The highly anticipated 2025 Sundance Film Festival is set to showcase a diverse array of films and documentaries, featuring renowned talents and emerging voices in independent cinema. The festival, now in its 41st year, will kick off on Jan. 23 in Park City, Utah, with 87 feature films premiering.
Among the highlights of the festival are performances by Jennifer Lopez in Bill Condon’s “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” Questlove exploring the legacy of Sly & The Family Stone, and Mstyslav Chernov's latest documentary on the war in Ukraine.
Sundance has always been a platform for storytelling that engages with urgent issues and offers a space for free expression. This year's lineup includes narratives and documentaries touching on topics such as transgender stories, incarceration, and book banning.
Documentaries have always been a focal point at Sundance, sparking conversations that often extend into the Oscar race. Notable documentaries this year include Chernov's “2000 Meters to Andriivka,” “Free Leonard Peltier,” and Barry Levinson and Robert May’s series “Bucks County, USA.”
The festival will also feature star-studded performances to watch out for, including Benedict Cumberbatch in “The Thing with Feathers,” Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones in “Train Dreams,” and John Lithgow and Olivia Colman in “Jimpa.”
Over 40% of the selected films are directorial debuts, showcasing new voices in the industry. Notable debuts include Rachael Abigail Holder's “Love, Brooklyn” and Rashad Frett’s “Ricky.”
For film enthusiasts unable to attend the festival in person, about 60% of the program will be available online starting on Jan. 30. This provides a unique opportunity to experience the festival's offerings from the comfort of home.
As the festival looks towards the future, there are plans to explore new host cities starting in 2027, with finalists including Salt Lake City, Boulder, and Cincinnati. An official announcement is expected in the first quarter of 2025.
