The Sundance Film Festival is a cinematic paradise for indie film lovers and a breeding ground for some of the most innovative voices in the industry. We’re now only days away from the event which occurs every January in Park City, Utah. This city transforms into a hub for filmmakers, critics, and enthusiasts eager to witness the next big thing in cinema.
From debut directors making waves to seasoned auteurs unveiling their latest masterpieces, Sundance is where the pulse of the film world can be felt most acutely. But with so many films premiering, it can be overwhelming to decide what to watch. That’s where we come in. The following is a list of must-see films to check out at the festival. Whether you’re a seasoned festival-goer or a first-timer navigating the snowy streets with a hot cocoa in hand, the Sundance lineup never fails to deliver a mix of poignant documentaries, experimental features, and groundbreaking narratives.
US DRAMATIC COMEPETITION
Love, Brooklyn
Rachael Abigail Holder’s feature debut, Love, Brooklyn, is a heartfelt exploration of friendship, love, and identity set against the gentrifying streets of Brooklyn. André Holland, who never fails to deliver (just watch Sundance’s pick from last year Exhibiting Forgiveness) provides a standout performance as Roger, a charming free spirit whose playful bravado is tested by Nicole (DeWanda Wise), a grounded single mother who refuses to indulge his evasions. Nicole Beharie shines as Casey, whose evolving relationship with Roger is as layered as her struggle to preserve her art gallery amidst Brooklyn’s shifting cultural landscape. Nicole, played by Wise is a single mother dealing with the recent passing of her husband and hasn’t quite let go of the past in spite of her new relationship with Roger. Meanwhile, Roger still has a friendly relationship with his ex Casey (Beharie), and it’s clear there’s something still there.
Holland, Wise and Beharie respectively balance humor and emotional depth through complex, relatable dynamics. It’s a testament to their skills as performers how they can create chemistry in a unique way as a strong parallel to show the difference in these relationships. With its keen observations and charismatic performances, Love, Brooklyn is a love letter to Brooklynites, past and present, and a tribute to the resilience of friendships that weather life’s storms. If you want to see a film with an all-star cast that depicts a story filled with humor, wit, and heartfelt dialogue, do not miss Love, Brooklyn.
The film is available to screen in-person only. Click here for more information.
NEXT
By Design
If you’re interested in settling into something quirky and avant garde, then pop into the screening for By Design under the Next category at Sundance. Directed by Amanda Kramer, By Design is a kaleidoscopic tale filled with literary, cinematic, and performance art tropes wrapped in a sharp satire of illusion and fulfillment the characters cling to in their pursuit of meaning.
At the heart of the film is Camille (played to eccentric perfection by Juliette Lewis), a woman whose life revolves around friendships that double as monologues for others’ self-absorbed notions. Her journey takes an outrageous turn when she falls in love not with a person, but with a chair she can’t afford. Camille’s obsession with the chair consumes her, literally transforming her into the object of her desire.
We then meet Olivier (Mamoudou Athie), a suave piano player-for-hire, who becomes an unwitting participant in this peculiar narrative when the chair-turned-Camille is gifted to him by his ex. Through its surreal twists, By Design serves up biting commentary on materialism, relationships, and the absurdities of modern life, all while draped in Kramer’s signature wit and visual splendor.
The film is available to screen in-person only. Click here for more information.
SPOTLIGHT
April
If you’re looking for a film that is visually striking, filled with psychological and emotional landscapes and provides a profound exploration of its subject matter, then look no further than Georgian filmmaker Dea Kulumbegashvili’s compelling narrative April. The movie’s protagonist Nina (Ia Sukhitashvili), is an obstetrician at a maternity hospital in Eastern Georgia. After a difficult delivery, an infant dies and the father demands an inquiry into her methods. The scrutiny threatens to expose Nina’s secret side job — visiting village homes of pregnant girls and women to provide unsanctioned abortions. It’s pretty clear from Kulumbegashvili’s approach to filming that she wants these scenes to provoke a visceral reaction out of you. The birthing scenes are organic and raw, sounds like heavy breathing are amplified to increase the intensity of a scene. April also examines women’s rights and bodies and how they are controlled and imperiled by patriarchy and cultural oppression. The film is produced by Luca Guadagnino known for films such as Challengers, Call Me By Your Name and Suspiria. The character of Nina is deeply flawed, complex and multi-layered. It’s certainly a film that will garner a great deal of conversation longer after you’ve seen it. April also won the Special Jury Prize at the 2024 Venice Film Festival.
