brit Marling
On the eve of the discovery of a duplicate Earth, a horrible tragedy irrevocably alters the lives of two strangers, who begin an unlikely love affair. With William Mapother, Brit Marling, Jordan Baker, Robin Lord Taylor, Flint Beverage.

Benavides Born
Director Amy Wendel, with co-Screenwriter Daniel Meisel
A high school senior in a forgotten town has earned admission to the University of Texas at Austin but can't afford to go. Her one shot is a scholarship for winning the State Powerlifting Championship. With Corina Calderon, Jeremy Ray Valdez, Joseph Julian Soria, Julia Vera, Julio Csar Cedillo.

Circumstance
Director / screenwriter Maryam Keshavarz (USA, Iran)
A wealthy Iranian family struggles to contain a teenager's growing sexual rebellion and her brother's dangerous obsession. With Nikohl Boosheri, Sarah Kazemy, Reza Sixo Safai, Soheil Parsa, Nasrin Pakkho.

Gun Hill Road
Director / screenwriter Rashaad Ernesto Green
After three years in prison, Enrique is back in his beloved Bronx, back in the arms of an estranged wife and back in the life of his teenage son, who is stumbling towards a transformation that will put the bonds of their embattled family to the test. With Esai Morales, Judy Reyes, Harmony Santana, Vanessa Aspillaga.

HERE
Director Braden King, co-written Dani Valent
On assignment to create a new, more accurate satellite survey of Armenia, an American cartographer forms a powerful bond with an Armenian expatriate and art photographer. With Ben Foster, Lubna Azabal, Narek Nersisyan, Yuri Kostanyan, Sofik Sarkisyan.

Higher Ground
Director Vera Farmiga, Screenwriters Carolyn S. Briggs and Tim Metcalfe
A frustrated young mother turns to a fundamentalist community for answers to life. With Vera Farmiga, Joshua Leonard, John Hawkes, Dagmara Dominczyk, Norbert Leo Butz.

Homework
Director / screenwriter Gavin Wiesen
Quirky, rebellious George has no ambitions other than to cut his next class. But one day, one girl gives him the perfect reason to figure out who he really is. With Freddie Highmore, Emma Roberts, Michael Angarano, Elizabeth Reaser, Rita Wilson, Blair Underwood.

The Ledge
Director / screenwriter Matthew Chapman
Perched on a ledge, a man says he must jump by noon, while a cop races against time. With Charlie Hunnam, Liv Tyler, Patrick Wilson, Terrence Howard, Christopher Gorham.

Like Crazy
Director Drake Doremus, with co-Screenwriter Ben York Jones
A young American guy and a young British girl meet in college and fall in love. Their love is tested when she is required to leave the country. With Anton Yelchin, Felicity Jones, Jennifer Lawrence, Charlie Bewley, Alex Kingston.

Little Birds
Director / screenwriter Elgin James
Amidst the stark landscape of the Salton Sea, two 15-year-old girls test the limits of their friendship when one follows the other to Los Angeles. With Juno Temple, Kay Panabaker, Leslie Mann, Kate Bosworth, Kyle Gallner.

The Loved Ones
Director / screenwriter Sam Levinson)
A pair of reckless siblings are dragged into a chaotic family wedding by their overwrought mother. With Demi Moore, Kate Bosworth, Jeffrey DeMunn, Ellen Barkin, Ellen Burstyn, Thomas Haden Church.

Martha Marcy May Marlene
Director / screenwriter Sean Durkin
Haunted by painful memories and increasing paranoia, a damaged woman struggles to re-assimilate with her family after fleeing an abusive cult. With Elizabeth Olsen, Brady Corbet, Hugh Dancy, John Hawkes, Sarah Paulson.

On the Ice
Director / screenwriter Andrew Okpeaha MacLean
On the snow-covered Arctic tundra, two teenagers try to get away with murder. With Josiah Patkotak, Frank Qutuq Irelan, Teddy Kyle Smith, Adamina Kerr, Sierra Jade Sampson.

Pariah
Director / screenwriter Dee Rees
When forced to choose between losing her best friend and destroying her family, a Bronx teenager juggles conflicting identities and endures heartbreak in a desperate search for sexual expression. With Adepero Oduye, Pernell Walker, Kim Wayans, Charles Parnell, Aasha Davis.

Take Shelter
Director / screenwriter Jeff Nichols
A working-class husband and father questions whether his terrifying dreams of an apocalyptic storm signal something real to come or the onset of an inherited mental illness he's feared his whole life. With Michael Shannon, Jessica Chastain, Shea Whigham, Katy Mixon, Kathy Baker.

Terri
Director Azazel Jacobs, with co-Screenwriter Patrick Dewitt
Orphaned to an uncle who is fading away, mercilessly teased by his peers and roundly ignored by his teachers, Terri is alienated and alone. When the dreaded vice principal sees something of himself in Terri, they establish a friendship which opens Terri up to life’s possibilities. With Jacob Wysocki, John C. Reilly, Creed Bratton, Olivia Crocicchia, Bridger Zadina.

For further information, visit www.sundance.org/festival.

• < Prev
• Next >