by Le Anne Lindsay, Editor

POST UPDATE: SUNDANCE EVE & DAY 1

So I made it!  And it’s A LOT!  There’s just so much going on and you have constant FOMO.  Why do I have a Chase Freedom credit card instead of Chase Sapphire, so I can be a VIP in that lounge? Why are there so many private events where your press pass holds no clout?  Why haven’t I been invited to any parties, but then, at the same time, after my screenings end at 11:30pm, I really don’t feel like hanging out. I wanna get back to the condo and sleep, exhausted from carrying around my backpack all day and walking, standing, WALKING! Even with the nice free shuttles & buses.  

Please don’t think I’m being negative cause it’s really cool at Sundance and I feel blessed to have earned the press credentials. And doubly, triply blessed by those that contributed to my Sundance Film Festival Fundraising efforts.  My housemates were all awesome people. Coming from different cities, backgrounds, reasons for being at Sundance; the vibe was welcoming and easy going. Wish I’d had more time to spend with them.  You’ll meet most in the Day 1 video below – one didn’t arrive until two days later, a winning screenplay writer, she’s interviewed in video 5 . 

And most of all, thank GOD 10 tix come with your press pass! That’s remarkable because getting tickets is hard. Even that whole e-wait list thing is a bit complicated and time consuming.  One of my housemates was up late each night trying to be first to order tickets during the 18 hour drop, and then getting up super early to go pick them up.  Where as I picked up all my tickets before the Festival started Wednesday night at Festival Headquarters and had no problems. I mean, it’s definitely best to be in the ticket holder line a minimum of 40-45 minutes before each screening, but otherwise, smooth sailing. I could have seen more films if I was willing to go to the 9am screenings, but the condos was so comfortable, with stuff to make breakfast, so I never got a super early start.

More videos to come but so far here’s my
TASTE OF SUNDANCE 2020 DAY 1:

Side Note: Here’s a link to my Amazon Review of my new video camcorder bought for this trip.

POST UPDATE: SUNDANCE DAY 2

I did get a fairly early start on day 2 to attend The Blackhouse Foundation (see more on Blackhouse below in original post) Entertainment Critics Breakfast.  Met two fab creatives Kim Singleton Host of “Consider It Blacklit” @consider_it_blacklit and Carolyn A. Butts Founder of Reel Sisters Film Festival & @africanvoices Magazine.

Followed by a Blackhouse Panel: Short Cuts to the Future: Featuring Filmmakers Thembi Banks, Haley Elizabeth Anderson, Jovan James and Elegance Bratton.

This is also where I met these two filmmakers:

Hey @PhilaIndie @itsashort #SUNDANCE2020 two filmmakers to keep your eyes on @wendee345 & @_rickytyree (IG) they’ll both soon be making the Festival circuit with shorts! pic.twitter.com/PAsXNVab1W

— Tinsel & Tine (@tinseltine) January 25, 2020

I had competing tickets for 2 films Come Away & Zola, I was going to go to Come Away because it stars David Oyelowo & Angelina Jolie, but everyone at the breakfast was talking about leaving in time to make it to Zola, so that seemed the hotter ticket. I made the right decision of the 8 films I had a chance to see, I will say ZOLA was my favorite.

Click HERE for #MiniMovieReview and Sundance World Premiere Q&A Video with director Janicza Bravo and cast.

Then, I know I did other stuff on Day 2, but right now all I can remember is it culminated with the Sundance World Premiere of THE GO’GO’s Documentary which was also the only red carpet I wound up doing.

Click HERE for The Go-Go’s #MiniMovieReview and video of red carpet and Q&A with director Alison Ellwood and all 5 members of the GO-GO’S: Belinda Carlisle, Jane Wiedlin, Charlotte Caffey, Gina Schock and Kathy Valentine

See excerpts of it all in below Video
TASTE OF SUNDANCE 2020 DAY 2:

POST UPDATE: SUNDANCE DAY 3

By day three I’d gotten the lay of the land, I now knew how much time I needed to put on my boots, scarf, hat, and pack my backpack for the day before my Lyft arrived. And once on Main Street, I now knew to cross over at the little Antique Mall walk through as a short cut to the Shuttle Transportation hub.  I fit 3 films into this day, but didn’t make it to any panels.

