It was an action-packed Day One at Sundance! Following on Amanda Gilmore‘s Preview of the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, she was out in the thick of the action getting in on some of the excitement. Taylor Swift made a huge splash in Park City, appearing in support of her Netflix Documentary MISS AMERICANA, the Trailer which just surfaced this week.
While it was never really confirmed that Swift would be appearing, there were some sightings of her earlier today on Main Street, which sealed the deal. Fans lined the street and Amanda tells us there were about 200 fans waiting just for a chance to get a rush ticket to attend the Premiere of the Documentary. She walked right through the front entrance but not without talking lots of Selfies with Fans, insisting on grabbing their cell phones and doing it herself for them!
See some of Amanda’s Snaps below, including some video footage if you swipe left on the Album:
While it was rumoured The Obamas would show up for CRIP CAMP, a Documentary the power couple produced, alas they didn’t make it out.
Stay tuned, Amanda’s got lots more to deliver us from Park City these next few days including her Reviews of some of the Festival’s most-buzzed Films and star sightings!
(Photo/video credit: Amanda Gilmore/Netflix)
By Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
We are back at the Sundance Film Festival and are as excited as ever. There are many things to be excited about this year from the stars to the films. As in previous years, Sundance is making strides towards diversity. To start off this new decade Sundance has included 107 projects by female Filmmakers (44%), 90 projects by people of colour (37%), and 47 projects by LGBTQ+Â Filmmakers (19%). That diversity brings a diverse range of films, making it an inclusive Film Festival.
Some of the Films that have the most buzz going into the Fest are:
Bad Hair (Midnight): This is the official opening night Midnight film directed by Justin Simien (Dear White People) and is labelled as a brilliant satirical Psychological Thriller. It also has a superb cast consisting of Elle Lorraine, Vanessa Williams, Jay Pharoah, Lena Waithe and Laverne Cox.
Come Away (Kids): This Film tells that story of Peter before he became Peter Pan and Alice before she visited Wonderland. It has a star-studded cast consisting of Angelina Jolie, David Oyelowo and Micheal Caine.
Four Good Days (Premieres): This Film stars Glenn Close as a mother who tries to help get her drug-addicted daughter (Mila Kunis) clean.
Minari (U.S Dramatic Competition): This Film follows a Korean family who moves from the West Coast to rural Arkansas in search of the American Dream.
Miss Americana (Doc Premieres): Taylor Swift is kicking-off the Festival tonight with a documentary about her finding herself and using her voice.
Promising Young Woman (Premieres): Carey Mulligan is back at Sundance playing a woman who hunts down men who cross her path.
Shirley (U.S Dramatic Competition): Director Josephine Decker returns to Sundance with this biographical portrait of beloved horror author Shirley Jackson, who is brought to the screen by the ever captivating Elisabeth Moss.
Sylvie’s Love (U.S Dramatic Competition): Tessa Thompson is the star of this 1950s love story about a Saxophone Player who falls for a Television Producer.
The Glorias (Premieres): The one and only Gloria Steinem is getting her book told on the big screen and the one and only Julianne Moore is playing her.
Worth (Premieres): Micheal Keaton stars as Kenneth Feinberg who, following the 9/11 attacks, led the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. This Film follows Feinberg in the moments following the 9/11 attacks as he tries to broker deals with the victims’ families.
(Photo credit: Netflix)
It is with great pleasure to let you know that we’ll be returning to Santa Monica Pier once again this February for the 2020 Film Independent Spirit Awards! We’re partnering with our friends at Hollywood Suite from the Blue Carpet to provide you some star-studded coverage of the final Awards Show of the season before the Academy Awards! We’re super-excited to be in Hollywood again for some of that Awards Season excitement!
The Independent Spirit Awards take place Saturday, February 8, 2020 at 5:00 PM ET and air on Hollywood Suite in Canada and on IFC in the U.S.
Nominees are comprised of a mixed group of A-List and emerging talent and we’re thrilled some of our favourites like HUSTLERS, UNCUT GEMS, THE FAREWELL and MARRIAGE STORY get the love they deserved here.
