Last week was an intense week. Once again I covered Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, and once again it was a week full of strong impressions and great movies. With something in the close range of 200 films being displayed it’s almost despairing, knowing no matter what you will only be able to see a handful of the lot. So you do your best to pick the ones you think will be the best, and you know you will miss some many. But that’s just the game of any film festival. Having done this for almost the tenth time now, we do get better at picking the right ones, but still it isn’t possible to get to all the ones you pick, simply because the puzzle of time schedules and venues won’t fit together. And this time we even slowed down a bit and finally «only» watched a little less than 30 movies. Still enough to make your brain go dead and feel oversaturated, so much that one would think we would have had enough movies for some time. But guess what, I had hardly gotten back from Sundance Film Festival before I put on a DVD…
The whole experience of a film festival is quite exhausting, but it’s also incredible inspiring. You see so much creativity and cutting edge artwork almost on an explosive level that it makes your own creative mind go skyrocketing. It’s truly what Julian Cameron calls replenishing the creative well.
My four favourite movies from this year’s Sundance Film Festival are:
The Crash Reel – A documentary about the almost fatal accident of half-pipe legend Kevin Pearce and his recovery.
Stoker – Probably the best vampire movie I have ever seen. Very subtle, very intelligent and with beautiful cinematography.
The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman – A bizarre, dark and beautiful love story, as well as a story about finding a meaning to life.
Don Jon’s Addiction – A hilarious funny movie about sexual archetypes and why relationships often end up being screwed up.
In Flow with Otto 
Cool photos of the festival! Thanks for the heads up on the films. My daughter, who was in that area of Utah not long ago was telling me about Stoker. I’m looking forward to seeing it.
Stoker was quite exceptional. Hopefully it won’t take too long before it reaches the cinemas.
thanks for taking us along! z
And thanks for stopping by, Liza.
Glad to see some of the film titles to look out for. And you are so right. Watching movies does open up the creative well. I hadn’t watched a movie in awhile and had a Netflix movie that’s been on the TV stand for four (4) months! I finally watched it yesterday, Monsoon Wedding, and the colors and street scenes of India were an awakening to my mind.
Yes, Monsoon Wedding is a beautiful movie. Loved it. For me 4 months without watching a movie is unheard of. I probably watch at least threes movies a week, but often more. 🙂
This is so awesome and it’s great you got to go too. 😀
Thank you for your comment.
Thank you for sharing your time at the Sundance film Festival with us.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
Thanks, Francine.
Wow! Aren’t you lucky to be at Sundance? Thanks for the info and sharing. I love movies but my limit is 2 a day.
Appreciate also your dropping by and liking my post.
Blessings!
Thanks, likewise. I don’t really have a limit per day. It all comes down to available time, and so far the record is 7 in one and the same day.
I so wish I could have been there. I love film! I write reviews at times, but most of the time I share about my son with Autism or my own battle overcoming a brain tumor. You are one lucky guy!
Being at Sundance is indeed quite an experience for any film lover. I wish all the best for you and your son.
Otto, I’m so jealous you got to go again this year! One day, I will do this. It’s on my list of things I want to experience. Thanks for giving the heads up on notable films. I will look out for them when they are released in the Bay Area.
Park City isn’t that far away from the Bay Area, but I guess it comes down to timing as well… Hopefully some of the movies will be release not too long into the future.
Thanks for taking us with you
And thanks for coming along. 🙂
I’m a film lover, member in a “cineforum” we watch at least once a week a movie in a theater and we discuss it after. Sundance? What a dream, maybe one day…
robert
Would be fun to see you over here one day, Robert.
you had a fun background for your photos – nice sharp contrast
Thank you, Carla.
Oh, how fun to hear some recommended films from you. Noted. : )
Thank you for being interested, Karen.
I’m so glad to now have a few of your recommendations. I absolutely cannot imagine what it would be like to see almost 30 movies in a short period of time. Wow! It’s also of note to learn that you have been doing this for a decade. That’s impressive, too. I enjoyed the photos, and Mia Wasikowska and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are two of my younger favorites, so it’s nice to see their work highlighted! 🙂
Well, you have a movie to look forward to… As for watching 30 movies over a week; the watching is only fun, it’s getting from one venue to another in time that is the stressful part.
Oh boy…I envy you. I would have loved to have been at this festival. Sounds like so much fun.
It is really completely fun. And of course crazy.
Thanks for the recommendations Otto. I don’t know how you managed to squeeze in 30 movies. I’ve been to a few film festivals and after a few days I get to a state of overload and can’t remember what I’ve seen. Even three movies over a weekend is sometimes too much for me. I guess its something you learn?
I don’t know if it’s something you learn, maybe I just have a natural talent. I can keep watching movies till I fall asleep.
well, now i am looking forward to Nicole K. in Stoker…really fantastic review, thanks, Otto. ❤
I hope – and think – you will enjoy Stoker when it gets released. 🙂
sounds great! 🙂
Grand to learn of your passion for Sundance. Without Robert Redford’s vision we probably would never have the tiny gem “Beast of the Southern Wild,” which is a profound commentary on the human condition–executed with grace and tenderness. I have an acquaintance who has been attending Sundance for years. Originally drawn just to meet Redford, which she did. Now she has a group that goes and they (as you) must juggle their instincts about the films to see. I know that your creative juices must have been (and are) bubbling. You did not mention the spiritual effects of the landscape. The Southwest is one of my favorite parts of my country–breathtaking and tear-inducing inspirational. Oh, and thanks for adding to the USA economy.