The film is available to screen in-person only. Click here for more information.
MIDNIGHT
Didn’t Die
Meera Menon’s Didn’t Die isn’t your typical zombie thriller. Equal parts biting satire and intimate drama, the film channels the existential dread of our pandemic era while delivering a heartfelt character study. Through the protagonist of Vinita (Kiran Deol), a podcast host clinging to the remnants of her audience during a zombie apocalypse, Menon crafts a story that is as much about human connection as it is about survival. George Basil brings a grounded performance as Vincent, adding tension and unexpected warmth to the narrative. His interactions with Vinita highlight the messy, complicated dynamics of relationships under extraordinary circumstances. Didn’t Die is a fresh, compelling entry in the zombie genre, blending the cerebral and the heartfelt with a distinctly millennial voice. It’s a tribute to George Romero’s legacy (specifically with its black and white cinematography) and a poignant reflection on the emotional toll of living through a crisis. Whether you’re drawn to zombie films for their thrills or their subtext, Menon’s thoughtful thriller delivers on all fronts.
The film is available to screen in-person only. Click here for more information.
PREMIERES
Move Ya Body: The Birth of House
If you’re interested in origin stories, notable documentaries that give historical insight on the landscape of music, you definitely need to check out the film Move Ya Body: The Birth of House. Directed by Elegance Bratton (The Inspection), the documentary explores the origins of house music, blending archival footage, intimate interviews, and a hypnotic soundtrack to trace the genre’s roots in Chicago’s underground scene. The doc is centered on Vince Lawrence, a geeky kid who embarked on a personal journey that would lead him to become the first person to record a house song. Bratton weaves together the stories of LGBTQ+ pioneers and marginalized voices who transformed gritty warehouses into spaces of liberation and joy. There’s also the tale as old as time as how white people colonized house music and co-opted it as their own, while the original creators never received the financial rewards or public recognition for their art. It also shows how the genre has made a comeback among popular artists of today. Featured interviews from house producer Marshall Jefferson and filmmaker Lena Waithe. The film is also executive produced by Roger Ross Williams. The story of Move Ya Body: The Birth of House is as much a love letter to house music as it is a reminder of its revolutionary power. A must-watch for music lovers and cultural historians alike.
The film is available to screen online and in-person. Click here for more information.
WORLD CINEMA DRAMATIC COMPETITION
Brides
Nadia Fall’s Brides is a raw and evocative drama that unravels the layers of tradition, identity, and resilience through the lens of two teenage girls standing on the threshold of a new chapter. Doe and Muna are looking to escape the past and pressures of their harsh family’s rules within their native country, the United Kingdom. The film deftly weaves together personal stories that challenge the notion of what it means to search for your own identity while dealing with demons of the past. It explores the intersection of tradition, identity, and self-discovery while taking you on a journey that at times leaves you on the edge of your seat. If you are interested in a story that deals with human connection, resilience, and the unspoken bonds then Nadia Fall’s Brides is worth your time. She has crafted a work that feels deeply personal and profoundly universal, making it a must-watch for anyone who appreciates stories with heart, depth, and authenticity.
The film is available to screen online and in-person. Click here for more information.
US DOCUMENTARY DRAMATIC COMPETITION
Selena Y Los Dinos
The tragic story of Selena Quintanilla is one many of us are quite familiar with. In the documentary Selena y Los Dinos, Isabel Castro invites audiences into the untapped world of Selena Quintanilla, providing a refreshing and new perspective on the life of the Tejano singer whose passion, charisma, and undeniable talent transcended cultural and musical boundaries. Returning to Sundance after the success of Mija (2022), Castro crafts an intimate celebration of Selena’s life and legacy, offering fans and newcomers alike an up-close look at the woman behind the icon.
