15 Best Films of Sundance 2024: The 2024 Sundance Film Festival has concluded, and several standout films have garnered attention. From Steven Soderbergh’s gripping haunted-house movie to documentaries about Christopher Reeve, Amazon workers, and Argentinian cowboys, the festival showcased a diverse array of compelling narratives.
The 15 Best Films of Sundance 2024
A Different Man
“A Different Man,” directed by Aaron Schimberg, presents an endearingly twisted take on actors, playwrights, and the plight of the disfigured. Sebastian Stan leads the cast in this dark A24 comedy that explores the desires of an aspiring thespian with neurofibromatosis.
Exhibiting Forgiveness
Titus Kaphar’s tender directorial debut, “Exhibiting Forgiveness,” features André Holland as a painter navigating love and attachment in a poignant exploration of Black life.
Freaky Tales
Freaky Tales,” directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, offers a love letter to the Bay Area, weaving four interconnected underdog stories with kinetic energy, imagination, and righteous battles.
Frida
“Frida,” edited by Carla Gutiérrez, delves into the life of Frida Kahlo, drawing upon the artist’s illustrated diaries and letters. The documentary honors Kahlo without sensationalism, allowing her voice to shine.
Gaucho Gaucho
Gaucho Gaucho,” by Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw, captures the passion and symbiosis with nature of a community of cowboys and cowgirls in Argentina’s Salta region.
Good One
“Good One,” India Donaldson’s first feature, unfolds a transfixing drama during a camping trip, exploring emotional depths against the backdrop of a woodland setting.
In the Summers
“In the Summers,” Alessandra Lacorazza’s quiet debut film, is a visual poem chronicling the complex relationship between a New Mexico man and his daughters over four summer vacations.
I Saw the TV Glow
I Saw the TV Glow,” directed by Jane Schoenbrun, is a knockout drama of adolescent angst, portraying an alienated teenager finding solace in friendship and a young adult sci-fi television show.
Luther: Never Too Much
Luther: Never Too Much,” a documentary by Dawn Porter, provides an ebullient portrait of R&B legend Luther Vandross, exploring his desire for love and grappling with societal expectations.
My Old Ass
Maisy Stella shines in Megan Park’s warm blend of comedy, romance, and whimsical fantasy in ‘My Old Ass,’ where she interacts with Aubrey Plaza, dAelivering a movie in touch with tender feelings associated with leaving home and saying goodbye to childhood.
Presence
Presence,” Steven Soderbergh‘s single-setting ghost story, is a masterfully executed horror film that explores a family on the brink of falling apart in a new home.
A Real Pain
A Real Pain,” Jesse Eisenberg’s sophomore directorial outing, is a laugh-out-loud odd-couple movie with emotional depth, following two cousins on a journey to honor their grandmother in Poland.
Sugarcane
Sugarcane,” directed by Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, investigates the abusive legacy of Catholic-run Native American missionary schools in Canada, approaching its heavy topic with sensitivity and moments of levity.
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
“Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story,” a documentary by Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui, offers a moving exploration of Christopher Reeve’s Hollywood and personal histories, emphasizing hope, kindness, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Union
“Union,” directed by Stephen Maing and Brett Story, is a smart, nuanced documentary following the Amazon Labor Union’s quest to organize workers in Staten Island, capturing the frustration and elation of trying to do the right thing in a challenging historical moment.
FAQ About Best Films of Sundance 2024
Who won Sundance 2024?
In the Summers,” an independent film depicting the challenges of two sisters during summer visits with their father, clinched the Sundance Film Festival’s U.S. dramatic competition’s top prize. Alessandra Lacorazza earned the directing award as a first-time film.
Where is Sundance Film Festival?
The 2024 Sundance Film Festival concludes this weekend, featuring in-person screenings in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, alongside online screenings accessible across the U.S., concluding on Sunday, January 28.
How prestigious is Sundance Film Festival?
The Sundance Film Festival, an esteemed independent-film festival held annually in Park City, Utah, since 1978, remains a pivotal and celebrated event in the U.S. film industry, showcasing diverse cinematic works.
Is Sundance Oscar qualifying?
The Sundance Online Festival, integral to the main event, pioneers internet films, showcasing shorts, animations, and interactive works. Short film competition winners gain direct entry to the Oscars for Best Short Film.
Why is it called Sundance Film Festival?
Originally known as the Utah/United States Film Festival, the event acquired the name Sundance Film Festival in 1991, deriving from Robert Redford’s character in the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
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