2018 Sundance Opening Weekend Recap

2018 Sundance Opening Weekend Recap

21 Jan, 2018

The 2018 Sundance Film Festival kicked off last Thursday, January 18 and will continue through Sunday, January 28. Dig In Magazine arrived for the excitement, hustle and bustle of opening weekend, which has been filled with celeb sightings, red carpet premieres, parties combining music and activism, as well as recharging and relaxing at the warm lounges downtown. Here’s a recap of this year’s festival so far…

Sundance 2018 U.S. Dramatic Competition World Premiere of I THINK WE’RE ALONE NOW

Elle Fanning, Peter Dinklage and director Reed Morano were on the red carpet for the Sundance World Premiere of their new film, “I Think We’re Alone Now.” In the movie, Del (Peter Dinklage) is alone in the world. Literally. After the human race is wiped out, he lives in a small, empty town, methodically going from house to house, collecting batteries and other useful items, and burying the dead. He dines alone, reads, watches movies, and shelves books in the local library he’s made his home. He’s content in his solitude—until he discovers Grace (Elle Fanning), an interloper on his quiet earth. Her history and motives are obscure, and worse yet, she wants to stay. Interview with director Reed Morano coming soon!

World Premieres of Interactive VR Experiences at NEW FRONTIER
This year at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival you can visit three different VR venues to experience interactive virtual reality pieces.

New Frontier | SPHERES: Songs of Spacetime

New Frontier | SPHERES: Songs of Spacetime

SPHERES: Songs of Spacetime, directed by Eliza McNitt and Executive Produced by Darren Aronofsky includes an original score from Michael Stein and Kyle Dixon of SURVIVE (Stranger Things). Dive into the heart of a black hole and uncover the hidden songs of the cosmos with this interactive VR experience. As a three part series, SPHERES is an exploration of the songs of the cosmos that transports viewers into the deepest pockets of the Universe to bring to life interactive visions of future worlds and explores our oneness with the cosmos.

View this piece at:
The Ray, 1768 Park Ave., Park City, UT
Friday, January 19 from 2:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 20 from 4:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m.
Sunday, January 21 from 2:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
Monday, January 22—Tuesday, January 23 from 2:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 23—Friday, January 25 from 12:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 27 from 10:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

New Frontier | BattleScar

New Frontier | BattleScar

BattleScar directed by Martin Allais, Nico Casavecchia, narrated by Rosario Dawson, and produced by ATLAS, 1st Ave Machine, and Kaleidoscope, follows a year in the life of Lupe, a Puerto Rican-American living in late 1970’s New York City. Utilizing Lupe’s handwritten journal to guide us through her experiences spanning across the year 1978, the film takes us through her meeting Debbie, another runaway kid living in the city who introduces Lupe to the Punk scene of the Bowery, exposing her to the secret worlds co-existing in the Lower East Side in the late 70’s. A coming of age drama, BattleScar explores the theme of identity through the use of animation and immersive environments in virtual reality.

View this piece at:
The Ray, 1768 Park Ave., Park City, UT
Friday, January 19 from 2:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 20 from 4:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m.
Sunday, January 21 from 2:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
Monday, January 22—Tuesday, January 23 from 2:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 23—Friday, January 25 from 12:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 27 from 10:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

New Frontier | ZIKR: A Sufi Revival

New Frontier | ZIKR: A Sufi Revival

ZIKR: A Sufi Revival directed by Gabo Arora, Matthew Niederhauser and John Fitzgerald is a look into Sufism, a commonly misunderstood branch of Islam that is often typecast by practitioners as esoteric mystics far outside mainstream religious practices. But in many Arab countries, daily life and popular culture still intersect with Sufi traditions. One cannot truly grasp Sufism through rational or intellectual means. Like VR, it’s experiential. Come engage and experience an alternative Sufi reality which will also broaden your understanding of Islam as a peaceful and tolerant religion.

View this piece at:
Kimball Art Center, 1401 Kearns Blvd., Park City
Friday, January 19—Sunday, January 21 from 2:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
Monday, January 22—Friday, January 26 from 12:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 27 from 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Steelhouse & Eternal Front Present “Beyond The Front Lines” featuring Teao Sense and Audiopharmacy
“Beyond The Front Lines,” in support of Sundance Institute’s Native American and Indigenous Film Program took place on Friday, Jan. 19 from 9pm-1am at High West Distillery in Park City, Utah. Sundance Institute has a commitment to and history of supporting Native American artists:

“Native American filmmakers have long been involved in the Institute, going back to Larry LittleBird (Taos Pueblo) and Chris SpottedEagle (Houmas Nation) who participated in the first meetings founding Sundance Institute. Following President and Founder Robert Redford’s original vision, the Institute has remained committed to supporting the voices of Native American artists.”
—Sundance.org

2018 Sundance Film Festival | Audiopharmacy Performs at "Beyond The Front Lines"

2018 Sundance Film Festival | Audiopharmacy (L-R) Desirae Harp and Teao Sense
Perform at “Beyond The Front Lines” | Photo by Cindy Maram/Dig In Magazine

At this important Sundance cultural event many activists, musicians and presenters spoke out in honor of and in celebration of Native Americans and Indigenous peoples in the film community and beyond. Teao Sense, Desirae Harp, Love Speak and Youssif Salah of Audiopharmacy, from the Bay Area-based live music ensemble and collective that uses globally infused hip-hop to inspire social change, took part in the special occasion with musical performances and cinematic presentations.

