Movie lovers are in for a treat as the Sundance Film Festival lands in London for the sixth year running.
This year’s line-up is packed with delights with some highly anticipated features and critically acclaimed shorts, many of which have London links.
Highlights:
A Ghost Story
Described as a “haunting” and “evocative”, A Ghost Story went down a treat at the festival in Utah and continues to impress critics. It tells the story of a man, played by Casey Affleck, taken from life prematurely. He returns to his home as a white-sheeted ghost to reconnect with his grief-striken wife, played by Rooney Mara.
Chasing Coral
Jeff Orlowski, the director and producer that brought us Chasing Ice, returns with another plea to humanity to see the damage done by climate change. Chasing Coral highlights the “coral bleaching” happening due to warming seas- a sign of mass coral death. It was the winner of this year’s Audience Award for documentary in Utah and has been described as both “disturbing” and “moving”.
Beatriz at Dinner
Beatriz at Dinner is another one to watch, a social commentary comparing those who care for the many and those whose success relies on cutthroat deals and only caring about themselves. Two very different people meet at a dinner party, polite chaos ensues.
For the first time the festival is introducing a ‘Surprise Film’, which may sell out quickly, and a new audience favourite award.
Short films are in.
London-focused pleasures:
Dear Mr. Shakespeare
Dear Mr. Shakespeare is a short directed by Londoner Shola Amoo and written by Phoebe Boswell and filmed around Peckham. A “striking” piece exploring Othello’s racial politics and its link with exclusion in Britain today.
White Riot: London
Directed by Rubika Shah and co-written by Ed Gibbs, White Riot: London is a short set in 1977 when immigration was dividing Britain. It explores what happens when a punk fanzine goes against the grain.
Fish Story
Fish Story, a short directed and written by Londoner Charlie Lyne is a “fishy tail” of intrigue about a search for the truth.
Robot and Scarecrow
What happens when a robot meets a scarecrow and falls in love? A short directed and co-written by Londoner Kibwe Tavares tells us just that. The voice cast of Robot and Scarecrow includes Jack O’Connell, Holliday Grainger and Londoner Daniel Kaluuya.
Dawn of the Deaf
London-based Rob Savage brings us Dawn of the Deaf. A small group of deaf people must survive when a strange noise wipes out the hearing population.
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