Prior to going I wasn’t sure if you had to RSVP if you planned to do red carpet interviews, (later I found out you just show up at press call time, and for the most part, it’s first come, first serve, as long as you have press credentials) but I was trying to be diligent so I asked the production company to please add me to the Uncle Frank red carpet list, they told me the press office handles the list, the press office told me the production company handles the list.  It went back and forth a bit until I threw my hands up, then both got back to me to say it was fine, just show up at 2pm. Ironically, I wound up skipping the red carpet in order to video tape the Shirley Q&A. Both films were back to back at the Eccles Theater, but I learned that call time for the press bull pen is no joke, either get there at the appointed time or forget it, so I just captured the Uncle Frank Q&A – which actually, is fine with me.

See excerpts of it all in below Video
TASTE OF SUNDANCE 2020 DAY 3:

Tinsel & Tine captured excerpts of Q&A for SAVE YOURSELVES by Eleanor Wilson & Alex Huston Fischer during #Sundance2020

It’s a wacky, aliens attack premise involving a hipster-ish couple trying to unplug, now streaming on @PrimeVideo https://t.co/KmwDyFPqrD pic.twitter.com/vqYKcDZlNo

— Tinsel & Tine (@tinseltine) November 21, 2020

Click HERE for #MiniMovieReview and Sundance World Premiere Q&A Video with director Josephine Decker, Elisabeth Moss and the entire cast and crew of SHIRLEY

Click HERE for #MiniMovieReview and Sundance World Premiere Q&A Video with director Alan Ball, Paul Bettany and the entire cast and crew of UNCLE FRANK.

POST UPDATE: SUNDANCE DAY 4

I remember on day 4 thinking where did day 1-3 go!?!   I wanted to do some shopping, but only had time to get a couple of little souvenirs for family and friends.  Wanted to hang out at the Acura Music Tent for a bit, but it was far too crowded to get a drink before it was time to get the shuttle for my screening of THE TRUFFLE HUNTERS at the Library Center Theatre, a new venue for me, wasn’t sure how long it would take to get there.  Made it in time to grab a $7 hot dog before getting in line.

“The Truffle Hunters” was a hot ticket!  Which I didn’t know ahead of time. I just wanted to try and fit in at least one foodie film, so I chose it as one of my 10; but later I kept hearing people saying how much they wanted to see this and couldn’t get tickets.  I even saw the Executive Director of The Philadelphia Film Society, Andrew Greenblatt, in line for this one, so we may be seeing it in Philly come October 2020 at #PFF29.

Tinsel & Tine #MiniMovieReview “The Truffle Hunters” well, it’s definitely charming and unique.  I had no knowledge of just how valuable truffles can be. Especially to the point of being auctioned off at Sotheby’s!  How could anything so ugly be so coveted?

The film by Michael Dweck & Gregory Kershaw features four octogenarian Truffle Hunter who live in a tiny village in Northern Italy. Each of them have been truffle hunting for last 50-60 years of their lives.  They know how and where to search for truffles deep in the forests, most often at night. One of the most important aspects of this business is a truffle hunting dog with an excellent sniffer. You think you love your dog, but this is a new level, these animals are completely honored and revered by their masters.

One of the best and oldest hunters has quit, he feels the industry has gotten too greedy, that there’s a lack of respect for the art of it all.  And that’s the thing, it is an art, but a dying artform; there doesn’t seem to be a new generation of hunters coming up, and none of these men have apprentices.

The problem I had with the film is – as wonderfully eccentric as these truffle hunters are, it’s not enough material for a whole documentary. It’s very slow and repetitive in may respects, although, often sweetly humorous.  I remember having burning questions that were not addressed in the doc, which I wanted to ask during the Q&A, but was not called upon. Only now, the questions have slipped my mind. 