Drawing from the Quintanilla family’s personal archive, the film features never-before-seen footage of Selena and her family band, Selena y Los Dinos, charting their meteoric rise from local quinceañeras to sold-out stadiums. Through these nostalgic home videos and candid interviews with those closest to Selena, Castro paints a vivid portrait of a performer who never lost sight of her roots or her family’s sacrifices. The warmth of home videos juxtaposes the whirlwind of fame, offering viewers a seat at the table with the Quintanillas. Castro doesn’t just chronicle Selena’s star power—she captures the joy, love, and humanity that made her a cultural phenomenon. If you want to see a new take on the life of this enigmatic artist, don’t miss out on Selena Y Los Dinos.
The film is available to screen online and in-person. Click here for more information.
WORLD CINEMA DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION
Khartoum
A town in East Africa, located in Sudan called Khartoum is plagued with war and its citizens become the victims of a terrorist regime which is narrated through their stories of trials and triumph in this provocative documentary. In the film Khartoum, the location where these stories take place, the viewer is taken on a journey through the lives of five participants. The participants as they are sharing their real-life tragic stories, are re-enacting them to the filmmakers. Sudan has a deep storytelling heritage which is the north star of what this film represents. It can be difficult to process at times, because among the participants are two young friends: Lokian and Wilson, who witness the atrocities of the RSF soldiers that torment and oppress the residents of Khartoum. The children go into graphic detail of what they experienced, which is something no child should ever have to endure. The film is a deeply personal exploration of diasporic identity by Sudanese filmmakers Anas Saeed, Rawia Alhag, Ibrahim Snoopy Ahmad and Timeea Mohamed Ahmed. British filmmaker Phil Cox is also a co-director of the documentary. If you’re interested in a story about heart-wrenching tales of resilience along with intimate portraits of humanity, Khartoum should be on your shortlist.
The film is available to screen online and in-person. Click here for more information.
How To Build A Library
Maia Lekow’s How to Build a Library captures the wonder and redefines what libraries mean in our evolving world. The movie examines the restoration of the McMillian Memorial Library. The white-only library based in Kenya was finally desegregated in 1958. Two Nairobi women unpack the cultural sanctuaries, community lifelines, and vessels of collective memory through their experience of restoration and development. Through Maia Lekow and Christopher King’s intimate storytelling and striking visuals, the directors celebrate the profound role libraries play in preserving history, fostering education, and empowering communities. How to Build a Library reminds us that libraries are more than buildings, they are bridges between generations, traditions, and ideas. In a world increasingly shaped by digital convenience, this documentary is a poignant reminder of the irreplaceable magic found within walls of books and shared knowledge. For the bookworms out there that still hold on to the nostalgia of the dewey decimal system, this is a film you don’t want to miss.
The film is available to screen online and in-person. Click here for more information.
EPISODIC
Hal & Harper
While Hal & Harper is not technically a film, we also like to check out episodics that premiere at Sundance. You never know what will pop off and become the next big series to hit streaming. Cooper Raiff has returned to Sundance from his Audience Award-winning film Cha Cha Real Smooth to bring his latest project Hal & Harper. In Hal & Harper, Raiff delivers yet another poignant, intimate narrative, this time exploring the delicate complexities of family ties. Centered on two siblings who view their codependence as a vital part of their relationship, Raiff crafts a deeply personal story that’s equal parts raw, relatable, and quietly revolutionary.
Raiff stars as Hal, alongside Lili Reinhart as Harper, in a tale that charts the evolution of their familial bond. Their father, Mark Ruffalo adds another layer to the story’s emotional core. Ruffalo’s performance is understated yet powerful, embodying a man whose guilt casts a long shadow over his children’s lives. His wry charm masks a deep well of remorse, grounding the film in a profound exploration of generational trauma and parental fallibility. If stories around family and the ties that bind them attract you, make sure you get into a screening for Hal & Harper.
The episodes are available to screen online and in-person. Click here for more information.
The 2025 Sundance Film Festival will take place from January 23 to February 2 in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah. Select screenings are available to screen in person and online. Happy screening!
