Director pulls 'The Garden' documentary

A friendly heads-up to anybody attending the Sundance Film Festival: Don't call your local scalper in search of tickets to "The Garden."

The documentary about life in Madison Square Garden was pulled out of the festival on Friday — a day before it was scheduled to premiere at the Broadway Centre Cinemas in Salt Lake City.

The decision to withdraw was made by the film's director, Frederick Wiseman, because "unresolved issues between me and Madison Square Garden" exist, he said in a statement released by the festival.

If you're wondering, no, it won't be replaced by a documentary about the Utah Jazz's abode called "The Center."

Three films will fill in for "The Garden" — "Matandos Cabos" today at 3:45 p.m. at Broadway 5; festival opener "Happy Endings" with Lisa Kudrow and Tom Arnold at Holiday Village in Park City on Monday at 4 p.m.; and Pierce Brosnan's "The Matador" next Saturday at 7 p.m. at Holiday Village.

Patrons can use their hard ticket to attend the replacement screenings or they can receive a voucher at the theater to be exchanged for another screening. For more information and festival scheduling updates, visit www.sundance.org.

John Cooper, Sundance's director of programming, said movies have backed out, but "it's pretty rare." He added that Wiseman is still in town and will talk about the documentary, which was the festival's longest movie (196 minutes).

LOCAL JEWELS: As usual, celebrities, filmmakers and important film industry types will receive more than their fair share of loot. And this year's "Ultimate Comfort Bag," with luxurious products valued at about $50,000, will include some products made in Utah.

Relax, it's not a green Jell-O mold or leftover Olympic pins. The swag bags will come with custom-designed jewelry from Tres Jolie, an Alpine-based company founded in 2002 by Utah designers Lori Boyd, Kristen Mikesell and Sonya Stucki. Their hand-beaded jewelry has sold in Nordstrom stores for the past couple of years.

SUUNDANCE: One of the award-winning productions to premiere at the film festival this year was made here in Utah.

A commercial promoting the Utah Film Commission and filmmaking in the Beehive State to be shown between film screenings was made by staff and students from Southern Utah University. It was selected as one of the top eight commercials of the 115 entered, resulting in a $1,500 prize, a trophy, festival passes and Utah Film Commission memorabilia.