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:

Downhill

Nat Faxon and Jim Rash on Exploring the Theatrical in ‘Downhill’

By   

We chat with the directors about taking on a beloved Swedish film and delivering their twist on the material.

Promising Young Woman

Bo Burnham on the Unrepeatable Audacity of ‘Promising Young Woman’

By   

We talk with the actor about his desire to participate in ‘Promising Young Woman’ even when he struggled to comprehend its tone.

Run Sweetheart Run

‘Run Sweetheart Run’ Is a Horror Film With Purpose That Fails On Both Counts

By   

Maybe walk to watch ‘Sweetheart’ instead?

Possessor

Holy Hell, ‘Possessor’

By   

Brandon Cronenberg is a bloodied and bruised chip of flesh off the ol’ body horror block.

Kajillionaire

Miranda July Extends Her Reign as Queen of Quirk with ‘Kajillionaire’

By   

Few filmmakers take us further from stale storytelling while somehow remaining relatable.

Relic

‘Relic’ Is Horror That’s Terrifying, Real, and Ultimately Beautiful

By   

Like Mike Flanagan before her, Natalie Erika James is a filmmaker who flawlessly blends terrifying horror with the ache of humanity.

Falling

Viggo Mortensen Captures Poignant Character Study in Directorial Debut ‘Falling’

By   

Who’d have thought Lance Henriksen would be Viggo Mortensen’s muse.

The Night House

‘The Night House’ Will Leave You Screaming

By   

The director of ‘The Ritual’ returns with something far more frightening.

Promising Young Woman

‘Promising Young Woman’ Upends Expectations In Dark, Demented, and Delirious Ways

By   

As funny as it is tragic, as powerful as it is necessary.