Meet these artists, and so many more, at the 2025 #Sundance Film Festival. See you there! pic.twitter.com/4YIxxlWs90
— Sundance Film Festival (@sundancefest) January 23, 2025
The Sundance Film Festival 2025 is set to showcase a diverse lineup of films featuring stars like Jennifer Lopez, John Malkovich, and Lily Gladstone. The festival opens on Thursday with in-person screenings in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah. Select films and events will also be available for streaming across the U.S. starting January 30.
1 day left until the 2025 Sundance Film Festival!
It's all happening! pic.twitter.com/sdAzjk9x2S
— Sundance Film Festival (@sundancefest) January 22, 2025
This year’s lineup includes 88 feature films and seven episodic titles from around the world, most of which are international premieres. Nearly half of the films are by first-time filmmakers. The festival kicks off with premieres of 15 features and a short film program spread across four venues.
Participant will withdraw a film from #Sundance2025 it spent millions and years making, after the director screened a secret new cut at CAA to critics. Juicy scoop from @MattDonnelly. https://t.co/raTyYkVcGO
— Ramin Setoodeh (@RaminSetoodeh) January 22, 2025
The initial lineup includes documentary debuts about actress Marlee Matlin, Ukraine’s 2023 counteroffensive against Russia, John Lennon & Yoko Ono, dating in China, and comedian Paul Reubens. Some of the featured narrative films include “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” starring Jennifer Lopez and Diego Luna, “The Thing With Feathers,” starring Benedict Cumberbatch, and “The Wedding Banquet,” starring Lily Gladstone and Bowen Yang. The documentary lineup covers a wide range of topics, from profiles of celebrities like Sly Stone and Sally Ride to explorations of house music’s origins and the challenges faced by librarians defending their institutions from book banners.
One of the anticipated controversies is around “The Stringer,” a documentary that questions the ownership and ethics behind a significant photograph by retired AP photographer Nick Ut.
Star-studded lineup opens Sundance 2025
AP and Ut’s lawyers have requested its removal from the program, yet the festival director, Eugene Hernandez, intends to move forward, recognizing the importance of the ensuing conversation.
While starting in 2027, the festival will largely leave Park City, possibly moving to Salt Lake City, Boulder, Colorado, or Cincinnati, Ohio. The final decision is expected in early 2025. Despite this impending change, Hernandez remains optimistic about the remaining years in Park City.
Access to Sundance films no longer requires a trip to Park City. The festival has embraced an online component, allowing audiences to stream films from Jan. 30 through Feb.
2. Ticket prices range from $35 for a single film to $800 for unlimited access. With an expansive range of documentaries and narrative films, Sundance 2025 promises to offer a diverse and engaging lineup for audiences worldwide.
The festival not only celebrates seasoned filmmakers but also serves as a platform for emerging voices in the industry.