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:

Call Jane Banks Weaver

With ‘Call Jane,’ Phyllis Nagy Delivers a By-the-Book Abortion Drama

By   

The lackluster first feature from the ‘Carol’ screenwriter follows the story of an underground abortion clinic in 1960s Chicago.

Speak No Evil

‘Speak No Evil’ Delivers a Brutal Commentary on Blanket Kindness

By   

Most of you are going to hate this movie.

Dakota Johnson in Cha Cha Real Smooth

‘Cha Cha Real Smooth’ Finds Laughs and Pain After College

By   

Cooper Raiff delivers another winner with his thematic follow-up to 2020’s ‘Shithouse.’

When You Finish Saving The World Sundance

‘When You Finish Saving the World’ Wants You Out of Your Head

By   

Jesse Eisenberg’s feature directorial debut is an exhausting bout between mother and son, sold by Julianne Moore and Finn Wolfhard’s captivating anti-chemistry.

After Yang Sundance

‘After Yang’ is Science Fiction Deeply Rooted in the Human Adventure

By   

Kogonada’s sophomore feature is a relentlessly pristine experience, but one that is ultimately warm and throbbing with life.

Sundance Atmosphere Main Street

The Best Movies We Saw at Sundance 2021

By   

Of the more than 70 features at the festival, these are our favorites, including the latest from Ben Wheatley and the first from Questlove.

Sundance Egyptian Marquee

Where to Watch the Movies of the 2021 Sundance Film Festival

By   

You could have watched this year’s program from the comfort of your home. But if you didn’t, we’ve got a guide to how to watch them in the future.

Sundance 2021: Land

Robin Wright’s ‘Land’ is a Bland Portrait of the Grieving Process

By   

Wright’s directorial debut might capture the beauty of Wyoming but the story will put you to sleep.

Sundance 2021: The World To Come

The Frustrating Beauty of ‘The World to Come’

By   

Despite its amazing performances and stunning cinematography, Mona Fastvold’s romantic drama can’t shake off the overdone tropes about lesbian relationships.