I will say after the movie, I was dying to know what a truffle smelled and tasted like. Particularly smell, as that’s what the truffle lovers seemed to be obsessed with, the scent.  Of course, I had no way of getting my hands on a truffle.  Although, we enjoyed the truffle oil popcorn given out before the screening. I had to settle for traditional mushroom soup instead, at the restaurant across from the theater called Grub Steak – far nicer than the name would imply, and a very tasty soup!  Before I headed off to my screening of “Downhill”.

See excerpts of it all in below Video
TASTE OF SUNDANCE 2020 DAY 4:

Click HERE for #MiniMovieReview and Sundance World Premiere Q&A Video with co-directors and writers Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, Will Ferrell, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and the entire cast and crew of DOWNHILL

POST UPDATE: SUNDANCE DAY 5

It’s taken me much longer to finish posting all the coverage than anticipated. I got home and events, films, plays, Oscars etc… just kept coming at me.  Things are slowing up a little now due to the CoronaVirus (COVID-19) scare.  So I finally had time to finish my final video!  

TASTE OF SUNDANCE 2020 DAY 5:

The video contains a quick tour of the Condo I stayed in at Bear Hollow, great spot, only $85 a night and 15 minutes from Main Street. 

What I remember most about the last day was making sure I got back to the Condo in time to repack, cause I had brought a shit ton of stuff with me and it was all over my room and my plane left early the next morning.

        Le Anne Lindsay and Tamra Teig at SlamDance Headquarters

Secondly on my mind was getting an interview with one of my housemates Tamra Teig, she and her writing partner Michael Lipoma won the SlamDance Film Festival Grand Prize for Screenwriting and I wanted to be sure to include her in my Sundance Coverage.  But I really didn’t have time to research, prepare questions, rehearse as I typically do before an interview, and I was sweating to beat the band, having quickly climbed up the Main Street Hill to the SlamDance Headquarters with Tamra who is all long legs and half my size. So with the magic of editing. I pretty much cut myself out of the video.

But Tamra was great! She speaks passionately about their screenplay THE FALL a narrative feature which takes us behind the Berlin Wall shortly before its fall, and the personal story of a mother & son connected to the events of that historic happening.

Writers @TamraTeig & @Michael_Lipoma getting more love for winning the GRAND PRIZE at @Slamdance w/their script THE FALL– about how far an ordinary woman will go to save her child-set against the fall of the #BerlinWall. Congrats to #Producer @Bell_SV https://t.co/frG0lZ3K6G

— Hatline Productions (@HatLineTweets) October 13, 2019

Also, included in the day 5 video excepts of the Q&A for the World Premiere of Michael Almereyda’s TESLA starring Ethan Hawke about the life of 20th Century genius Nikola Tesla.
I had SO many things to talk about regarding this ridiculous movie, and had planned to write an in-depth review. But then I waited too long and have lost too much of the thread, but what I do remember : Ethan Hawke played Nikola Tesla with one tone, a sombre note.  The decision to often break the 4th wall while in strange set pieces and allowing the film to be both in the present and in past simultaneously, was completely unworkable. And so is the inexplicable moment when Tesla/Hawke breaks into singing, off key, Tears for Fears “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”  Jim Gaffigan as Westinghouse may as well have been doing an SNL skit. But mostly I didn’t understand why we experience most of the movie from the viewpoint of J.P. Morgan’s daughter?
I can’t say I know everything about Nikola Tesla from reading a couple of short bios and watching a doc or two on Youtube. But I do know that he stood for a vision of the future that wasn’t only about the science of science, but how it could or would affect society. He was more than an inventor or engineer, he studied the metaphysical aspects of our world. And none of that is conveyed in this movie at all.

---

Didn’t get to see it during Sundance, but super recommend
HORSE GIRL on Netflix starring Alison Brie!

Hey @danthefan keep forgetting to say, I watched Horse Girl @netflix & read your interview w/ dir. Jeff Baena Great piece! And I did very much dig the movie, you do know my taste. It’s a perfect start above ground and follow the rabbit hole type flick 👍🏿https://t.co/j60HvWRtB1

— Tinsel & Tine (@tinseltine) April 9, 2020

SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS

The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary was presented to: Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine, for Boys State / U.S.A. (Directors: Jesse Moss, Amanda McBaine, Producers: Amanda McBaine, Jesse Moss) — In an unusual experiment, a thousand 17-year-old boys from Texas join together to build a representative government from the ground up.

