Image Credit: Everett CollectionIt’s end of the year, which means it’s time for indie filmmakers to pack their parkas and buy a ticket for Park City. And while most of the A-listers and dealmakers will be there for Sundance, the town will also be hosting the 17th Annual Slamdance Film Festival — a showcase for the independent films that didn’t make it past the Sundance gatekeepers. Today, the fest announced its 2011 Feature Competition slate, including ten narrative films and eight docs, most of which will be getting their world premieres.
The lineup doesn’t boast much in the way of star-wattage, but it offers the promise of catching a film from the next Christopher Nolan (whose first feature, Following, played at the fest in 1999) or Marc Forster (winner of the 1996 audience award for Loungers) — or even a breakout hit like Paranormal Activity, which debuted at Slamdance in 2008.
A few notable entries: The documentary Superheroes, about “self-proclaimed crime fighters [who] don masks, homemade costumes and elaborate utility belts in an attempt to bring justice to evildoers everywhere”; the steamy Chilean Drama; and Fordson: Faith, Fasting, Football, a doc about a mostly Arab-American football team in Michigan. Check out the full list here.
The theme of this year’s fest is “All Is Not Lost” — a reflection of the grim financial situation facing independent filmmakers during the recession. Accordingly, Slamdance has decided to give 10 percent of its proceeds right back to the filmmakers to support their efforts. The festival runs Jan. 21-27 in Park City, Utah.
Read more:
Sundance 2011: Vera Farmiga, Emma Roberts, and Elmo among the films in competition
16th Slamdance Festival announces prize winners
Neither the Slamdance nor Sundance lineups look particularly exciting. Not maky of those films look like they’re worth acquiring and have very limited appeal. Must do better, festival programmers and organizers!
Neither the Slamdance nor Sundance lineups look particularly exciting. Not many of those films look like they’re worth acquiring and have very limited appeal. Must do better, festival programmers and organizers!