Popular with independent film enthusiasts, the 2024 Sundance Film Festival kicks off the film festival circuit with a busy calendar of parties, thought-provoking panels and red carpet premieres.
Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the program offers diversity in various categories: 53 short films, 35 documentaries and 83 feature films. Hot titles premiering include My Old Ass; Empire of Satan; An other man; A real pain; Freaky Tales; Little death; Love lies bleeding; Love me; Sasquatch Sunset; and Thelma.
Related: Sundance 2024 Hot List: Lots of snow, but deal flurry forecast elusive
The festival's first day began with Thursday's opening film, “Thelma,” directed by Josh Margolin and starring Oscar-nominated actress June Squibb as an unlikely action star. The ensemble cast includes Fred Hechinger, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg and Malcolm McDowell. The cast also includes actor Richard Roundtree, who died in October 2024.
The film centers on Thelma Post (June Squibb), a 93-year-old grandmother who is deceived by a telephone scammer pretending to be her grandson. Determined to take back what was taken from her, she sets out on a treacherous search across the city. The inspiration for the film came from a real-life experience of writer-director Josh Margolin's centenarian grandmother.
See also: Sundance Film Festival 2024: All the film reviews from Deadline
Pedro Pascal, Jay Ellis, Normani Kordei Hamilton, Keir Gilchrist, Jack Champion, Ji-young Yoo, Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden attended the premiere of Freaky Tales at the Eccles Center Theater. Fleck and Boden return to Sundance after premiering their breakout film Half Nelson (2006), starring Ryan Gosling, who received an Oscar nomination for his performance in the film. The ensemble cast includes Angus Cloud, Dominique Thorne and Ben Mendelsohn.
Other premiere films scheduled today include Power; Stress Positions, Girls State, I Saw The TV Glow, Layla, Ghostlight, Veni Vidi Vici & Kneecap.
Tonight's opening gala on January 18 will feature star-studded presenters honoring Christopher Nolan with the inaugural Sundance Institute Trailblazer Award. Kristen Stewart will receive the Visionary Award, Celine Song and Maite Alberdi will receive the Vanguard Award, and Mary Robinson will present Pat Mitchell with the Vanguard Award for Philanthropy.
The 2024 Sundance Film Festival will take place in person in Park City and Salt Lake City from January 18-28, 2024. The Jury and Audience Awards will be presented on January 26th at the Ray Theater.
Whether you're a seasoned film buff or curious about discovering new talent, keep checking back for daily updates from the festival.
2024 Sundance Film Festival – Opening Gala: Celebrating 40 Years – Day 1
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Kristen Stewart attends the opening gala of the 2024 Sundance Film Festival: Celebrating 40 Years
2024 Sundance Film Festival – Opening Gala: Celebrating 40 Years – Day 1
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Kristen Stewart
2024 Sundance Film Festival – Opening Gala: Celebrating 40 Years – Day 1
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(L-R) Robert Downey Jr. and Christopher Nolan
2024 Sundance Film Festival – Opening Gala: Celebrating 40 Years – Day 1
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(L-R) Robert Downey Jr. and Christopher Nolan
2024 Sundance Film Festival – Opening Gala: Celebrating 40 Years – Day 1
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(L-R) Jodie Foster and Alexandra Hedison
2024 Sundance Film Festival – Opening Gala: Celebrating 40 Years – Day 1
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(LR) Maite Alberdi and Celine Song attend the opening gala of the 2024 Sundance Film Festival: Celebrating 40 years
2024 Sundance Film Festival – Opening Gala: Celebrating 40 Years – Day 1
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Darren Aronofsky
2024 Sundance Film Festival – Opening Gala: Celebrating 40 Years – Day 1
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Jennifer Grey
2024 Sundance Film Festival – Opening Gala: Celebrating 40 Years – Day 1
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Jesse Eisenberg
2024 Sundance Film Festival – Opening Gala: Celebrating 40 Years – Day 1
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(L-R) Alexandra Hedison and Alok Vaid-Menon
2024 Sundance Film Festival – Opening Gala: Celebrating 40 Years – Day 1
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Jason Blum
2024 Sundance Film Festival – Opening Gala: Celebrating 40 Years – Day 1
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Roger Ross
2024 Sundance Film Festival – Opening Gala: Celebrating 40 Years – Day 1
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(LR) Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie
2024 Sundance Film Festival – Opening Gala: Celebrating 40 Years – Day 1
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Eugene Hernández
2024 Sundance Film Festival – Opening Gala: Celebrating 40 Years – Day 1
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(L-R) Pat Mitchell and Mary Robinson
2024 Sundance Film Festival – Opening Gala: Celebrating 40 Years – Day 1
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Ebs Burnough
2024 Sundance Film Festival – Opening Gala: Celebrating 40 Years – Day 1
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Kim Yutani
2024 Sundance Film Festival – Opening Gala: Celebrating 40 Years – Day 1
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(L-R) Lio Mehiel and Dulcinee Deguere
