Sundance Film Festival, the power to help us forget and remind us what's important, is here again.

So, if you plan on writing off the festival as merely another year of coating Park City in Hollywood pomp, paparazzi and circumstance, then you're missing the perennial point.

This year it's a festival that can help us forget about Wall Street's bailout, blunders and golden parachutes or our goofy auto industry and its obscenely rich bosses flying around in private jets while begging our government for money.

It's simple entertainment that gives us a break from echoes of the 2008 economy, its still-rising unemployment rate, whacko stocks and wimpy dollar value that all but force us to live vicariously through films that take us somewhere else.

Sundance is the start of a new year, a time for its movies and documentaries to remind viewers of the struggles, lifestyles and unique beauty of countries and cultures outside of the festival's wealthy, decadent and powerful host country.

But Sundance is, as always, about far less important things than serious filmmaking.

We all know by now the focus for us industry outsiders shouldn't necessarily be to seek out the pretty and handsome stars who slip into Utah once a year to ski, party, see Temple Square (not necessarily in that order) and, oh yeah, to promote their films.

Still, if you have to lower yourself to hunting for celebs, I'll be right there shivering with you. It'll be a little like ice fishing with a buddy. So dress warm and bring your patience.

Me: "Man, it's cold out here."

You: "I can't feel my feet."

Me: "Hey, is that Ashton Kutcher?"

You: "It can't be. My camera isn't ready!"

Me: "Dang. There he goes."

You: "Missed another one."

Me: "My nose won't stop running."

You: "Look! It's Sandra Bernhard!"

Me: "Who?"

You: "Oh, never mind. She's gone already."

Me: "It's so cold, my butt has gone numb."

If you're lucky, you'll leave Park City having bagged a few B-list so-and-sos and maybe a big catch to round out your stringer of prized shots. Picture Billy Bob Thornton, Mickey Rourke, Kim Basinger and Winona Ryder coming out of the Red Banjo on Main Street. It could happen.

Once you get that out of your system, consider what this year's festival offers in the form of films being shown in Park City, Salt Lake City and Ogden.

Sundance got rolling last night with a flick done in claymation animation. "Mary and Max" exposes viewers to obesity issues through a "chubby" girl and a 44-year-old Jewish man who has Asperger's syndrome.