See the Nominees:
BEST FEATURE
(Award given to the producer)
A HIDDEN LIFE
Producers: Elisabeth Bentley, Dario Bergesio, Grant Hill, Josh Jeter
CLEMENCY
Producers: Timur Bekbosunov, Julian Cautherley, Bronwyn Cornelius, Peter Wong
THE FAREWELL
Producers: Anita Gou, Daniele Melia, Andrew Miano, Peter Saraf, Marc Turtletaub, Lulu Wang, Chris Weitz, Jane Zheng
MARRIAGE STORY
Producers: Noah Baumbach, David Heyman
UNCUT GEMS
Producers: Eli Bush, Sebastian Bear McClard, Scott Rudin
BEST FIRST FEATURE
(Award given to the director and producer)
BOOKSMART
Director: Olivia Wilde
Producers: Chelsea Barnard, David Distenfeld, Jessica Elbaum, Megan Ellison, Katie Silberman
THE CLIMB
Director: Michael Angelo Covino
Producers: Noah Lang, Kyle Marvin
DIANE
Director: Kent Jones
Producers: Luca Borghese, Ben Howe, Caroline Kaplan, Oren Moverman
THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO
Director/Producer: Joe Talbot
Producers: Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Khaliah Neal, Christina Oh
THE MUSTANG
Director: Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre
Producer: Ilan Goldman
SEE YOU YESTERDAY
Director: Stefon Bristol
Producer: Spike Lee
BEST DIRECTOR
Robert Eggers, The Lighthouse
Alma Harâel, Honey Boy
Julius Onah, Luce
Benny Safdie, Uncut Gems
Josh Safdie, Uncut Gems
Lorene Scafaria, Hustlers
BEST SCREENPLAY
Noah Baumbach, Marriage Story
Jason Begue, Shawn Snyder, To Dust
Ronald Bronstein, Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie, Uncut Gems
Chinonye Chukwu, Clemency
Tarell Alvin McCraney, High Flying Bird
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Fredrica Bailey, Stefon Bristol, See You Yesterday
Hannah Bos, Paul Thureen, Driveways
Bridget Savage Cole, Danielle Krudy, Blow the Man Down
Jocelyn Deboer, Dawn Luebbe, Greener Grass
Andrew Patterson, Craig W. Sanger, The Vast of Night
JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD
(Award given to the best feature made for under $500,000; award given to the writer, director and producer)
BURNING CANE
Writer/Director/Producer: Phillip Youmans
Producers: Ojo Akinlana, Jakob Johnson, Karen Kaia Livers, Mose Mayer,
Wendell Pierce, Isaac Web, Cassandra Youmans
COLEWELL
Writer/Director: Tom Quinn
Producers: Joshua Blum, Alexandra Byer, Craig Shilowich, Matthew Thurm
GIVE ME LIBERTY
Writer/Director/Producer: Kirill Mikhanovsky
Writer/Producer: Alice Austen
Producers: Val Abel, Wally Hall, Michael Manasseri, George Rush, Sergey Shtern
PREMATURE
Writer/Director/Producer: Rashaad Ernesto Green
Writer: Zora Howard
Producers: Darren Dean, Joy Ganes
WILD NIGHTS WITH EMILY
Writer/Director/Producer: Madeleine Olnek
Producers: Anna Margarita Albelo, Casper Andreas, Max Rifkind-Barron
BEST MALE LEAD
Chris Galust, Give Me Liberty
Kelvin Harrison Jr., Luce
Robert Pattinson, The Lighthouse
Adam Sandler, Uncut Gems
Matthias Schoenaerts, The Mustang
BEST FEMALE LEAD
Karen Allen, Colewell
Hong Chau, Driveways
Elisabeth Moss, Her Smell
Mary Kay Place, Diane
Renée Zellweger, Judy
Alfre Woodard, Clemency
BEST SUPPORTING MALE
Willem Dafoe, The Lighthouse
Noah Jupe, Honey Boy
Shia LaBeouf, Honey Boy
Jonathan Majors, The Last Black Man in San Francisco
Wendell Pierce, Burning Cane
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Jennifer Lopez, Hustlers
Taylor Russell, Waves
Zhao Shuzhen, The Farewell
Lauren âLoloâ Spencer, Give Me Liberty
Octavia Spencer, Luce
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Todd Banhazl, Hustlers
Jarin Blaschke, The Lighthouse
Natasha Braier, Honey Boy
Chananun Chotrungroj, The Third Wife
Pawel Pogorzelski, Midsommar
BEST EDITING
Julie BĂ©ziau, The Third Wife
Ronald Bronstein, Benny Safdie, Uncut Gems
Tyler L. Cook, Sword of Trust
Louise Ford, The Lighthouse
Kirill Mikhanovsky, Give Me Liberty
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
INVISIBLE LIFE (Brazil)
Director: Karim AĂŻnouz
LES MISĂRABLES (France)
Director: Ladj Ly
PARASITE (South Korea)
Director: Bong Joon-ho
PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE (France)
Director: CĂ©line Sciamma
RETABLO (Peru)
Director: Ălvaro Delgado-Aparicio L.
