Sundance 2016: At a new festival, a return to names of old
Filmmaker Kevin Smith poses for a portrait to promote the film, “Yoga Hosers,” at the Toyota Mirai Music Lodge during the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 24.
Reporting from PARK CITY, Utah — It was just past midnight in Utah, and Kevin Smith was feeling nostalgic.
Dressed in his trademark oversized hockey jersey and backward ballcap, the raunch auteur took a stage at Sundance late Wednesday to introduce his new movie -- “Yoga Hosers,” a tween-centric Canadian satire filled with Nazis and sausages -- but soon found himself describing an earlier time.
“Twenty-two years ago tomorrow we had our final screening of ‘Clerks’ here,” he told the crowd, launching into a profanity-strewn story involving a blood-stained contract, potato skins and Harvey Weinstein. “We were the second film ever to be sold [in Sundance history],” he continued, then quipped of his new critically panned work, “Magic happened to me once here. It ain’t gonna happen here tonight.”
Smith has hardly been the only personality at Sundance to evoke the good old days. The festival, which continues through Sunday, has this year seen a large number of old-timers, legends and veterans.
Advertisement
Known as a perpetual haven for the young and the upstart, Sundance is feeling a little...classic. Many of the filmmakers unveiling their films in 2016 first made their mark in these Utah mountains decades ago -- giving the festival either a reassuringly or awkwardly throwback feel, depending on your point of view.
Among the major names debuting new work include Todd Solondz (first Sundance feature: 1995), Whit Stillman (first Sundance feature: 1990), Kelly Reichardt (first Sundance feature: 1994), Kenneth Lonergan (first Sundance feature: 2000) and Steven Soderbergh (first Sundance feature: 1989). In an election cycle characterized by a Bush and a Clinton, these filmmakers are doing their best to make sure cinema has its own version of a wayback machine.
“Maybe it is that experience counts for something?” Stillman, who debuted a Jane Austen adaptation called “Love & Friendship,” said, when a reporter suggested the theory. But he went on to say he wasn’t so sure; sometimes a director’s best film, he said, is their first. (He did note dryly that “there do seem to be a lot” of contemporaries in Park City.)
Advertisement
There are, to be sure, also plenty of directors this year in their 20’s and 30’s, people at far earlier points in their career, bringing a youthful energy. But the oxygen in this high-altitude town has largely been taken up by the veterans. With the exception of Nate Parker, the first-time director of the Sundance smash “The Birth of a Nation,” arguably no upstart filmmakers has broken out among the narrative films. Ground has instead been ceded to the elders.
1/196
Imogen Poots, from the film “Frank and Lola,” poses for a portrait in the L.A. Times photo & video studio at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
2/196
Imogen Poots poses for a portrait at the Sundance Film Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
3/196
Imogen Poots and director Matthew Ross from the film “Frank and Lola” pose for an L.A. Times photo at the Sundance Film Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
4/196
Louis Black and Karen Bernstein, filmmakers from the film “Richard Linklater: Dream Is Destiny,” in a portrait taken at the L.A. Times studio at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
5/196
Chris Hegedus, left, Steven Wise and D.A. Pennebaker of the film “Unlocking the Cage” pose for a portrait in the L.A. Times studio at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
6/196
Chris Hegedus, director of “Unlocking the Cage,” in a portrait at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
7/196
Jon Shenk, left, subject Daisy Coleman and Bonni Cohen, director from the film “Audrie & Daisy,” poses for a portrait in the L.A. Times photo & video studio at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
8/196
Vincent Piazza from the film “Intervention.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
9/196
Daisy Coleman, subject from the film “Audrie & Daisy.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
10/196
Director Clea DuVall from the film “Intervention.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
11/196
Michael Shannon from the films “Complete Unknown” and “Frank and Lola.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
12/196
Melanie Lynskey from the film “Intervention.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
13/196
Michael Shannon from the film “Complete Unknown.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
14/196
Ben Schwartz from the film “Intervention.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
15/196
Michael Shannon from the films “Complete Unknown” and “Frank and Lola.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
16/196
Jason Ritter, left, Ben Schwartz, Natasha Lyonne, Vincent Piazza, Clea DuVall, director, Melanie Lynskey from the film “Intervention.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
17/196
Ben Schwartz, left, and Jason Ritter from the film “Intervention.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
18/196
Jason Ritter from the film “Intervention.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
19/196
Aaron Brookner, director from the film “Uncle Howard.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
20/196
Executive producer/narrator Katie Couric, right, and filmmaker Stephanie Soechtig from the film “Under The Gun.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
21/196
