Sundance 2018: 16 buzz titles for buyers

As buyers head to Park City for the annual jamboree in the snow, Screen takes a look at several titles likely to spark interest.

The Sundance Film Festival runs from January 18-28 in Park City, Utah.

Read more: Sundance buyers could be more cautious this year

American Animals
Dir: Bart Layton
Layton, whose documentary The Imposter won the Grand Jury World Cinema Documentary prize at Sundance in 2012, turns his hand to the heist genre in his fiction debut. The story is based on the true story of four men who, under the delusion that they are characters in a movie, commit one of the boldest heists in American history. Evan Peters heads up the cast, and is joined by Barry Keoghan (a former Screen Star of Tomorrow), Blake Jenner, Anne Dowd and Udo Kier. UTA Independent Film Group represents US rights and Sierra/Affinity handles international sales.
Contact: sales@unitedtalent.com

Blindspotting
Dir: Carlos López Estrada
Music video director López Estrada brings his feature debut to Park City, from writers Daveed Diggs (Hamilton) and Rafael Casal. Diggs and Casal also star as two young men in a semi-autobiographical film about growing up in Oakland; a buddy comedy in a world that won’t let it be one. Snoot Entertainment (Blair Witch, The Guest) produced and Endeavor Content represents worldwide rights.
Contact: Endeavor Content, info@endeavorcontent.com

Colette
Dir: Wash Westmoreland
Wash Westmoreland (Still Alice) directs this film based on the true story of French novelist Colette (Keira Knightley), whose early works were published under her husband Willy’s name. However, as her confidence grows, his success begins to grate on her and she seeks her independence. The film is a co-production between Number 9 Films, Killer Films and Bold Films. Jeremy Thomas’ HanWay Films is handling international sales and CAA and Endeavor Content represent US rights.
Contact: HanWay Films, info@hanwayfilms.com, filmsales@caa.com, info@endeavorcontent.com

Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far On Foot
Dir: Gus Van Sant
Van Sant’s drama is based on quadriplegic cartoonist John Callahan’s memoir. Joaquin Phoenix stars as the alcoholic Callahan, who wakes up one day after a drinking session to find himself permanently wheelchair-bound as the result of a car accident. In his journey back from rock bottom, Callahan finds beauty and comedy in the absurdity of human experience. An all-star cast includes Rooney Mara, Jonah Hill, Jack Black and Mark Webber. Amazon Studios holds worldwide rights.

Eighth Grade
Dir: Bo Burnham
Indie darling A24 (Lady Bird, Moonlight) produced and has distribution rights to comedian and singer Bo Burnham’s directorial debut. Kayla (Elsie Fisher) endures the tidal wave of contemporary suburban adolescence as she makes her way through the last week of middle school. Josh Hamilton also features.
Contact: A24, kate@a24films.com

Genesis 2.0
Dir: Christian Frei, Maxim Arbugaev
Oscar nominee Frei’s third film to debut at Sundance sees him co-directing with newcomer Maxim Arbugaev. This documentary (which Frei produces through his own company, Christian Frei Film Productions) shows Siberian hunters looking for mammoth tusks, and the clone researchers who are drawn to their discoveries. Rise And Shine has acquired international sales rights.
Contact: Rise And Shine, www.riseandshine-berlin.de

The Happy Prince
Dir: Rupert Everett
First announced in 2012, veteran actor Everett’s directorial debut will finally bow at Sundance this year. The film is about the last days of writer Oscar Wilde, played by Everett, who also wrote the screenplay, and has played Wilde on stage. Also starring are Colin Firth and Emily Watson. Beta Cinema handles international sales and CAA represents the US.
Contact: Beta Cinema, beta@betacinema.com; CAA, filmsales@caa.com

Holiday
Dir: Isabella Eklöf
Eklöf’s feature-length debut is a co-production between Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands. It portrays a love triangle featuring the trophy girlfriend of a petty drug lord, caught up in a web of luxury and violence in a modern dark gangster tale set in the beautiful port city of Bodrum on the Turkish Riviera. Behind the production is Apparatur Film; the Danish Film Institute has also provided funding. International sales are to be announced.
Contact: Kathleen McInnis, k.mcinnis@see-throughfilms.com

