Indie film is at a crossroads. And Sundance is full of ‘canaries in the coal mine’
When the Sundance Film Festival last came to Park City, it was the Before Times. Before COVID-19 drastically altered billions of lives, yes. But also before the carefully cultivated entertainment industry ecosystem of which the festival is a part was wildly upended.
In addition to halting the in-person version of the annual Utah conclave in 2021 and 2022, after all, the pandemic caused theatrical filmgoing to cease altogether for a time. And — for a host of reasons, from public health concerns to the proliferation of streaming platforms — audiences for the arthouse movies that are the festival’s lifeblood have been slow to return to cinemas in the years since. Even after producing last year’s Oscar winners for best picture (“Coda”) and documentary feature (“Summer of Soul”), Sundance returns to Park City this week as the purpose of the festival, and perhaps of film festivals in general, seems ripe for reconsideration.
What, in 2023, is the Sundance Film Festival for?
“It kind of sets the tone for the year,” said Joana Vicente, CEO of Sundance Institute, citing the festivals traditional January date and penchant for identifying and incubating emerging talent. “It’s this opportunity to spotlight all of the amazing new voices, new films that the team is excited about. And we put them out there and it’s