Executive producer/narrator Katie Couric from the film “Under The Gun.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
22/196
Michael Shannon from the films “Complete Unknown” and “Frank and Lola.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
23/196
Amandla Stenberg from the film “As You Are.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
24/196
Michael Chernus, left, Michael Shannon and director Joshua Marston from the film “Complete Unknown.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
25/196
Michael Chernus, left, Michael Shannon and director Joshua Marston from the film “Complete Unknown.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
26/196
Danfung Dennis, filmmaker, and Casey Brown, producer from the virtual reality experience “Condition One.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
27/196
Ciro Guerra, writer-director from the film “Embrace of the Serpent.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
28/196
Josh Fox, director from the film “How to Let Go of the World and Love All the Things Climate Can’t Change.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
29/196
Christopher Waldorf, left, Chi Chi Mizrahi,, MikeQ, Twiggy Pucci Garçon, co-writer/subject, Sara Jordeno, writer-director, Gia Marie Love, Kenneth “Symba McQueen” Soler-Rios from the film “Kiki.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
30/196
Kahane Cooperman, showrunner/executive producer from the film “The New Yorker Presents.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
31/196
Frankie Shaw, director-writer stars in “Too Legit.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
32/196
Dawn Porter, director from the film “Trapped.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
33/196
Keith Fulton, director, Lou Pepe, director, Jennifer Coffield and A.J. Wright from the film “Bad Kids.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
34/196
Lou Pepe, left, and Keith Fulton, directors from the film “Bad Kids.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
35/196
Jennifer Coffield and A.J. Wright from the film “Bad Kids.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
36/196
Michael Villar from the film “Carnage Park.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
37/196
Mickey Keating, director from the film “Carnage Park.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
38/196
Rebecca Hall from the film “Christine.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
39/196
Tahir Jetter, director from the film “How to Tell You’re a Douchebag.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
40/196
Alex Ross Perry from the movie “Joshy.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
41/196
Jenny Slate from the movie “Joshy.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
42/196
Thomas Middleditch from the movie “Joshy.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
43/196
Nick Kroll, left, Brett Gelman, Thomas Middleditch, Adam Pally, Alex Ross Perry, Jenny Slate, Jeff Baena, director, and Lauren Weedman from the movie “Joshy.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
44/196
Jeff Baena, director, from the movie “Joshy.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
45/196
Paulina Garcia from the film “Little Men.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
46/196
Diego Luna, director of “Mr. Pig.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
47/196
Maya Rudolph, star of “Mr. Pig”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
48/196
Actors Danny Glover, from left, Maya Rudolph and “Mr. Pig” director Diego Luna.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
49/196
Writer-director Richard Tanne, from left, Tika Sumpter and Parker Sawyers, from “Southside With You.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
50/196
Tika Sumpter from “Southside With You.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
51/196
Actor Waleed Zuaiter from “The Free World.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
52/196
Writer-director Jason Lew, from “The Free World.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
53/196
Boyd Holbrook, from “The Free World.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
54/196
Elisabeth Moss, from “The Free World.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
55/196
Elisabeth Moss, from “The Free World.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
56/196
Boyd Holbrook, from left, Octavia Spencer, writer-director Jason Lew, Elisabeth Moss and Waleed Zuaiter, from “The Free World.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
57/196
Octavia Spencer, from “The Free World.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
58/196
Octavia Spencer, from “The Free World.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
59/196
Bobby Naderi, from “Under the Shadow.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
60/196
Bobby Nader, from “Under The Shadow.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
61/196
Jeff Daniels Phillips, right, and Richard Brake from the film “31.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
62/196
Ashley Bell, left, Pat Healy, Mickey Keating, Michael Villar and James Landry Hébert from the film “Carnage Park.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
63/196
Ashley Bell from the film “Carnage Park.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
64/196
Rebecca Hall from the film “Christine.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
65/196
Rebecca Hall and director Antonio Campos from the film “Christine.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
66/196
Dylan Gelula from the film “First Girl I Loved.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