The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic was presented to: Lee Isaac Chung, for Minari / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Lee Isaac Chung, Producers: Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Christina Oh) — David, a 7-year-old Korean-American boy, gets his life turned upside down when his father decides to move their family to rural Arkansas and start a farm in the mid-1980s, in this charming and unexpected take on the American Dream. Cast: Steven Yeun, Han Yeri, Youn Yuh Jung, Will Patton, Alan Kim, Noel Kate Cho.

The World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Documentary was presented to: Hubert Sauper, for Epicentro / Austria, France, U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Hubert Sauper, Producers: Martin Marquet, Daniel Marquet, Gabriele Kranzelbinder, Paolo Calamita) — Cuba is well known as a so-called time capsule. The place where the New World was discovered has become both a romantic vision and a warning. With ongoing global cultural and financial upheavals, large parts of the world could face a similar kind of existence.

The World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic was presented to: Massoud Bakhshi, for Yalda, a Night for Forgiveness / Iran, France, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg (Director and screenwriter: Massoud Bakhshi, Producers: Jacques Bidou, Marianne Dumoulin) — Maryam accidentally killed her husband Nasser and is sentenced to death. The only person who can save her is Mona, Nasser’s daughter. All Mona has to do is appear on a TV show and forgive Maryam. But forgiveness proves difficult when they are forced to relive the past. Cast: Sadaf Asgari, Behnaz Jafari, Babak Karimi, Fereshteh Sadr Orafaee, Forough Ghajebeglou, Fereshteh Hosseini.

The Audience Award: U.S. Documentary, Presented by Acura was presented to: Nicole Newnham and Jim LeBrecht, for Crip Camp / U.S.A. (Directors: Nicole Newnham, Jim LeBrecht, Producers: Sara Bolder, Jim LeBrecht, Nicole Newnham) — Down the road from Woodstock in the early 1970s, a revolution blossomed in a ramshackle summer camp for disabled teenagers, transforming their young lives and igniting a landmark movement.

The Audience Award: U.S. Dramatic, Presented by Acura was presented to: Lee Isaac Chung, for Minari / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Lee Isaac Chung, Producers: Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Christina Oh) — David, a 7-year-old Korean-American boy, gets his life turned upside down when his father decides to move their family to rural Arkansas and start a farm in the mid-1980s, in this charming and unexpected take on the American Dream. Cast: Steven Yeun, Han Yeri, Youn Yuh Jung, Will Patton, Alan Kim, Noel Kate Cho.

The Audience Award: World Cinema Documentary was presented to: Jerry Rothwell, for The Reason I Jump / United Kingdom (Director: Jerry Rothwell, Producers: Jeremy Dear, Stevie Lee, Al Morrow)  — Based on the book by Naoki Higashida this immersive film explores the experiences of nonspeaking autistic people around the world.

The Audience Award: World Cinema Dramatic was presented to: Fernanda Valadez, for Identifying Features (Sin Señas Particulares) / Mexico, Spain (Director: Fernanda Valadez, Screenwriters: Fernanda Valadez, Astrid Rondero, Producers: Astrid Rondero, Fernanda Valadez, Jack Zagha, Yossy Zagha)  ― Magdalena makes a journey to find her son, gone missing on his way to the Mexican border with the US. Her odyssey takes her to meet Miguel, a man recently deported from the U.S. They travel together, Magdalena looking for her son, and Miguel hoping to see his mother again. Cast: Mercedes Hernández, David Illescas, Juan Jesús Varela, Ana Laura Rodríguez, Laura Elena Ibarra, Xicoténcatl Ulloa.

