Academy Award-winner Robert Redford once played one of two titular roles in the timeless classicButch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, which features somewonderful shootout sceneson top of its beloved characters. Years later, Redford’s aptly namedSundance Film Festivalwould kick off in the 80s, and still remains as one of the most prestigious festivals in the world. And now, the2023 Sundance Film Festivalwill take place January 19–29, both in person and online.
Sundance is the ultimate gatheringof original storytellers and audiences seeking new voices and fresh perspectives. This year’s program willhonor director Ryan Coogler, which is just one of the highlights. The overall program includes dramatic and documentary features, short films, and episodic content. There are also daily filmmaker conversations, panel discussions, and other events. The World Cinema Documentary Competition Program in particular features works by some of the boldest global filmmakers capturing the world today. Here’s a closer look at this year’s offerings.
5 Seasons of Revolution
A Syrian journalist named Lina inadvertently finds herself becoming a war reporter after documenting the events around her.5 Seasons of Revolutionmarks Lina’s feature directorial debut, wherein she dives deeply into her own past and experiences of living among a revolution. As the official Sundance synopsis attests, “5 Seasons of Revolutionsucceeds as a rare chronicle that not only takes you inside the conflicts that exist among a group of comrades whose solidarity is tested.”
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20 Days in Mariupol
One of the more timely documentaries at Sundance,20 Days in Mariupolfollows a team of Ukrainian journalists who, on the eve of Russia’s invasion, finds themselves in the port city of Mariupol. For the journalists, their situation becomes a simultaneous need to report on the events and a struggle to survive the siege and assault. In a harrowing turn of events, the journalists find shelter in a hospital as they become surrounded by Russian soldiers. According to the program, “Ukrainian filmmaker and journalist Mstyslav Chernov offers a window into the practices of conflict zone reporters. The footage, widely disseminated through news media, not only documents the death and destruction, but also refutes Russian misinformation.”
Against the Tide
Members of Bombay’s Indigenous Koli community, Rakesh and Ganesh are both fishermen. Their relationship is akin to brotherhood, but each man approaches their work from polarizing perspectives. Rakesh uses traditional methods of fishing, while Ganesh opts for modern technology. The latter’s methods inevitably cause environmental destruction, which, in turns, incites animosity between the brothers. InAgainst the Tide, per the Sundance program, director Sarvnik Kaur takes a “deeply humanistic and intimate approach in her profile of these two men at a crossroads in both their friendship and professions.”
The Eternal Memory
Per the festival program, “Oscar-nominated director and Sundance alum Maite Alberdi (The Mole Agent) returns to Sundance with a film that gracefully delves into the melancholy of remembrance met with resistance, uplifted by the beautiful partnership at its core.“The Eternal Memoryfollows two of Chile’s foremost TV personalities, Augusto and Paulina, who have been in love for a quarter of a century. After Augusto was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s eight years ago, Paulina became his primary caregiver. Alberdi’s documentary traces the lovers' efforts to preserve Augusto’s memory and, by extension, identity.
Fantastic Machine
Here’s a unique concept — “Fantastic Machineoffers a meticulous dissection of image-making and a mapping of its movement through society.” Directors Axel Danielson and Maximilien Van Aertryck employ archival footage as a means of tracing photographic philosophy across our history. Their documentary effectively transports audiences a journey through space, time, and images, forcing us to confront ourselves and, most importantly, how we see ourselves.
Iron Butterflies
Sundance’s program synopsis reads, “In July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down by Russian forces over eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board. The reality of this attack, and its possible ramifications for the then-ongoing war, was immediately questioned by the Russian government and media. And as evidence piled up, the lies denying reality only became more outlandish and incredible.Iron Butterfliespresents the truth of what happened to MH17, but also what was at stake by not confronting it.”
Is There Anybody Out There?
A writer and director shining a light on stories about people with disabilities, Ella Glendining turns the lens on her own story withIs There Anybody Out There?. Glendining was born with a rare disability — so rare that there aren’t readily available (or reliable) statistics about it — and, as a result, experiences discrimination in her daily life. With her documentary, she aims to find another person in the world just like her, offering interviews and “conversations with similarly bodied people and doctors treating her condition, and a searching and unique perspective” on life.
The Longest Goodbye
After the last few pandemic-laden years, most of us are aware of the effects of social isolation. This is especially so for astronauts, whichThe Longest Goodbyeillustrates. From director Ido Mizrahy comes a documentary that “ponders the conflict between our need for connectivity and the urge to explore the unknown.” ConsideringNASA’s growing efforts to send people to Mars, Mizrahy’s documentary offers an insight into the effects of isolation and separation. With the help of Dr. Al holland, a senior NASA psychologist,The Longest Goodbyeis an effective investigaton into how we can provide support to those who long to explore.
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Milisuthando
Set in South Africa,Milisuthando"offers an invitation into a poetic, memory-driven exploration of love, intimacy, race and belonging by the filmmaker who grew up during apartheid.” The titular Milisuthando Bongela carves out a documentary that dives into the parts our ancestory play in shaping who we are today.
Pianoforte
The International Chopin Piano Competition is one of the most prestigious competitions in the world when it comes to classical music. It has been held in Warsaw every five years since 1927. Contrary to what you might expect, the competition is actually a fast-paced, rigorous event filled with strict rules, tough competition, and extreme pressure. Per the festival program, “Pianofortetakes us behind the scenes of this fascinating contest. Along the way, we meet some of the most talented young professional piano players from all over the world and watch them navigate this renowned, almost infamous competition.”
Smoke Sauna Sisterhood
“Tucked in a forest in southern Estonia, a group of women gather in the safe darkness of a smoke sauna to share their innermost thoughts and secrets. Enveloped by the heat, they bare all to expel fears and shame trapped in their bodies and regain their strength,” reads the festival program. WithSmoke Sauna Sisterhood, director Anna Hints traces the intimate ritual with reverence and respect, offering a hallowed glimpse into womanhood.
Twice Colonized
The Sundance program reads, “Aaju Peter is a renowned Greenlandic Inuit lawyer and activist who defends the human rights of Indigenous peoples of the Arctic. She is a fierce protector of her ancestral lands and works to bring her colonizers in both Canada and Denmark to justice. As Aaju launches an effort to establish an Indigenous forum at the European Union, she also embarks upon a complex and deeply personal journey to mend her own wounds pertaining to her family. In this inspiring, emotionally powerful documentary, director Lin Alluna journeys alongside an extraordinary human being as she navigates the social and personal wreckage of sanctioned white dominance.”