67/196
Writer-director Kerem Sanga from the film “First Girl I Loved.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
68/196
Brianna Hildebrand, left, Kerem Sanga, writer-director, Brianna Hildebrand, Dylan Gelula and Mateo Arias from the film “First Girl I Loved.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
69/196
Brianna Hildebrand, left, Kerem Sanga, writer-director, Brianna Hildebrand, Dylan Gelula and Mateo Arias from the film “First Girl I Loved.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
70/196
Brianna Hildebrand from the film “First Girl I Loved.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
71/196
Mateo Arias from the film “First Girl I Loved.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
72/196
Mateo Arias from the film “First Girl I Loved.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
73/196
Thomas Middleditch from the movie “Joshy.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
74/196
Lauren Weedman from the movie “Joshy.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
75/196
Brett Gelman from the movie “Joshy.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
76/196
Adam Pally from the movie “Joshy.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
77/196
Nick Kroll from the movie “Joshy.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
78/196
Maya Rudolph from the film “Mr. Pig.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
79/196
Maya Rudolph from the film “Mr. Pig.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
80/196
Danny Glover from the film “Mr. Pig.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
81/196
Haerry Kim from the film “Spa Night.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
82/196
Haerry Kim, left, director Andrew Ahn and Joe Seo from the film “Spa Night.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
83/196
Director Andrew Ahn from the film “Spa Night.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
84/196
Joe Seo from the film “Spa Night.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
85/196
Asif Kapadia, filmmaker from “Ali & Nino,” poses for a portrait in the L.A. Times photo & video studio at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
86/196
Alysia Reiner, left, and Sarah Megan Thomas from the film “Equity.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
87/196
Alysia Reiner from the film “Equity.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
88/196
Sarah Megan Thomas from the film “Equity.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
89/196
Steven Caple Jr., writer and director for the film “The Land.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
90/196
Jorge Lendeborg Jr. from the film “The Land.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
91/196
Moises Arias from the film “The Land.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
92/196
Rafi Gavron, left, Ezri Walker, Steven Caple Jr., Moises Arias and Jorge Lendeborg Jr. from the film “The Land.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
93/196
Ezri Walker from the film “The Land.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
94/196
Moises Arias from the film “The Land.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
95/196
Yoshiki from the film “We are X.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
96/196
Stephen Kijak, left, and Yoshiki from the film “We are X.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
97/196
Co-directors Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg from the film “Weiner.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
98/196
Penelope Ann Miller from the film “The Birth of A Nation.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
99/196
Armie Hammer from the film “The Birth of A Nation.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
100/196
Gabrielle Union from the film “The Birth of A Nation.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
101/196
Gabrielle Union, left, Aja Naomi King, Armie Hammer, Nate Parker, director, Penelope Ann Miller and Jackie Earle Haley from the film “The Birth of A Nation.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
102/196
Nate Parker, director from the film “The Birth of A Nation.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
103/196
Jackie Earle Haley from the film “The Birth of A Nation.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
104/196
Aja Naomi King from the film “The Birth of A Nation.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
105/196
Jessie Kahnweiler, star-director-producer, from the film “The Skinny.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
106/196
Illeana Douglas, star-producer, left, Jill Soloway, executive producer, Rebecca Odes, executive producer, Jessie Kahnweiler, star-director-producer, and Andrea Sperling, producer, from the film “The Skinny.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
107/196
Jill Soloway, executive producer from the film “The Skinny.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
108/196
Jessie Kahnweiler from the film “The Skinny.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
109/196
Rebecca Odes, executive producer from the film “The Skinny.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
110/196
Illeana Douglas from the film “The Skinny.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
111/196
Illeana Douglas from the film “The Skinny.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
112/196
Andrea Sperling, producer from the film “The Skinny.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
113/196
DeWanda Wise from the film “How to Tell You’re a Douchebag.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