The Audience Award: NEXT, Presented by Adobe was presented to: Heidi Ewing, for I Carry You With Me / U.S.A., Mexico (Director: Heidi Ewing, Screenwriters: Heidi Ewing, Alan Page Arriaga, Producers: Mynette Louie, Heidi Ewing) — An epic love story spanning decades is sparked by a chance encounter between two men in provincial Mexico. Based on a true story, ambition and societal pressure propel an aspiring chef to leave his soulmate and make the treacherous journey to New York, where life will never be the same. Cast: Armando Espitia, Christian Vázquez, Michelle Rodríguez, Ángeles Cruz, Arcelia Ramírez, Michelle González.

The Directing Award: U.S. Documentary was presented to: Garrett Bradley, for Time / U.S.A. (Director: Garrett Bradley, Producers: Lauren Domino, Kellen Quinn, Garrett Bradley) Fox Rich, indomitable matriarch and modern-day abolitionist, strives to keep her family together while fighting for the release of her incarcerated husband. An intimate, epic, and unconventional love story, filmed over two decades.

The Directing Award: U.S. Dramatic was presented to: Radha Blank, for The 40-Year-Old Version / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Radha Blank, Producers: Lena Waithe, Jordan Fudge, Radha Blank, Inuka Bacote-Capiga, Jennifer Semler, Rishi Rajani) — A down-on-her-luck New York playwright decides to reinvent herself and salvage her artistic voice the only way she knows how: by becoming a rapper at age 40. Cast: Radha Blank, Peter Y. Kim, Oswin Benjamin, Reed Birney, Imani Lewis, TJ Atoms.

The Directing Award: World Cinema Documentary was presented to: Iryna Tsilyk, for The Earth Is Blue as an Orange / Ukraine, Lithuania (Director: Iryna Tsilyk, Producers: Anna Kapustina, Giedrė Žickytė) — To cope with the daily trauma of living in a war zone, Anna and her children make a film together about their life among surreal surroundings.

The Directing Award: World Cinema Dramatic was presented to: Maïmouna Doucouré, for Cuties / France (Director and screenwriter: Maïmouna Doucouré, Producer: Zangro) — Amy, 11 years old, meets a group of dancers called “Cuties.” Fascinated, she initiates herself to a sensual dance, hoping to join their band and escape family dysfunction…Cast: Fathia Youssouf, Médina El Aidi-Azouni, Esther Gohourou, Ilanah Cami-Goursolas, Myriam Hamma, Maïmouna Gueye.

The Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: U.S. Dramatic was presented to: Edson Oda, for Nine Days / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Edson Oda, Producers: Jason Michael Berman, Mette Marie Kongsved, Matthew Lindner, Laura Tunstall, Datari Turner) — In a house distant from the reality we know, a reclusive man interviews prospective candidates—personifications of human souls—for the privilege that he once had: to be born. Cast: Winston Duke, Zazie Beetz, Benedict Wong, Bill Skarsgård, Tony Hale, David Rysdahl. Dolby Institute Fellowship

A U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast was presented to: the cast of Charm City Kings, for Charm City Kings / U.S.A. (Director: Angel Manuel Soto, Screenwriters: Sherman Payne, Chris Boyd & Kirk Sullivan, Barry Jenkins, Producers: Caleeb Pinkett, Clarence Hammond, Marc Bienstock) — Mouse desperately wants to join The Midnight Clique, the infamous Baltimore dirt bike riders who rule the summertime streets. When Midnight’s leader, Blax, takes 14-year-old Mouse under his wing, Mouse soon finds himself torn between the straight-and-narrow and a road filled with fast money and violence. Cast: Jahi Di’Allo Winston, Meek Mill, Will Catlett, Teyonah Parris, Donielle Tremaine Hansley, Kezii Curtis.

A U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award: Auteur Filmmaking was presented to: Josephine Decker, for Shirley / U.S.A. (Director: Josephine Decker, Screenwriter: Sarah Gubbins, Producers: Christine Vachon, David Hinojosa, Sue Naegle, Sarah Gubbins, Jeffrey Soros, Simon Horsman) — A young couple moves in with the famed author, Shirley Jackson, and her Bennington College professor husband, Stanley Hyman, in the hope of starting a new life but instead find themselves fodder for a psycho-drama that inspires Shirley’s next novel. Cast: Elisabeth Moss, Michael Stuhlbarg, Odessa Young, Logan Lerman.

