Sundance Film Festival 2010 from A to Z

PARK CITY — One of the Sundance Film Festival's biggest hits was "Napoleon Dynamite," the 2004 comedy about a clueless doofus, played by BYU grad Jon Heder.

It's easy to be befuddled by — and to feel clueless about — the festival itself. Even those who have been to the independent-cinema phenomenon in previous years can find themselves overwhelmed by all the people, all the movies and all the resulting chaos that Hollywood and the rest of the world bring to Utah for nearly two weeks in January.

Don't panic, though.

There are helpful festival volunteers who are trained to aid the confused. And here is an A-to-Z guide featuring a few hints to help you navigate — and survive — Sundance 2010. (This year's event runs Jan. 21-31 in a variety of Park City and Salt Lake locations.)

A IS FOR A-LISTERS. As usual, there are some big names associated with several Sundance movies. Among them are television stars Chace Crawford ("Gossip Girl") and Kiefer Sutherland ("24"), and rapper-turned-actor Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, who are all part of the ensemble cast of "Twelve." Ben Affleck, Kevin Costner and Tommy Lee Jones play men trying to survive corporate downsizing in "The Company Men."

B IS FOR BUSES. And shuttles. Given the extremely limited amount of parking in Park City, you will need to use public transportation to get from screening venue to screening venue. Plus, you never know who you'll see on one of the festival shuttles.

C IS FOR CAMERAS. The eyes of the world will be on Utah for two weeks, thanks to the festival. And two films — "Smash His Camera" ad "Teenage Paparazzo" — both focus on the tabloid media.

D IS FOR DIRECTORS. While such Sundance veterans as Gurinder Chadha, Alex Gibney, David Guggenheim and Michael Winterbottom are returning to the festival, more than 40 first-time filmmakers will see their works screened for audiences.

E IS FOR ESCAPE. As overcrowded as Park City can be during Sundance, it usually provides a sunny, clean-skied respite from the Salt Lake Valley's usual smogginess.

F IS FOR FILMS, OBVIOUSLY. According to festival programmers, there were more than 3,700 features submitted for this year's event. Of these, 113 made the cut (82 are world premieres).

G IS FOR GEMS.While big-name premieres tend to draw the audiences, such delights as "(500) Days of Summer," "An Education" and "Precious" debuted last year's festival.

H IS FOR HORRORS. The documentary "Cane Toads: The Conquest" examines a continuing Australian environmental catastrophe. Several films in the festival's Park City at Midnight section have strong horror themes as well, including the comic serial killer tale "Tucker & Dale vs. Evil."