Inside the 2024 Sundance Film Festival: An Exclusive Photo Portfolio
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January wasn’t even over before a picture of what the year in culture might look like became strikingly clear. Below the snowy mountains of Park City, Utah, the 40th edition of the Sundance Film Festival brought cinephiles, movie makers, and stars alike together to take in dozens of narrative films, shorts, documentaries, and special events—OK, and the occasional trip down the slopes—that not only helped shape a sense of the coming year’s most interesting and important storytelling, but also honored the storied festival’s past as a launching pad for some of the most meaningful films and filmmakers in the world.
“Over four decades, Sundance has evolved into the leading festival of discovery in the world and the greatest showcase for up-and-coming writers, directors, actors and talent,” says Eugene Hernandez, the festival’s new director, who was helming his first year. “To see how the Sundance name has become synonymous with what’s new and about to happen in film is so exciting for us as an institute and a festival. Each January we find that sense of renewal and vitality when we meet the new group of filmmakers that we’ve invited to the festival.”
This year’s class of talent was a mix of newcomers and familiar faces; Malia Obama premiered her debut short, The Heart, and veterans like Steven Soderbergh and Richard Linklater both screened new films. Town & Country was on the ground to capture some of the people whose work made the 40th edition of Sundance both a tribute to the festival’s legacy and also assure its bright future.
“There are more than 40 years of films and filmmakers populating Sundance’s rich history and the festival gives us a chance to connect, re-connect, and engage our alums and our emerging artists,” Hernandez tells us. “That annual sense of renewal is truly powerful.”
Emilia Jones
Jones, who at 21 years old is already the fest's reigning champ, having previously starred in CODA and Cat Person, was back at the festival with Winner, a political drama about whistleblower Reality Winner directed by Susanna Fogel.
Raúl Domingo and Colman Domingo
The couple are producers of It's What's Inside, a thriller directed by Greg Jardin.
Dylan O'Brien, River Gallo, and Victoria Pedretti
This trio stars in Ponyboi, a New Jersey-based modern mob movie written by Gallo and directed by Esteban Arango, alongside a cast that also includes Murray Bartlett and Indya Moore.
Eugene Hernandez
Hernandez, who is in his first year as festival director, says, "It’s a responsibility we take seriously, finding and showcasing the best and brightest of independent storytelling."
Judith Light
Light stars in Out of My Mind, a coming-of-age drama directed by Amber Sealey.
Judith Light and Phoebe-Rae Taylor
Taylor stars in Out of My Mind as Melody, a sixth grader with cerebral palsy who finds that even though she's non-verbal, she doesn't have to stifle her voice.
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Ejiofor wrote and directed Rob Peace, a biopic based on the book by Jeff Hobbs. He also stars in the movie, alongside festival breakout Jay Will and Camila Cabello.
Richard Linklater
Linklater was in Park City for screenings of Hit Man, which he directed, as well as episodes of the series God Save Texas, which he produced.
Glen Powell
Powell stars in Hit Man, which will premiere on Netflix June 7. He also co-wrote the script with Linklater and is one of the film's producers.
Leslie Grace
Grace stars in In The Summers, a family drama directed by Alessandra Lacorazza Samudio that won the festival's U.S. Grand Jury Prize and Directing Award.
Renate Reinsve and Thea Hvistendahl
Reinsve, the star of The Worst Person in the World, had two films in this year's festival: director Thea Hvistendahl's Handling the Undead, a horror that reunited the actress with her Worst Person costar Anders Danielsen Lie; and A Different Man, a drama directed by Aaron Schimberg.
Maddie Ziegler, Megan Park, and Maisy Stella
Park directed Ziegler and Stella in My Old Ass, the director's second film, which also features Aubrey Plaza and Percy Hynes White and sold to Amazon MGM Studios out of the festival for a reported $15 million.
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