A U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award: Neo-Realism was presented to: Eliza Hittman, for Never Rarely Sometimes Always / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Eliza Hittman, Producers: Adele Romanski, Sara Murphy) — An intimate portrayal of two teenage girls in rural Pennsylvania. Faced with an unintended pregnancy and a lack of local support, Autumn and her cousin Skylar embark on a brave, fraught journey across state lines to New York City. Cast: Sidney Flanigan, Talia Ryder, Théodore Pellerin, Ryan Eggold, Sharon Van Etten.

A U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Editing was presented to: Tyler H. Walk, for Welcome to Chechnya / U.S.A. (Director: David France, Producers: Alice Henty, David France, Askold Kurov, Joy A. Tomchin) — This searing investigative work shadows a group of activists risking unimaginable peril to confront the ongoing anti-LGBTQ pogrom raging in the repressive and closed Russian republic. Unfettered access and a remarkable approach to protecting anonymity exposes this under-reported atrocity–and an extraordinary group of people confronting evil.

A U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Innovation in Non-fiction Storytelling was presented to: Kirsten Johnson, for Dick Johnson Is Dead / U.S.A. (Director: Kirsten Johnson, Screenwriters: Nels Bangerter, Kirsten Johnson, Producers: Katy Chevigny, Marilyn Ness) — With this inventive portrait, a cameraperson seeks a way to keep her 86-year-old father alive forever. Utilizing moviemaking magic and her family’s dark humor, she celebrates Dr. Dick Johnson’s last years by staging fantasies of death and beyond. Together, dad and daughter confront the great inevitability awaiting us all.

A U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Emerging Filmmaker was presented to: Arthur Jones, for Feels Good Man / U.S.A. (Director: Arthur Jones, Producers: Giorgio Angelini, Caryn Capotosto, Aaron Wickenden)  — When indie comic character Pepe the Frog becomes an unwitting icon of hate, his creator, artist Matt Furie, fights to bring Pepe back from the darkness and navigate America’s cultural divide.

A U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Social Impact Filmmaking was presented to: Elyse Steinberg, Josh Kriegman, and Eli Despres, for The Fight / U.S.A. (Directors: Elyse Steinberg, Josh Kriegman, Eli Despres, Producers: Elyse Steinberg, Josh Kriegman, Eli Despres, Maya Seidler, Peggy Drexler, Kerry Washington) — Inside the ACLU, a team of scrappy lawyers battle Trump’s historic assault on civil liberties. As the president separates families, blocks abortion access, expels transgender soldiers, and rolls back voting rights, these gutsy attorneys struggle to stop an unpredictable adversary with unlimited resources.

A World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting was presented to: Ben Whishaw, for Surge / United Kingdom (Director: Aneil Karia, Screenwriters: Rupert Jones, Rita Kalnejais, Producers: Julia Godzinskaya, Sophie Vickers) ― A man goes on a bold and reckless journey of self-liberation through London. After he robs a bank he releases a wilder version of himself, ultimately experiencing what it feels like to be alive. Cast: Ben Whishaw, Ellie Haddington, Ian Gelder, Jasmine Jobson.

A World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Visionary Filmmaking was presented to: Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese, for This Is Not A Burial, It’s A Resurrection / Lesotho, South Africa, Italy (Director and screenwriter: Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese, Producers: Cait Pansegrouw, Elias Ribeiro) — When her village is threatened with forced resettlement due to reservoir construction, an 80-year-old widow finds a new will to live and ignites the spirit of resilience within her community. In the final dramatic moments of her life, Mantoa’s legend is forged and made eternal. Cast: Mary Twala Mhlongo, Jerry Mofokeng Wa Makheta, Makhoala Ndebele, Tseko Monaheng, Siphiwe Nzima.

