The 2011 Sundance Film Festival kicks off today, showcasing 117 independent feature films chosen from the more than 3,800 submissions.
As is the case each year, the indie films emerging from the Sundance Festival will become the highlight of most cinéaste’s film year. At the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, certain 2011 Oscar nominee Winter’s Bone won the Grand Jury prize for writer-director Debra Granik, as well as a Best Actress nod for newcomer (and breakout star) Jennifer Lawrence. Director Derek Cianfrance’s relationship drama Blue Valentine, currently playing around town, also won plaudits and a distribution deal at 2010’s Sundance Festival.
Lisa Cholodenko’s dysfunctional-family tale The Kids Are All Right was another award-winner at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival which will emerge as a certain Oscar nominee next week, most likely for Best Actress hopeful, and odds-on favourite, Annette Bening, with a probable Best Original Screenplay going to Kids‘ co-writers Stuart Blumberg and Ms. Cholodenko.
In the coming week, we’ll keep you apprised of the Sundance films the critics love, taking a break only this coming Tuesday morning for the announcement of the 2011 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Oscar nominations announcement. We’ll see you back here soon and often.