I think you are right about Redford, and, yes, Breast of the Southern Wild is a great film. I also agree with you as to the beauty of the Southwest, particularly a bit further south than Park City it’s stunning.
A great assignment! Thanks for the heads up on movies to watch!
And thank for the feedback, Elena.
Looks like a great opportunity! I know that you were thrilled to be able to attend!
Absolutely, Phillip, it was a thrilling experience.
A feast for the mind and eyes, what a wonderful “job” ! I could use a good comedy, I will keep my eyes open for Don Jon’s Addiction.
Every so often I do enjoy my work. 🙂
I would hope so.
Hmmm, interesting movies. Stoker sounds like it might be cool. That’s an awesome shot you got there too!
Thank you, I appreciate your comment.
Too many good movies thats for sure. I’m making an ever expanding list of good movies that I’ve seen. http://cardinalguzman.wordpress.com/movies/
I am always looking for good movies, although I probably shouldn’t – I already have a collection of more than 2000 titles at home… So far I haven’t had time to look at your list, but I will get back to it.
You are blessed to see most of only dream my friend. Exciting pictures and narration of the events.
I do see that I am quite lucky to be able to do a lot of the stuff I do. Thank you for your comment.
How exciting for you to be in the eye of Sundance, and to come away with skyrocketing levels of creativity!
(I get goosebumps when I think of what happened to Kevin Pearce – he and his family are incredible.)
Thank you, Patti. Yes, Pearce and family are quite some extraordinary people.
Okay, I want to know how the heck you have the job you have! I am so jealous! (But happy for you, of course! Thanks for sharing these photos!)
How did I get the job I have? I don’t even know myself…
Thanks for the movie recommendations! Park City, Utah is a piece of heaven on earth. Sounds like Park City, Utah during Sundance Film Festival is heaven on earth doubled.
I am not sure about this heaven. It’s too crazy during Sundance Film Festival, but it’s definitely great fun.
Nice! But sometimes i wonder, so many people loves totravel by airplane…:-) I never took pics from airplane….
I think it can be fun to take pictures from airplanes although most of the time they don’t turn out very well.
As ever Otto, thanks for your recent visit…and on the subject of visits, I was delighted to read about the Sundance Festival – it sounds like you had a creative and stimulating few days.
Those were indeed stimulating days. Thanks for you comment, George.
I subscribe to Sundance and get notices to view many of the movies… i can hardly keep up with them too. But how wonderful to actually go to Utah for it. 🙂
Maybe time to go one day? 🙂
oooh I love Joseph Gordon-Levitt … I recently did a post on him, as well. I traveled to D.C to see one of his hitRECord shows … he’s fantastic! ❤ Thanks for sharing, I wished you showed more.
I believe you will enjoy Don Jon’s Addiction. It’s always a delicate balance between posting enough and not boring the readers, isn’t it?
Hope you enjoyed it and that you were able to get some skiing in. You were in my neck of the woods (Salt Lake CIty), but I didn’t make it to the film festival again this year.
Of course I fly into Salt Lake City to go to Park City. Fun to know that’s where your base is. Unfortunately we couldn’t go skiing this year because my partner had a foot injury.
nice to be in contact. and thanks for the movie info!
Thank you for your comment.
Looks like a great time. Thanks for sharing your experience with those of us who might never get to live the event ourselves!
Thank you, Linda.
Thoroughly enjoyable take on the Festival, Otto. A friend of a friend produced a movie that made it to this same festival – One Night in Seattle. I haven’t heard her “report” yet.
Would be fun to hear how Sundance looks like from a producer’s side.
She’s Shawna Lynn Cox on FB. I don’t think her Page is very active – CanadianFilmGirl.
Good job! Of course, your work is always top notch.
Thanks a lot. 🙂
What a great experience that must have been!
What can I say but: Yes it was. 🙂
Thanks, Otto, for the inside account. I see more of my country and its iconic events through your eyes than I ever have a chance (or the finances) to visit.
I thoroughly enjoy the fact that I can show you parts of your country that you haven’t had a chance to visit yet.
30 movies! I don’t know how you manage it, Otto. I go to the Cleveland Film Festival every year and after two days and six films, my mind and body (all that sitting) have had enough. I know what you mean about trying to juggle the schedules to see what you want to see. It’s always great fun, though, and I agree about it “replenishing the creative well.” Love your images. Thank you for the tips on the films. I’ll look for them at the Cleveland Film Festival this year. 🙂
As said before it’s only fun for me, although I have to admit that at the end of the festival the different movies start to become one. 🙂
I can’t wait to see The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman. Glad to see you touch on it in the blog post!
Thank you, it’s a great movie.
Sounds like a wonderful time…I will check out those films!
🙂
Never heard of Sundance festival.. Don’t watch too many movies but really want to watch searching for sugarman
I on the other hand don’t know anything about this movie. 🙂
What a great set of images – it looks like you’ve had a wonderful time! I particularly love the last image. I like the connection between Matthew Goode and the lens. The warm tones and colour treatment are brilliant too.
Thank you for you feedback. It’s very much appreciated. And yes, I did have a great time.