A World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Best Screenplay was presented to: Fernanda Valadez amd Astrid Rondero, for Identifying Features (Sin Señas Particulares) / Mexico, Spain (Director: Fernanda Valadez, Screenwriters: Fernanda Valadez, Astrid Rondero, Producers: Astrid Rondero, Fernanda Valadez, Jack Zagha, Yossy Zagha)  ― Magdalena makes a journey to find her son, gone missing on his way to the Mexican border with the US. Her odyssey takes her to meet Miguel, a man recently deported from the U.S. They travel together, Magdalena looking for her son, and Miguel hoping to see his mother again. Cast: Mercedes Hernández, David Illescas, Juan Jesús Varela, Ana Laura Rodríguez, Laura Elena Ibarra, Xicoténcatl Ulloa.

A World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Creative Storytelling was presented to: Benjamin Ree, for The Painter and the Thief / Norway (Director: Benjamin Ree, Producer: Ingvil Giske) — An artist befriends the drug addict and thief who stole her paintings. She becomes his closest ally when he is severely hurt in a car crash and needs full time care, even if her paintings are not found. But then the tables turn.

A World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Cinematography was presented to: Mircea Topoleanu and Radu Ciorniciuc, for Acasa, My Home / Romania, Germany, Finland (Director: Radu Ciorniciuc, Screenwriters: Lina Vdovii, Radu Ciorniciuc, Producer: Monica Lazurean-Gorgan) — In the wilderness of the Bucharest Delta, nine children and their parents lived in perfect harmony with nature for 20 years–until they are chased out and forced to adapt to life in the big city.

A World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Editing was presented to: Mila Aung-Thwin, Sam Soko, and Ryan Mullins, for Softie / Kenya (Director and screenwriter: Sam Soko, Producers: Toni Kamau, Sam Soko) — Boniface Mwangi is daring and audacious, and recognized as Kenya’s most provocative photojournalist. But as a father of three young children, these qualities create tremendous turmoil between him and his wife Njeri. When he wants to run for political office, he is forced to choose: country or family?

The NEXT Innovator Prize was presented to: Heidi Ewing, for I Carry You With Me / U.S.A., Mexico (Director: Heidi Ewing, Screenwriters: Heidi Ewing, Alan Page Arriaga, Producers: Mynette Louie, Heidi Ewing) — An epic love story spanning decades is sparked by a chance encounter between two men in provincial Mexico. Based on a true story, ambition and societal pressure propel an aspiring chef to leave his soulmate and make the treacherous journey to New York, where life will never be the same. Cast: Armando Espitia, Christian Vázquez, Michelle Rodríguez, Ángeles Cruz, Arcelia Ramírez, Michelle González.

The following awards were presented at separate ceremonies at the Festival:

SHORT FILM AWARDS Presented by Southwest Airlines®
Jury prizes in short filmmaking were awarded at an earlier ceremony in Park City on January 28. The Short Film Grand Jury Prize was awarded to So What If The Goats Die / France, Morocco (Director and screenwriter: Sofia Alaoui). The Short Film Jury Award: U.S. Fiction was awarded to -Ship: A Visual Poem / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Terrance Daye). The Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction was awarded to The Devil’s Harmony / United Kingdom (Director: Dylan Holmes Williams, Screenwriters: Dylan Holmes Williams, Jess O’Kane). The Short Film Jury Award: Nonfiction was awarded to John Was Trying to Contact Aliens / U.S.A. (Director: Matthew Killip). The Short Film Jury Award: Animation was presented to Daughter / Czech Republic (Director and screenwriter: Daria Kashcheeva). A Short Film Special Jury Award for Acting was presented to Exam / Iran (Director: Sonia K. Hadad, Screenwriters: Sonia K. Hadad, Farnoosh Samadi). A Short Film Special Jury Award for Directing was presented to Valerio’s Day Out / Colombia, U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Michael Arcos).

SUNDANCE INSTITUTE | ALFRED P. SLOAN FEATURE FILM PRIZE
The 2020 Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize, presented to an outstanding feature film about science or technology, was presented to Tesla. The filmmakers received a $20,000 cash award from Sundance Institute with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

The Sundance Institute | Amazon Studios Producers Award for Documentary Features went to Diane Becker and Melanie Miller of Fishbowl Films, for Whirlybird.

