Sundance: The Story is Utah

The films, a term collectively used to describe the ever-evolving forms of visual media showcased, are the expressions of love, hate, want, need, beauty, pain, destruction and creation of their writers, producers, directors, actors and all others committed to bringing their art to these enthusiastic audiences. With this in mind, it is no surprise that founder, Robert Redford, chose Utah as the Festival’s physical and spiritual home, a place that attracts explorers and adrenaline junkies, that is both cosmopolitan and ancient, grounded and revolutionary.

This is a story about the Sundance Film Festival and why filmmakers and audiences come here but, as cinema’s famed investigative reporter and philosopher, Irwin M. “Fletch” Fletcher, pronounced before getting out of Los Angeles to find the answer to his mystery, “The story is Utah.”

I used to tell people it was because of the Q&A. Following many Sundance movies, the producers, directors, production staff and/or cast members stand in front of the screen and describe the inspirations, challenges and, often, very funny stories that went into the creation of the film. Then, they field questions from anyone in the audience. Some even stick around after that to continue the conversation and take photographs. (You can tell a lot about your relationship if you send a selfie with Jon Hamm to your husband at work, and he tells you to have a good time. FYI — Mr. Hamm is one of the nicest and, indeed, most freakishly good-looking people at the Fest.)

The Q&A can, also, fill in plot gaps for the audience and even the director. In fact my friend Julie once asked a director about a final scene in a terrific thriller that didn’t connect. Despite his meticulous writing, shooting and editing, the director’s (slightly surprised expression and non-condescending) answer followed by a collective “Ahhh!” from the audience likely prompted him to make a simple edit so the connection was clear before its general release.

The audience in the mountains of Utah rewards risk takers. The best compliment around here is, “That was a Sundance movie!” Sundancers want to feel the rush of hearing a new story — such as 2018’s heart-pounding, genre-defying “Sorry to Bother You” — or an old one told differently, a new face or a recognized one playing against type, like watching Oscar® winner Lupita Nyong’o and definitely-not-Disney’s-Olaf Josh Gad herd kindergarteners and hurl insults while avoiding zombies in an Australian petting zoo in the dark comedy and, yes, love story, “Little Monsters.” Like the downhill skiers, mountain bikers or hikers that live and laugh and play in Utah, audiences here crave the adventure of the nostalgic unknown. 

There must be something in the air.

This is why the story is Utah.

When driving up the canyon to the Festival in Park City or down the interstate to Zion National Park, people are awestruck. As a resident, you just pinch yourself to remind you it’s real and how doggone lucky you are; as a filmmaker or Instagrammer, you cannot help but feel inspired to capture what makes it so unique or to create something entirely new. The canvas is bigger, the paints are more numerous and luminous, and the subjects cannot be found anywhere else in the world. For Sundance audiences and filmmakers, the Story is Utah, one with many visions and interpretations and where revolutions are encouraged.

For tickets, schedules, trip-planning tips, merchandise and more, make use of the Sundance's festival website.