114/196
Jenna Williams, from the film “How to Tell You’re a Douchebag.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
115/196
Alano Miller, left, DeWanda Wise, Tahir Jetter, Charles Brice and producers Julius Pryor IV and Marttise Hill from the film “How to Tell You’re a Douchebag.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
116/196
Jennifer Ehle, from the film “Little Men.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
117/196
Jennifer Ehle, left, Michael Barbieri, Mauricio Zacharias, Paulina Garcia, Ira Sachs, director, Theo Taplitz and Greg Kinnear, from the film “Little Men.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
118/196
Greg Kinnear from the film “Little Men.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
119/196
Michael Barbieri, left, and Theo Taplitz from the film “Little Men.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
120/196
Director and co-writer Ira Sachs, left, and co-writer Mauricio Zacharias from the film “Little Men.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
121/196
Ira Sachs, director/co-writer from the film, “Little Men.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
122/196
Mary Stuart Masterson from the film “As You Are.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
123/196
Miles Joris-Peyrafitte from the film “As You Are.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
124/196
Amandla Stenberg from the film “As You Are.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
125/196
Scott Cohen from the film “As You Are.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
126/196
Owen Campbell from the film “As You Are.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
127/196
Parker Sawyers from the film “Southside With You.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
128/196
Tika Sumpter from the film “Southside With You.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
129/196
Richard Tanne, writer-director from the film “Southside With You.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
130/196
Jeff Feuerzig, director from the film “The JT Leroy Story.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
131/196
Robert Jumper, left, director Tim Sutton, Anna Rose and Maica Armata from the film “Dark Night” in the L.A. Times photo & video studio at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
132/196
Director Pieter-Jan De Pue from the film “The Land of the Enlightened.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
133/196
Michal Huszcza, left, Michal Marczak, director, and Kris Baganski from the film “All These Sleepless Nights” get cozy.
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
134/196
Abigail Spencer from the series “Rectify.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
135/196
Director Robert Greene and actress Kate Lyn Sheil from the film “Kate Plays Christine.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
136/196
Actress Kate Lyn Sheil from the film “Kate Plays Christine.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
137/196
Executive Producer Jim McNiel from the film “Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World.”
( L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
138/196
Werner Herzog, director of the film “Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World.”
( L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
139/196
Laura Albert from the film “The JT Leroy Story.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
140/196
Jeff Feuerzig and subject Laura Albert from the film “The JT Leroy Story.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
141/196
Jason Benjamin, director from the film “Suited.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
142/196
Jenni Konner, producer, left, Jason Benjamin, director, and Lena Dunham, producer, from the film “Suited.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
143/196
Jared Harris from the film “Certain Women.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
144/196
Jared Harris from the film “Certain Women.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
145/196
Q., director of the film “Brahman Naman.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
146/196
Q., director of the film “Brahman Naman.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
147/196
Naman Ramachandran, left, Q., and Shashank Arora with Werner Herzog.
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
148/196
Tanmay Dhanania, left, Shashank Arora, Naman Ramachandran, Steve Barron, producer, Q., director, Sid Mallya, screenwriter, from the film “Brahman Naman.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
149/196
Ralph Rodriguez, left, Brian “Sene” Marc, Morgan Saylor, Adrian Martinez, India Menuez, Justin Bartha, Elizabeth Wood, filmmaker, and Anthony Ramos from the film “White Girl.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
150/196
Brian “Sene” Marc from the film “White Girl.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
151/196
Morgan Saylor from the film “White Girl.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
152/196
Anthony Ramos from the film “White Girl.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
153/196
Adrian Martinez from the film “White Girl.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
154/196
India Menuez from the film “White Girl.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
155/196
Justin Bartha from the film “White Girl.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
156/196
Elizabeth Wood from the film “White Girl.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
157/196
Gavin Free for Lazer Team levitates.