The Sundance Institute | Amazon Studios Producers Award for Narrative Features went to Huriyyah Muhammad for Farewell Amor.

The Sundance Institute | Adobe Mentorship Award for Editing Documentary went to Carla Gutierez and the Sundance Inst itute | Adobe Mentorship Award for Editing Narrative went to Affonso Gonçalves.

The Sundance Institute | NHK Award went to Kirsten Tan, from Singapore, for her film Higher.

This year’s jurors, invited in recognition of their accomplishments in the arts, technical craft and visionary storytelling, deliberated extensively before presenting awards from the stage; this year’s jurors were Rodrigo Garcia, Ethan Hawke, Dee Rees, Isabella Rossellini, Wash Westmoreland, Kimberly Reed, Rachel Rosen, Courtney Sexton, E. Chai Vasarhelyi, Noland Walker, Haifaa Al Mansour, Wagner Moura, Alba Rohrwacher, Eric Hynes, Rima Mismar, and Nanfu Wang. Gregg Araki was the sole NEXT juror.

ORIGINAL POST 1/12/2020
Here we go, heading to Sundance Film Festival (Jan 23 -Feb 2) for the first time! I hear there’s fun things to do the eve before the opening, so I’ll be arriving on January 22nd and then gotta get back to work so leaving Tues January 28, 2020.

Attending Sundance has been on my Bucket List of things to do since starting Tinsel & Tine in 2010. Thank you so very much to those of you who contributed to my GOFUNDME And Facebook Donations your support means more than the monetary value, it’s about being valued among community and friends, which is very touching.  Anyone else looking to touch me 😘 it’s not too late to donate.

First thing, I’ve been told the place to be is at THE BLACKHOUSE Events!  Which sell out immediately upon being announced.  It was recommended I download the app to get a leg up, but it’s only for iPhones not android 🙁

As a Sundance attendee with press credentials we are given 10 tickets to any of the films and told when to sign in an place our orders.  I was on top of it and logged in exactly at the appointed hour with my list all ready to go, but still got shut out of a few films which sold out so quickly!  And because it’s timed, I was rushing and accidentally chose the wrong day for one film, not noticing before checking out.  Now I have 2 competing films. Which the press office said it may be possible to exchange once I arrive to collect my tickets.

But as strange as it sounds, the films are secondary to what I’m looking forward to. I kinda wanna just take in the whole vibe and leave a lot of time for panels and conferences.  The majority of films screened at Sundance 2020 will be added to the Philly press screening list eventually during the rest of the year, so while it’s fun to see them early, I think trying to get interviews and being open to the moment will be more important.

Here’s a great event happening during Sundance which unfortunately takes place the day I depart …

Independent Filmmaker Day – Tues Jan 28th

Rubenstein Business Law and Artists United present Independent Filmmaker Day During the Sundance Film Festival. Independent Filmmaker Day is a private day-long event held alongside premier film festivals ~ such as Cannes, Sundance, and TIFF ~ that fosters the development, production and promotion of projects in film, media and beyond.

We help independent creators from around the world develop new projects, connect within the industry, and champion collaborative and impactful storytelling at all stages. At each event, you will hear from acclaimed industry experts concerning screenwriting, producing, funding, marketing, music, post-production, and distribution.

We also feature a rapid-fire Pitch Competition, Expert Roundtables, and an After-Party to add new professionals to your network.

Hosted at the acclaimed Hotel Park City just minutes from Main Street in Park City, Utah, our event will feature a series of panel discussions, keynote addresses and debates on a wide range of timely topics of interest to independent filmmakers and content creators.

All panels are moderated by Corky Kessler, voted “Best Entertainment Lawyer in the United States.” Produced by Eric Vollweiler.

If you’re planning to be at Sundance Week 2 – Check Out the Schedule of Events and Register

Check back to this page for all things Sundance related – videos, mini movie reviews, commentary, interviews etc…  But for more immediate coverage be sure to follow Tinsel & Tine on social media – Twitter Facebook Instagram LinkedIN