Leave No Trace
Dir: Debra Granik
Granik directs her first fiction feature since Winter’s Bone, a Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic Film winner at Sundance 2010. Bron Studios’ Leave No Trace is based on the novel by Peter Rock. Ben Foster (Hell Or High Water) and newcomer Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie star as a father and daughter living in isolation in a nature reserve in Oregon. When a small mistake tips their existence off to authorities, they are sent on a journey in search of a new home.
Contact: Endeavor Content, info@endeavorcontent.com

Lizzie
Dir: Craig William Macneill
The Boy director Macneill brings the true story of the murder of Lizzie Borden’s family in 1892 in Fall River, Massachusetts, to Sundance. Chloë Sevigny stars as Borden, and is joined by Kristen Stewart, Kim Dickens and Denis O’Hare. Powder Hound Pictures, Artina Films and Destro Films share production, while US sales are in the hands of The Gersh Agency and Endeavor Content. The Solution Entertainment Group represents worldwide sales.
Contact: Destro Films, liz.destrofilms@gmail.com

Matangi/Maya/M.I.A.
Dir: Stephen Loveridge
Loveridge’s documentary about Sri Lankan rapper and activist M.I.A. has been long-awaited. It was originally slated for a 2013 release to coincide with her album “Matangi”, but Loveridge leaked the trailer and abandoned the project, returning to complete it months later. Cinereach (The Florida Project, Beasts Of The Southern Wild) is producing, while Dogwoof recently came on board for international sales rights. Cinetic Media represents US rights.
Contact: Cinetic Media, office@cineticmedia.com

Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind
Dir: Marina Zenovich
Zenovich, who won a Sundance editing award documentary prize in 2008 for Roman Polanski: Wanted And Desired, returns to Park City with a portrait of one of the world’s best-loved comedians. Alex Gibney’s Jigsaw Productions produces.
Contact: Jigsaw Productions, info@jigsawprods.com

Rust
Dir: Aly Muritiba
Muritiba is one of Brazil’s most sought-after young directors. Rust is his second feature, after 2015’s To My Beloved, which was nominated for awards at Montréal World and San Sebastián International Film Festivals. Tifanny Dopke and Giovanni de Lorenzi star as Tati and Renet, who have traded pics, videos and music through their phones and start to make eye contact on the last school trip. However, what could be the beginning of a love story becomes an end.
Contact: Grafo Audiovisual, antonio@grafoaudiovisual.com

Shirkers
Dir: Sandi Tan
In 1992, Sandi Tan shot a road movie in Singapore with her friend Georges, who then vanished with all the footage. In the present day, the film is recovered, sending Tan on a personal journey across two continents. Cinereach supported the film and the producers are Tan, Jessica Levin and Maya Rudolph. Submarine handles worldwide sales.
Contact: Submarine, info@submarine.com

Three Identical Strangers
Dir: Tim Wardle
Wardle’s directorial debut is a documentary about three complete strangers from New York in 1980 who discover that they are identical triplets separated at birth. This revelation catapults them to fame but also unlocks an extraordinary and disturbing secret. RAW productions provided funding, Submarine represents worldwide sales, and CNN Films holds US broadcast rights.
Contact: Submarine, info@submarine.com

Yardie
Dir: Idris Elba
Elba is yet another British actor putting himself behind the camera for the first time, in this instance with an adaptation of Victor Headley’s 1992 novel Yardie. Aml Ameen (former Screen Star Of Tomorrow: Brits In LA Star of Tomorrow, The Maze Runner) stars as ‘D’ a young Jamaican who arrives in 1980s London and uncovers revelations about his earlier life in Jamaica that set him on a path to justice. Naomi Ackie (Lady Macbeth) also stars. Studiocanal handles worldwide sales.
Contact: Studiocanal, Anna.MARSH@canal-plus.com.