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Sundance

This page is home to our coverage of the Sundance Film Festival.

The Sundance Film Festival is the largest independent film festival in the United States, taking place every year in January in Park City, Utah. It was founded in 1978 as the Utah/US Film Festival and re-named the Sundance Film Festival in 1991, after Robert Redford’s character from the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

Film School Reject has had the honor of covering Sundance since 2008, two years after our site was founded. Over the years, we’ve discovered a number of amazing films in Park City — from our first review of 2008’s In Bruges to our listing of the 25 Best Sundance Movies of All-Time in 2015 to our 2019 list of the 50 Best Sundance Horror Movie Premieres to our discoveries of Swiss Army Man and Hunt for the Wilderpeople and The Witch at Sundance 2016 — we’ve spent over a decade reviewing hundreds of wonderful independent films.

We have also covered (on numerous occasions) what it’s like to cover Sundance for those who aren’t lucky enough to make the trip. And for those interested in filling their yearly watchlists, we’ve also recapped our favorites with a festival-closing list (in almost every year). Check out our archive of Sundance favorites via the links below:

Explore the entire archives of our annual Sundance Film Festival coverage below:

Karen Gillan and Karen Gillan in Dual

‘Dual’ is a Battle Between Stellar Premise and Wobbly Execution

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Karen Gillan struggles against herself in the latest from the director of ‘Faults’ and ‘The Art of Self Defense.’

Aubrey Plaza in Emily The Criminal

‘Emily the Criminal’ Teaches a Low-Key Masterclass in Tension

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Aubrey Plaza shines in a criminally adjacent Los Angeles.

Alice Movie Sundance Review

‘Alice’ is an Uneasy But Bold Reckoning with America’s Grotesque “History”

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The less you know about it, the better, but it’s probably already too late for you.

Sharp Stick Bernthal and Froseth

‘Sharp Stick’ Marks a Confusing Return for Lena Dunham

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Dunham is back with her first movie in over a decade.

Laura Galán in Piggy

‘Piggy’ Delivers a Stark But Thrilling Condemnation of Bullying

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Justice comes for teenage bullies, and only their victim holds the key to their survival.

Honk For Jesus Save Your Soul

‘Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul.’ is Two Movies When It Should Be One

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But you can’t be too mad about its structural sin when you have Sterling K. Brown and Regina Hall quietly waging war with each other.

Maika Monroe in Watcher

‘Watcher’ Chases Maika Monroe With Uncertainty and Dread

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It seems Maika Monroe is being followed once again. Or is she?

We Need To Talk About Cosby

‘We Need to Talk About Cosby’ Reckons with the Two Bill Cosbys

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This Showtime docuseries from W. Kamau Bell is an invitation to discuss a painful betrayal beyond its headlines and tweets.

Fresh Sundance Sebastian Stan

‘Fresh’ is a Shocking Trojan Horse That Commits to the Bit

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It may not work as social commentary horror, but Mimi Cave’s feature debut is still an over-the-top delight for anyone willing to roll with its surprisingly dark punches.