Sundance director touts lineup
Film festival entries especially strong this year, he says
While that did make him sound less like a festival director than a publicist or a soda-pop pitchman, perhaps it also demonstrates his surprising enthusiasm for this year's slate of movies.
In fact, Gilmore said the films compare favorably with any Sundance programming in the 17 years he's been involved with the festival.
"This might sound rehearsed, or like the same old platitudes," Gilmore said by phone from the Sundance Institute's Beverly Hills offices, "but I'm genuinely pleased by the quality of our films. This is as strong a year as we've seen in quite some time."
Gilmore and other members of film-festival programming committee screened more than 4,000 features and shorts submitted by filmmakers some 5,000 hours of film. And as he proudly notes, nearly half of those films came from countries outside the United States.
"It's always a goal for this festival to showcase as many different voices as possible," Gilmore said, adding that he has done a lot of international travel to ensure that there's an international presence at Sundance.
Only about a 20th of all the films submitted got into the festival, and one of those is the documentary "Chicago 10," which makes its debut in Park City's Eccles Theatre tonight.
The centerpiece of the Opening Night festivities, "Chicago 10" re-creates with animation parts of the 1968 Democratic Convention and the riots that followed, and employs such celebrity voices as Hank Azaria, Nick Nolte and Roy Scheider.
Salt Lake City will host its own gala on Friday in the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, with the premiere of "Away From Her," a drama written and directed by Sarah Polley and starring Julie Christie and Olympia Dukakis.
The two films show that there can be very different sides to the festival selections, according to Gilmore.
On one hand, "Chicago 10" is indicative of Sundance's sense of social consciousness. "It's representative of several films in this year's festival, which are very much aware of world events and our global community and have been given free rein to voice their concerns and comments," he said. (Which no doubt pleases outspoken and socially conscious Sundance Institute President Robert Redford, who is expected to join Gilmore and other festival officials attending tonight's event.)
As for "Away From Her," Gilmore described the film as a more intimate, character-driven story. "It's a story about love that could have been gone wrong in less skillful hands. It doesn't adhere to the usual, expected formulas. It also shows there's a great variety to our programming."
Comments
- Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal 7:25 p.m.
- 'Drop Dead Diva' is frothy fun 6:14 p.m.
- Look for face of God in others 6:14 p.m.
- Bishop on a mission 6:14 p.m.
- Vail's mountain cross inspiring 6:14 p.m.
- Religion briefs 6:14 p.m.
- Teachings on adultery after Sanford 6:14 p.m.
- Church camps closing doors 6:14 p.m.
- Religion around the world 6:14 p.m.
- Did daughter not pay for car? 6:13 p.m.
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- Jazz talking Boozer trade?
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
- Jazz in back of line for free agents
- A primer for the 6th Potter film
- Okur signs two-year extension
- Jazz won't meet Lopez on Europe trip
- Restaurant destroyed by fire
- Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal
- Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Letters: Palin mistreated
141 - Teachers struggle with district cuts
137 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
135 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - LDS seminary principal arrested
109 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
92 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74 - Letters: Single-payer system best
71
I hope you realize that implicit in your post is an admission that BYU fans...
So, teams are making moves, and folks want the Jazz to do the same. ...
That is all there is too it but all signs indicate the Jazz are going to pay...
You are kidding right? It's not "just churches in Utah" that have wide...
Time for leaders to lead with inspiration and not to be impressed with smooth...
I don't mind giving up Boozer. I mind locking Millsap in at PF for the next...
Posted a long time ago...dude, what are you on? It's dated July 10th. That...
I have known people that live a double life doing extreme good in an effort...
To me, Portland has paid too much money for this Paul Millsap. And my fellow...
Folks love their violence. How about a fight to the death? It's coming.


You can be the first to comment on this story.