This was a signature year of short films at Sundance. Four program tracks highlight the incredible spectrum of approaches in this compact format. For The Utah Review’s feature reviews about the remainder of the short film slate, see these links: Animated Short Film Program, Documentary Short Film Program, Midnight Short Film Program and Short Film … Read more
Comedy also has its place on this year’s Sundance slate, including the feature-length Hot Water and three selections in the Episodic Fiction Pilot Showcase. A boilerplate road comedy but anchored with some unique features to captivate the audience’s attention, Hot Water is a Sundance feature-length narrative debut for director and screenwriter Ramzi Bashour. Utahns also … Read more
The septet of juried offerings in the second track of the Sundance Short Film program reiterate the strength of this year’s slate in this cinematic format, particularly in the quality of acting across the board. Seniors, directed by Adam Curley, shows promise as a comedic feature-length film. It is the morning of the day when … Read more
With different subjects and geographical locations, three Sundance Film Festival documentaries are masterfully crafted contemplations of our greatest contemporary moral and ethical responsibilities, when considered together. ONE IN A MILLION One In A Million (directed by Itab Azzam and Jack MacInnes) is an exceptional documentary. The documentary chronicles the experiences of Isra’a from her preteen … Read more
Superbly demonstrated in an octet of animated films as part of this year’s 2026 Sundance short film program, a viewer should never underestimate the emotional power that can be expressed through animation. The films comprised a first-class cinematic tasting menu.The opener, 1981, rightly tickled the audience. This naughty and very witty death-of-innocence story, inspired by … Read more
Whatever collaborating powers that can make it happen, The Lake documentary, which has received a full-bodied positive response at its Sundance premiere, should be made available for viewing by every single Utahn, including the 104 members of the Utah Legislature’s two chambers. Directed by Abby Ellis, the film approaches the Great Salt Lake’s existential crisis, … Read more
EDITOR’S NOTE: Part II summarizes the films and programs from Sundance 2026 that are part of The Utah Review coverage. For Part I which is an overview of the state of the film industry in Utah, see here. About this year’s Sundance festival, Geralyn Dreyfous, the principal cofounder of the Utah Film Center as well … Read more
PitchNic, one of Spy Hop Productions’ most exciting programs, returns for its 23rd edition this year and this year’s class of young Utah filmmakers is looking to build on a legacy where more than 95% of films that have been produced in the program have gone on to be screened at and win awards at … Read more
EDITOR’S NOTE: For a detailed rundown of the 2025 slate for the Utah Queer Film Festival, see this link. At a hostile, polarizing time like now, many people understandably demur from being unapologetic about expressing their authentic selves. And, with that in mind, the 22nd edition of the Utah Film Center’s Utah Queer Film Festival … Read more
EDITOR’S NOTE: For the curtain raiser of the 2025 Utah Queer Film Festival, see this link. The theme of fearless queerness permeates the slate of six feature-length documentaries and 40 short films in this year’s Utah Queer Film Festival slate. In some instances, the theme is fully manifested, while in others, it starts from a … Read more