2018 Sundance Film Festival: The laughs, the deals, the tears, the thrills
Aaaand, that’s a wrap! Yes, yesterday marked the end of the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, the event that kicked us into the festival season and provided a snapshot of what Hollywood has in store for the year ahead.
The climax of the festival – Sundance’s annual awards ceremony – went down on Saturday night, with Chloë Grace Moretz pic The Miseducation of Cameron Post, The Kindergarten Teacher director Sara Colangelo, On Her Shoulders helmer Alexandria Bombach, and Blaze star Benjamin Dickey among the big wins of the night.
In addition to the many shining gems leaving Park City, this year inevitably focused on the sexual misconduct scandal which has gripped the industry, offering a sneak peak of Hollywood in a post-Weinstein era. To keep you in the loop, here’s our final roundup of Sundance. There’s deals, awards, and thrills aplenty – so let’s dig in.
The cast of The Miseducation of Cameron Post, which scooped up the Dramatic Grand Jury Prize, sat down with The Hollywood Reporter to reveal how they tackled the “heartbreaking” story set in a gay conversion therapy center.
Elsewhere, newcomer Benjamin Dickey, who took home the Special Jury Award for Achievement in Acting for his breakout performance in Ethan Hawke‘s Blaze Foley biopic, had a natter with Variety. The first-time actor discussed his unbelievable journey and transition from one art form to another.
Not sure what to keep your eye on now that Sundance has come to an end? Then there’s good news inbound: IndieWire has to put together a list of the twelve best movies from this year’s festival, ranging from the “impressive first-timers to reliable talent delivering on expectations.”
During the final days of Sundance, HBO snagged The Oslo Diaries, directed by Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan. With the ink still wet, the filmmaking duo said that they hope the “the prestigious platform of HBO will allow us to reach millions of viewers”, adding that they are keen for the film to “lead to the crucial dialogue we are missing so much these days.”
From survivors to female killers, IndieWire has written up a piece that explores how and why “women dominated” this year’s Sundance in a post-Weinstein era.
Speaking of Weinstein, USA Today has a video interview discussing the current climate in Hollywood. The likes of Jon Hamm, Carey Mulligan, Hilary Swank and Chloë Sevigny weigh in on the matter. The message is clear: men need to be held more accountable.
IndieWire has an article exploring Sundance’s best documentaries, explaining that while they might be “first-rate”, it might not necessarily mean they’ll be heading to theaters anytime soon.
