The best Sundance festival movies we'll watch in theaters

This year, the Sundance Film Festival marked its fortieth anniversary, and what I can point out with certainty, it is always and without exception a festival where true “indie” film gems are discovered. I have specially selected some of these cinematic treasures for you.

This is the festival where Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson, David O. Russell and Wes Anderson, to name just a few, launched their careers. Many excellent movies, many cult films, and many films that have “brushed shoulders” with major awards like the Oscars began their festival and cinematic life at Sundance. CODA is the first film that premiered at Sundance and went on to win the Best Picture award, but many other Sundance films have also won major awards like the Oscars. Sundance is the place where the best “indie” achievements come to the fore and take their place “at the table” alongside films from big production companies.

The latest best indie movies in one place

Unlike other global film festivals, where independent films are mixed with those backed by big production companies, at Sundance independent films become known, popular, and some even iconic. Let’s just remember the movies “Sex, Lies and Videotape”, “Clerks”, “American Psycho”, “Little Miss Sunshine”, “Whiplash”, “Get Out”, and the mentioned film “CODA”. All of them owe part of their success to premieres, positive critical and audience reactions, and the warm reception in Sundance Film Festival theaters. Below is my selection of films from Sundance, there is a good chance that you can see them at local, regional festivals as well. Keep your eyes open so you don’t miss out.

Exhibiting Forgiveness, d. Titus Kaphar

You might already be familiar with American artist Titus Kaphar, a painter whose works are part of collections in major museums, like MoMA and the Met. But if you’re not, prepare to immediately become a fan of his art and especially his filmmaking, with his latest work, the film Exhibiting Forgiveness, where the painter, now director and writer, tackles concepts such as family reconciliation, spirituality, and freedom for the first time, shown through the prism of his art, which is abundant in the film. In this movie, art comes to aid and it heals, both behind and in front of the canvas.

Exhibiting Forgiveness

Gaucho Gaucho, d. Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw

The new documentary by Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw is primarily visually impressive. This is a film about the community of gauchos, Argentine cowboys, their rituals, customs and traditions. These filmmakers have created a wonderful film about a tradition that has miraculously survived all the turbulences of the modern age and still fascinates.

Gaucho Gaucho

Girls Will Be Girls, d. Shuchi Talati

From the movie’s title, we already see the direction the premise is taking. This provocative title, an inversion of the chauvinist saying “Boys will be boys” that absolves all bad male behavior of sin, introduces us to a film that allows women to unreservedly explore their feminine instincts. This is a coming-of-age film about generational female awakening, attachment, and rivalry within the mother-daughter relationship and body autonomy. This is a coming-of-age film for every stage of life.

Girls Will Be Girls

Love Lies Bleeding, d. Rose Glass

Director Rose Glass has surpassed her notable debut “Saint Maud” with this film. “Love Lies Bleeding” is a very sexy thriller that follows Kristen Stewart in the role of a fitness center manager who falls in love with another woman, played by Katy O’Brian. This is a story about love, crime, family and passion. The film carries a dose of wildness that is simply infectious.

Love Lies Bleeding

The Outrun, d. Nora Fingscheidt

Saoirse Ronan has taken on a challenging role in this film. Director Nora Fingscheidt has made a film about alcoholism, an unconventional drama where, along with a demanding story, we simultaneously enjoy some of the most beautifully filmed scenes of the Scottish landscape. The film highlights the destructive power of alcoholism, especially with its chaotic ending. Don’t worry, this isn’t a spoiler.

The Outrun

A Real Pain, d. Jesse Eisenberg

Jesse Eisenberg has directed and stars in the film, alongside Kieran Culkin. They play two cousins ​​who are on a Holocaust tour in Poland, all in honor of their grandmother. The film vividly portrays the course of intergenerational trauma, discoveries of personal and historical burdens, and the processing of complex emotions. A film that definitely leaves an impression and is sure to stand out at other festivals throughout the year.

A Real Pain

Will & Harper, d. Josh Greenbaum

In this documentary we watch the famous actor Will Ferrell and Harper Steele on a trip across America. Harper has recently come out as a trans woman. The documentary “Will & Harper” shows what it means to be trans in America, what it means to face the past, discrimination, evil people who want to harm, and alongside all that spice up this trip with the element of fame and public recognition, wherever they go. The film is heartfelt, entertaining, with a prominent dose of human vulnerability.

Will & Harper