This year 9 Indigenous-made films will have their premiere at this years 11-day festival.

Skullcandy x Skate Kitchen – Sundance Skate Jam

Skullcandy x Skate Kitchen - Sundance Skate Jam | Photo by Cindy Maram

Skullcandy x Skate Kitchen – Sundance Skate Jam | Photo by Cindy Maram/Dig In Magazine

Skullcandy partnered with Skate Kitchen, a film that is premiering at Sundance, highlighting a group of female skateboarders in NYC. On Saturday, Jan. 20, the company hosted a Skate Jam & BBQ at their headquarter office in Park City, UT, featuring live musical performances by Jaden Smith, DJ Kitty Cash, DJ Cam Tang, and Doja Cat, as well as included a mini skate ramp, beer and food.

Skullcandy, a company founded at the intersection of music, sports, technology, and creative culture, creates world-class audio products for the risk-takers, innovators, and pioneers who inspire us all to live life at full volume.

Opening Weekend Daily Lounges

2018 Sundance Film Festival | Canon Creative Studio

2018 Sundance Film Festival | Canon Creative Studio

During opening weekend there are daily lounges to take a break from the whirlwind of movie premieres, red carpet events and parties. Join us at the Canon Creative Studio (592 Main St., Park City, UT) daytime lounge daily until Jan. 22 from 11am-7pm to fuel up and take a break from your Sundance happenings with wifi, coffee, and snacks. Come attend the Raise Your Glass to Cinematography evening cocktail party today, Sunday, Jan. 21, from 6-9pm honoring all the cinematographers with films at the festival. And spend some time at Canon’s nightly “Magic Hour” afternoon events for drinks and some passed apps. In addition, at the Canon Creative Studio, filmmakers have the opportunity to test out Canon’s elite line of high-level cinema cameras and hand-crafted cinema lenses. And daily filmmaker discussion panels will be presented at the cozy venue.

Another lounge to check out on Main St. is THE MACRO LODGE Presented by Shea Moisture, which for the first time will be hosting a 4-day experience filled with programming such as interactive panels, networking opportunities, and workshops (625 Main St., Park City, UT). THE MACRO LODGE will be open from 11am-6pm until Jan. 22.

And before you hit the slopes, warm up at the Spyder Cocoa Chalet (738 Main St., Park City, UT) from 10am-6pm until Jan. 22.

Dig In Magazine wishes you an amazing 2018 Sundance Film Festival! For more festival coverage stayed tuned into DigInMag.com’s Sundance section and follow our Dig In Magazine YouTube Channel, as well as our Instagram and Facebook channels.

Sundance Institute
Founded in 1981 by Robert Redford, Sundance Institute is a nonprofit organization that provides and preserves the space for artists in film, theatre, and new media to create and thrive. The Institute’s signature Labs, granting, and mentorship programs, dedicated to developing new work, take place throughout the year in the U.S. and internationally. The Sundance Film Festival and other public programs connect audiences to artists in igniting new ideas, discovering original voices, and building a community dedicated to independent storytelling. Sundance Institute has supported such projects as Boyhood, Swiss Army Man, Manchester By the Sea, Brooklyn, Little Miss Sunshine, Life, Animated, Sonita, 20 Feet From Stardom, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Fruitvale Station, Sin Nombre, Spring Awakening, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder and Fun Home.

 

About the author

Cindy Maram

Cindy Maram is a Dancer, Public Speaker and our Founder & Editor-in-Chief of the entertainment, fashion and arts publication, Dig IN Magazine. She is an accredited film critic for Cannes Film Festival in the South of France, Venice International Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Sundance Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, Mill Valley Film Festival, SFFilm Festival and CAAMFest, as well as a runway fashion photographer and editor for London Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week. She also serves as a professional sports photographer and writer. She is a prolific art critic providing media coverage for Art Basel Miami Beach and surrounding Miami Art Week fairs. As a creator, Cindy is a writer, vlogger, podcaster, social media strategist and manager possessing a Bachelor's Degree from UC Davis and Master's Degree completing graduate work in Mass Communications + Popular Culture Studies with an emphasis in Film/Marketing/Writing from Cal State Fullerton. Further, she is producer of independent feature length and short films, and is committed to supporting the visibility of underrepresented groups in the media and film industry.

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