THE SOUVENIR (United Kingdom)
Director: Joanna Hogg
BEST DOCUMENTARY
(Award given to the director and producer)
AMERICAN FACTORY
Director/Producers: Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert
Producers: Julia Parker Benello, Jeff Reichert
APOLLO 11
Director/Producer: Todd Douglas Miller
Producers: Evan Krauss, Thomas Baxley Peterson
FOR SAMA
Director: Edward Watts
Director/Producer: Waad al-Kateab
HONEYLAND
Director: Tamara Kotevska
Director/Producer: Ljubo Stefanov
Producer: Atanas Georgiev
ISLAND OF THE HUNGRY GHOSTS
Director/Producer: Gabrielle Brady
Producers: Gizem Acarla, Samm Haillay, Alex Kelly, Alexander Wadouh
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD
(Award given to one filmâs director, casting director and ensemble cast)
MARRIAGE STORY
Director: Noah Baumbach
Casting Directors: Douglas Aibel, Francine Maisler
Ensemble Cast: Alan Alda, Laura Dern, Adam Driver, Julie Hagerty, Scarlett Johansson, Ray Liotta, Azhy Robertson, Merritt Wever
BONNIE AWARD SPONSORED BY AMERICAN AIRLINES
(Bonnie Tiburzi Caputo joined American Airlines in 1973 at age 24, becoming the first female pilot to fly for a major U.S. airline. In her honor, the 3rd annual Bonnie Award will recognize a mid-career female director with a $50,000 unrestricted grant, sponsored by American Airlines.)
Marielle Heller
Kelly Reichardt
Lulu Wang
PRODUCERS AWARD
(The Producers Award, now in its 23rd year, honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources demonstrate the creativity, tenacity and vision required to produce quality, independent films. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant.)
Mollye Asher
Krista Parris
Ryan Zacarias
SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD, PRESENTED BY BULLEIT FONTIER WHISKEY
(The Someone to Watch Award Presented By Bulleit Frontier Whiskey, now in its 26th year, recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant.)
PREMATURE
Director: Rashaad Ernesto Green
THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO
Director: Joe Talbot
THE THIRD WIFE
Director: Ash Mayfair
TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD
(The Truer Than Fiction Award, now in its 25th year, is presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant.)
17 BLOCKS
Director: Davy Rothbart
AMĂRICA
Directors: Erick Stoll, Chase Whiteside
BLACK MOTHER
Director: Khalik Allah
JADDOLAND
Director: Nadia Shihab
Above this, our Amanda Gilmore heads to Park City later this week to attend the Sundance Film Festival, delivering you highlights and reviews from some of the hottest Films to come out of the Festival!
Stay tuned to our Social Media for live coverage:
Instagram: @mrwillwong
Twitter: @mrwillw | @gilmoreamanda
Facebook: mrwillwongblog
Also be sure to follow Hollywood Suite’s coverage:
Twitter: @hollywoodsuite
Cameron Maitland: @camfess
(Photo credit: Film Independent)
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Prison Warden, Bernadine Williams (Alfre Woodard), starts slipping away from her husband after several years of carrying-out executions at a maximum security prison.
Clemency is a fresh and emotional take on the Prison Drama. It is a character study primarily of two people: the warden and death-row inmate Anthony Woods (Aldis Hodge). Writer-Director Chinonye Chukwu has created an absorbing and heartbreaking feature that subtly poses ethical questions while following characters who are trying to find redemption. Both Actors, Woodard and Hodge, translate the internal torments of their characters into visual struggles. Woodard is a force-of-nature as Williams. From the opening scene until the last, you watch more of her slowly slip away the further her profession takes her. And Hodge is a scene-stealer who leaves a lasting impression.
Clemency screens at Sundance on Jan 27 at 6PM at Library PC, Jan 29 at 12:15PM at Eccles PC, Jan 31 at 12PM at Temple PC, Feb 1 at 6:30PM at Rose Wagner SLC, and Feb 2 at 8:30AM at Egyptian PC.
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
The Report follows the real-life story of Senate staffer Daniel Jones (Adam Driver) who was tasked with leading an investigation into the CIA‘s Detention and Interrogation Program following 9/11. The purpose of the investigation was to find out if the torture acts performed under the Program were in fact, illegal.
This Film is one of the most compelling viewing experiences at Sundance this year with its fascinating story and timely relevance. Writer-Director Scott Z. Burns has written a solid and tight Script that depicts the exhausting efforts and challenges Jones faced, along with many crucial aspects of the 6,700-page document he wrote. Fresh off his multiple award nominations this year, Driver gives the finest and most driven performance of his career as Jones. His subtle yet expressive performance leaves a heavy impact. And Annette Bening is a marvel as the weight-on-her-shoulders Senator Dianne Feinstein.
The Report screens at Sundance on Jan 26 at 3:45PM at Eccles PC, Jan 27 at 9AM at Eccles PC, Jan 30 at 6:30PM at Rose Wagner SLC, Jan 2 at 3:30PM at Eccles PC, and Feb 3 at 3PM at Tower SLC.
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
The Film follows mild OCD-afflicted Cathy (Wendi McLendon-Covey) whose life begins to spiral out of control when she believes her husband is having an affair and her teenage daughter begins keeping things from her.