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
158/196
Anne Fontaine, director from the film “Agnus Dei.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
159/196
Chloe Sevigny, left, Danny Perez and Natasha Lyonne from the film “Antibirth.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
160/196
Chloe Sevigny from the film “Antibirth.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
161/196
Chloe Sevigny from the film “Antibirth.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
162/196
Natasha Lyonne from the film “Antibirth.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
163/196
Rachel Grady, co-director from the film “Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
164/196
Heidi Ewing, co-director, Norman Lear, Rachel Grady, co-director, from the film “Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
165/196
Norman Lear from the film “Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
166/196
Heidi Ewing, co-director from the film “Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
167/196
Heidi Ewing, co-director from the film “Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
168/196
Kenneth Lonergan, director from the film “Manchester by the Sea.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
169/196
Lucas Hedges, left, Kenneth Lonergan, director, and Casey Affleck from the film “Manchester by the Sea.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
170/196
Lucas Hedges, left, and Casey Affleck from the film “Manchester by the Sea.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
171/196
Lucas Hedges, left, and Casey Affleck from the film “Manchester by the Sea.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
172/196
Lucas Hedges from the film “Manchester by the Sea.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
173/196
Casey Affleck from the film “Manchester by the Sea.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
174/196
Casey Affleck from the film “Manchester by the Sea.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
175/196
Writer-director Sian Heder from the film “Talullah.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
176/196
John Benjamin Hickey, left, Allison Janney, Ellen Page, Sian Heder, writer-director, and Tammy Blanchard from the film “Talullah.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
177/196
Ellen Page from the film “Talullah.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
178/196
Director Roger Ross Williams from the film “Life Animated.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
179/196
Allison Janney from the film “Talullah.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
180/196
John Benjamin Hickey from the film “Talullah.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
181/196
Tammy Blanchard from the film “Talullah.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
182/196
Brooklyn Decker from the film “Lovesong.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
183/196
Jena Malone from the film “Lovesong.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
184/196
Jena Malone, left, and Riley Keough from the film “Lovesong.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
185/196
Director Roger Ross Williams from the film “Life Animated.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
186/196
Jonathan Freeman, left, Owen Suskind, Gilbert Gottfried and director Roger Ross Williams from the film “Life Animated.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
187/196
John Krasinski from the film, “The Hollars,” poses for a portrait in the L.A. Times photo & video studio at the Sundance Film Festival, in Park City, Utah. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
188/196
John Krasinski, left, Charlie Day, Margo Martindale, Sharlto Copley and Josh Groban from the film “The Hollars.”
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
189/196
Josh Groban from the film, “The Hollars,” in the L.A. Times photo & video studio at the Sundance Film Festival, in Park City, Utah. ( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
190/196
Sharlto Copley from the film, “The Hollars,” in the L.A. Times photo & video studio at the Sundance Film Festival, in Park City, Utah. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
191/196
Margo Martindale, from the film, “The Hollars,” in the L.A. Times photo & video studio at the Sundance Film Festival, in Park City, Utah. ( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
192/196
John Krasinski from the film, “The Hollars,” poses for a portrait in the L.A. Times photo & video studio at the Sundance Film Festival, in Park City, Utah. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
193/196
David Wheeler, left, Nicole Hockley, Mark Barden from the film “Newtown.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
194/196
Kim Snyder, left, director, and Maria Cuomo Cole, producer, from the film “Newtown.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
195/196
Nicole Hockley, David Wheeler, Maria Cuomo Cole, producer, Kim Snyder, director, and Mark Barden from the film “Newtown.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
196/196
Todd Solondz, director of the film “Wiener-Dog,” poses for a portrait in the L.A. Times photo & video studio at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
( Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
That’s true in the case of Reichardt, who, 22 years after her piece of Florida-set minimalism “River of Grass” put her on the map, returned with “Certain Women,” a well-regarded tale of ladies in the Pacific Northwest based on the short stories of the author Maile Meloy. (Reichardt does receive a boost from that most 21st-century of actresses, Kristen Stewart.)
Advertisement
It’s also true for Solondz, whose bullied-child drama “Welcome to the Dollhouse,” when it premiered at Sundance in 1995, helped define the brutally human, blackly comic sensibility that characterized the 1990’s indie movement.
Solondz returns to the terrain of that film with his new movie, “Wiener-Dog,” which features the title character of “Dollhouse” all grown up. She is now played not by Heather Matarazzo but Greta Gerwig, and she spends her days in a vet’s office instead of being pushed into swimming pools. But she is just as lonely.
“It is a bit of an anomaly,” Solondz said of his very tangible if unlikely return to the past. “But it’s always fun to throw a curveball.”
And it’s true in for Lonergan, whose debut feature, “You Can Count On Me” won the dramatic jury prize and the top screenwriting prize at Sundance 16 years ago.
