Jennifer Lopez Musical and Dev Patel Horror Top Sundance Sales Titles

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This year’s Sundance Film Festival seems set to carry on as it has in the past, despite the unique circumstances of a post-pandemic world, labor strikes, corporate mergers, and now the Los Angeles wildfires – which may all alter what we understand by “business as usual.

Tech giants have scaled back their acquisition of films for festivals in the past, but they are now trying to stand out among sellers with different approaches; Amazon is known as a festival favorite while Apple and Netflix aren’t quite as friendly towards theatrical releases. This year at Sundance, there are fewer commercial offerings compared to last year’s action comedy “Thelma”, horror film “Presence” and coming-of-age title “My Old Ass”. However, there are some high-profile titles in this year’s market such as the latest musical from Bill Condon (“Kiss of the Spider Woman”), Justin Lin’s return to independent filmmaking (“Last Days”) and a large number of promising debuts from first-time feature filmmakers.

THR looks at 10 titles likely to entice buyers on the mountain.

IT’S NEVER OVER, JEFF BUCKLEY

DIRECTOR Amy Berg

REPHRASE Although the music biographical documentary genre has been extensively explored in recent years, Berg’s film offers a unique perspective on the life of Buckley by focusing on the women who significantly influenced him, including his mother. The inclusion of previously unheard personal voicemails adds a distinct touch to this non-fiction portrait, setting it apart from the norm.

REP Submarine

KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN

DIRECTOR Bill Condon

STARS Diego Luna, Jennifer Lopez

At Sundance, musicals are scarcely found, but it’s exceptionally scarce to encounter one directed by a filmmaker known for studio successes such as Chicago and Dreamgirls. This movie, one of the most anticipated sales titles at the festival, is an adaption from the Broadway show (originally based on the Manuel Puig novel). It tells the story of two inmates in a South American prison who develop an unexpected friendship. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s Artists Equity are responsible for its production.

SALES CAA, WME

LAST DAYS

DIRECTOR Justin Lin

STARS Sky Yang, Radhika Apte

Stepping into the chilly air of Park City once more, I find myself back in this town where my life took an unexpected turn with the debut of “Better Luck Tomorrow” at Sundance in ’02. Since then, I’ve been caught up in the high-octane world of Fast & Furious, but now, it’s time for a change. This gripping drama follows the real-life tale of John Allen Chau, a brave missionary who dared to venture onto the mysterious North Sentinel Island. Naveen Andrews and Ken Leung join me on this extraordinary journey.

SALES CAA

MIDDLETOWN

DIRECTORS Jesse Moss, Amanda McBaine

BUZZ The pair responsible for the 2020 Sundance hit, Boys State, are returning to the festival with a documentary that seems to be a blend of Scooby-Doo and Erin Brockovich: The movie narrates the tale of a group of teenagers in the ’90s, who create a student film for their journalism class, only to stumble upon a conspiracy related to toxic waste in their own community.

SALES Submarine

OH, HI

DIRECTOR Sophie Brooks

STARS Logan Lerman, Molly Gordon

This unconventional romantic comedy that explores modern millennial courtship could serve as the independent counterpart to the popular Netflix series. Lerman, often referred to as the internet’s dream boyfriend, teams up with “The Bear” sensation Gordon as a newly formed couple embarking on a traditional weekend retreat. However, their journey takes an unanticipated twist. Geraldine Viswanathan and John Reynolds also appear in the film.

SALES UTA, WME

PETER HUJAR’S DAY

DIRECTOR Ira Sachs

STARS Ben Whishaw, Rebecca Hall

Following the success of my 2023 Sundance film “Passages” earning critical acclaim, I’m eager to share that my next project is something buyers should definitely keep an eye on. This upcoming flick clocks in at a swift 75 minutes and features a captivating two-person performance. In this movie, I step into the shoes of renowned New York photographer Hujar, with Hall portraying Linda Rosenkrantz, my friend and author. The film is inspired by an intriguing conversation between us that was only recently unearthed from 1974.

SALES WME, SBS

RABBIT TRAP

DIRECTOR Bryn Chainey

STARS Dev Patel, Rosy McEwen

In recent times, films from the international Midnight section, such as “Talk to Me“, have been some of the most well-received titles at the festival. This year could be no exception, with a chilling supernatural horror movie that tells the story of two musicians who decide to relocate to a secluded house in Wales (not usually a wise decision), leading to their accidental awakening of an ancient supernatural entity while working on an album.

SALES CAA, Bankside

REBUILDING

DIRECTOR Max Walker-Silverman

STARS Josh O’Connor

Starring in the new film from the director of the acclaimed 2022 love story “A Love Song”, Chris O’Connor takes on the role of a rancher struggling to rebuild after a devastating wildfire. With its timely title, this movie could resonate particularly well given recent events in Los Angeles. Rebuilding provides an opportunity to secure an O’Connor film before he steps into the world of blockbusters, much like Paul Mescal did prior to his role in “Gladiator II”.

SALES CAA

RICKY

DIRECTOR Rashad Frett

STARS Stephan James, Sheryl Lee Ralph

NEWS FLASH Filmmaker Frett is expanding his 2023 Sundance short into a full-length feature, with James taking on the role of a 30-year-old navigating life after prison, where he has been incarcerated since his teenage years. Movies delving into lives within and orbiting the penal system, such as Sing Sing and the documentary Daughters, are gaining attention in award circles this season.

SALES WME

SORRY BABY

DIRECTOR Eva Victor

STARS Victor, Naomi Ackie, Lucas Hedges

NOTE Victor, famously recognized for her amusing online videos from around the late 2010s, successfully executes the triple role of writer, director, and lead actor in this drama-comedy, which is set within the academic environment of New England. Barry Jenkins is one of the film’s producers, with Tango, the team behind ‘Aftersun’, being another.

SALES UTA, Charades

THE THING WITH FEATHERS

DIRECTOR Dylan Southern

STARS Benedict Cumberbatch

BUZZ The drama is inspired by Max Porter’s 2015 novella “Grief Is the Thing With Feathers.” In this story, Benedict Cumberbatch, a frequent nominee during awards season, portrays a father who has recently lost his wife. Despite his attempts to cope with the sudden loss, he starts experiencing what appears to be a sinister intrusion.

SALES UTA, MK2

TOGETHER

DIRECTOR Michael Shanks

STARS Alison Brie, Dave Franco

BUZZ In this Midnight selection, the real-life duo Brie and Franco take center stage as they delve into the complexities of codependency within a thrilling narrative context. The story unfolds as a couple, who recently relocated to the countryside, experience an otherworldly event that puts their relationship to the ultimate test. Additionally, Damon Herriman is part of the cast.

SALES WME

TRAIN DREAMS

DIRECTOR Clint Bentley

STARS Joel Edgerton, Kerry Condon, Felicity Jones

The filmmaking crew responsible for the acclaimed movie Sing Sing is once again at work, this time taking on their most ambitious project yet: an adaptation of Dennis Johnson’s novel. This story follows a railroad worker in Washington state as he journeys through life and confronts loss. It’s an epic tale that spans several decades, but with a distinct, auteur-influenced style.

SALES WME

You can find this story in the January 17th edition of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Consider subscribing by clicking here.

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2025-01-23 19:27