Imaginary Order is an in-depth character study of a woman who happily created her life around being a good mother and wife. Writer-Director Debra Eisenstadt has created a beautiful Indie film that examines what happens to our mental and emotional self when we feel our lives beginning to change. McLendon-Covey has made an impressive transition from Comedy to Drama in her portrayal of Cathy.
Imaginary Order screens at Sundance on Jan 26 at 6PM at Library PC, Jan 27 at 1PM at Redstone 2 PC, Jan 28 at 10PM at Rose Wagner SLC, Jan 31 at 9:30PM at Eccles PC, and Feb 1 at 11:30AM at Egyptian PC.
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Little Monsters follows Kindergarten Teacher Miss Caroline (Lupita Nyong’o) and her class on a trip to a local Australian zoo. What the class, herself and unenthused chaperon Dave (Alexander England) soon realize, is that they are trapped there and being hunted by zombies.
Writer-Director Abe Forsythe has created a Genre-Comedy that could be an instant hit. The comedic timing of everyone involved, both behind and in-front of the camera, is perfect. The Script is tightly-written and offers ample amounts of wit. Nyong’o excels and we get a range we haven’t seen prior from the Oscar winner. England is unbelievably-funny in his cluelessness as an uncle of one of the the kids.  Josh Gad also is fantastic as a popular child TV Programme Host, who isn’t so kid-friendly in person.
Little Monsters screens at Sundance on Jan 27 at 11:59PM at Library PC, Jan 29 at 2:30PM at The MARC PC, Jan 30 at 11:45PM at Egyptian PC, Jan 31 at 12:30PM at The Ray PC, and Feb 2 at 11:59PM at Tower SLC.
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Jimmie Fails (Jimmie Fails) has one dream in life: to reclaim the Victorian house his family once lived in and grandfather built. When Jimmie and his only friend Montgomery (Jonathan Majors) find out the current owners of the house have moved out, they squat there and recreate the home Jimmie once knew.
The Last Black Man In San Francisco is the astonishing first feature debut of Director Joe Talbot. The Film is a sophisticated examination of gentrification and the effects it has on communities and individuals. Through focusing on one man’s story, the real-life story of Jimmie Fails, the themes are specific and therefore become universal. Fails, in playing a fictionalized version of himself, is enthralling to watch. His subtle performance adds texture to the already flawless Script and direction, while Majors gives a breakout performance as Fails’ supportive Playwright best friend. This is an essential viewing experience and will be watched and revisited years from now.
The Last Black Man In San Francisco screens at Sundance on Jan 26 at 12:15PM at Eccles PC, Jan 27 at 9:30PM at Redstone 1 PC, Jan 31 at 6PM at Library Theatre SLC, Feb 1 at 8:30PM at Prospector PC, and Feb 2 at 8:45AM at Library PC.
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
16-year- old Mo (Griffin Gluck) has been best friends with his sisterâs 23-year-old ex-boyfriend, Zeke (Pete Davidson) since he was nine. Zeke has been Moâs sole role model, however, heâs an adult who drinks and smokes weed all day long and convinces Mo to sell drugs to high school seniors at their weekend parties.
Big Time Adolescence is a hilarious coming-of-age story with characters which feel authentic. The Film examines what it is like to be a teenager and an early 20-something in todayâs ever-changing world. Davidson is a showstopper as the quintessential man-child. He captures perfectly the feeling of being lost while transitioning into adulthood. Gluck delivers as Mo, who wants so bad to be popular and gives us an honest look into being a teenager.
Big Time Adolescence screens at Sundance on Jan 28 at 3:30PM at Eccles PC, Jan 29 at 9:15AM at The Ray PC, Jan 31 at 11:30AM at Prospector PC, Feb 1 at 6:15PM at Grand SLC, and Feb 2 at 12PM at Library PC.
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
When Brittany (Julian Bell) tries to scam a doctor into giving her Aderall, she finds out that she actually has health issues due to her weight. She realizes quickly that gym memberships are too expensive for her pay grade and takes up running again. She learns she really loves the way running makes her feel and sets out to run, and finish the New York City Marathon.
Brittany Runs A Marathon speaks to internal truths of how our external appearance effects how both others treat us, and how we treat and think about ourselves. Writer-Director Paul Downs Colaizzo has crafted a beautiful Film that offers equal amounts of Comedy and Drama. It also proves that Bell shouldn’t be put into a category solely as comedic. She carries the Film with a heartfelt knockout performance.
Brittany Runs A Marathon screens at Sundance on Jan 28 at 12:15PM at Eccles PC, Jan 29 at 11:30AM at The MARC PC, Jan 31 at 2:30PM at The MARC PC, Feb 1 at 3PM at Library PC, and Feb 2 at 3:15PM at Grand Theatre SLC.
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