Directors who won’t give interviews are as rare at Sundance as a 70-degree day, but Lonergan’s publicist declined interview requests. Still, his movie, a New England-set coming-home story titled “Manchester by The Sea” was one of the biggest buzz titles here, drawing acclaim for its subtle emotion and human weight.
Even veteran directors known over their careers mainly for European festivals, such as Spike Lee and Werner Herzog, came to Park City this year to premiere new movies (a Michael Jackson documentary and a nonfiction film about technology, respectively).
Advertisement
Herzog showed that age does not necessarily mean a dulled edge. When asked about his feelings on arriving at Sundance (where he also debuted his doc “Grizzly Man” in 2005), the director instead gave an answer about how he might leave it.
“I had a dream for Sundance that scared the festival,” he said. “In my youth I was a ski jumper. My dream was to become a world champion for ski flying. And when you come into Park City there are two Olympic ramps. And i said ‘prepare the ramp for me so I can leave the Sundance Film Festival ballistically.’ Flying. I want to fly.”
No one is sure why so many wizened types are suddenly populating the landscape. Business factors may be one reason.
“I think there are just so many more ways to get your films made and out now,” said Trevor Groth, the festival’s director of programming. “There are directors who would have struggled to get their films out in an earlier era that don’t have that problem now.”
Certainly that was true for Stillman and Solondz, two old buddies from the New York indie scene. Solondz’s new film was financed by upstart Megan Ellison, who in the past few years has shaken up the cinema world by writing large checks to quirky auteurs.
And Stillman’s movie, which sees him reuniting with past collaborators Chloe Sevigny and Kate Beckinsale, was bought by Amazon, part of the streaming wave that has kept filmmakers solvent this festival. Ditto for Lonergan, whose movie also went to the Jeff Bezos-led company.
Advertisement
Meanwhile, Soderbergh, who helped canonize Sundance into the landmark festival that it is with “sex, lies and videotape” 26 years ago, is back with “The Girlfriend Experience.” In another sign of the times, it is a TV show, which he executive-produced based on his 2009 movie. . The return of these filmmakers may also be the result of directors itching to get back in a game in a way they couldn’t at an earlier point, when the indie world was less developed.
“To make my movies I look at younger filmmakers -- mumblecore filmmakers and others -- and I learn from them,” said Stillman, who took 13 years off before returning to work more prolifically in 2011, and whose new film is a bit of a switch by going to a prior literary work. “They very much influenced this movie.”
Many of the directors admit it’s tough to maintain your fastball, particularly in an indie world that prizes the latest trends; indeed, many of the movies can have the feel of the directors’ old work even as they seek to update with a more modern aesthetic. Indie film also requires working fast and cheap, generally thought of as a younger director’s game.
The presence of so many veterans has also been held up by some naysayers as evidence of how the indie world has not given us as many notable new voices as it once did; many of those candidates, the lament goes, are now working in television.
But the idea that filmmakers making robust work a quarter-century later also shows the springiness of a movement that was itself built on resilience. To these directors, a changing world or sensibility is just one more challenge to problem-solve and duct-tape your way out of.
So, too, is the appearance of polarizing reviews -- something many of these directors received earlier in their career, when viewers weren’t sure what to make of their bold work, and can continue to receive today.
Advertisement
Smith in particular this year has taken it on the chin with reviews for “Yoga Hosers” -- when a good notice finally came in, he said his reaction was “We got one!” citing a classic “Ghostbusters” line.
Solondz, who has also long taken his lumps thanks to his dark undertones, has drawn some backlash at this year’s festival too, particularly for “Wiener-Dog’s” grim ending. He said he has tried to maintain the same steady attitude he always has.
“For me [film] is much more of a creative instinctive project,” he said. “I leave it to others to tell me how horrible a person I might be.”
Steven Zeitchik is a former Los Angeles Times staff writer who covered film and the larger world of Hollywood for the paper from 2009 to 2017, exploring the personalities, issues, content and consequences of both the creative and business (and, increasingly, digital) aspects of our screen entertainment. He previously covered entertainment beats at Variety and the Hollywood Reporter, has contributed arts and culture pieces to the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post and the New York Times and has done journalistic tours of duty in Jerusalem and Berlin. While at The Times he has also reported stories in cities ranging from Cairo to Krakow, though Hollywood can still seem like the most exotic destination of all.