2024 Sundance Film Festival – Opening Gala: Celebrating 40 Years – Day 1
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David Alan Grier
2024 Sundance Film Festival – “I Saw The TV Glow” Premiere.
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(LR) Jane Schoenbrun, Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine attend the premiere of “I Saw The TV Glow” during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival at the Library Center Theater
2024 Sundance Film Festival – “I Saw The TV Glow” Premiere.
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(L-R) Dave McCary, Sam Intili, Jane Schoenbrun, Justice Smith, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Lindsey Jordan, Ian Foreman, Sarah Winshall, Kevin Kelly and Ali Herting
World premiere of “Girls State” from Apple Original Films at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival
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Faith Glasgow, Brooke Taylor, Anna Chellis, Cecilia Bartin, Jesse Moss, Amanda McBaine, Emily Worthmore, Maddie Rowan and Tochi Ihekona attend the world premiere of Apple Original Films' “Girls State” at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival at the Eccles Center Theater
2024 Sundance Film Festival – “Kneecap” Premiere
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(LR) Naoise Ó Cairealláin, DJ Próvaí and Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh attend the “Kneecap” premiere during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival at Prospector Square Theater
2024 Sundance Film Festival – “Kneecap” Premiere
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(L-R) Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, Rich Peppiatt, Naoise Ó Cairealláin and DJ Próvaí
2024 Sundance Film Festival – “Kneecap” Premiere
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(L-R) Trevor Birney, Partick O'Neill, Jessica Reynolds, Rich Peppiatt, Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, Simone Kirby, Naoise Ó Cairealláin, Ryan Kernaghan, Fionnuala Flaherty and Jack Tarling
2024 Sundance Film Festival – “Freaky Tales” Premiere – Day 1
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Pedro Pascal attends the premiere of “Freaky Tales” during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival at the Eccles Center Theater on January 18
2024 Sundance Film Festival – “Freaky Tales” Premiere – Day 1
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(L-R) Jay Ellis and Pedro Pascal
2024 Sundance Film Festival – “Freaky Tales” Premiere – Day 1
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(L-R) Tamra Goins, Eric “Sleepy” Floyd, Keir Gilchrist, Pedro Pascal, Ji-young Yoo, Jay Ellis, Ryan Fleck, Symba, Too $hort, Dominique Thorne, Jack Champion and Normani Kordei Hamilton
2024 Sundance Film Festival – “Freaky Tales” Premiere – Day 1
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Normani Kordei Hamilton
2024 Sundance Film Festival – “Freaky Tales” Premiere – Day 1
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Keir Gilchrist
2024 Sundance Film Festival – “Freaky Tales” Premiere – Day 1
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Jack Champion
2024 Sundance Film Festival – “Freaky Tales” Premiere – Day 1
Image Source: Ji-young Yoo attends the “Freaky Tales” premiere during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival
Ji-young Yoo
2024 Sundance Film Festival – “Freaky Tales” Premiere – Day 1
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Michelle Farrah Huang
2024 Sundance Film Festival – “Freaky Tales” Premiere – Day 1
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(L-R) Dominique Thorne and Normani Kordei Hamilton
2024 Sundance Film Festival – “Thelma” Premiere – Day 1
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June Squibb attends the “Thelma” premiere during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival on January 18 at the Ray Theater
2024 Sundance Film Festival – “Thelma” Premiere – Day 1
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(L-R) June Squibb and Josh Margolin
2024 Sundance Film Festival – “Thelma” Premiere – Day 1
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(L-R) Josh Margolin, Fred Hechinger, June Squibb and Clark Gregg
2024 Sundance Film Festival – “Thelma” Premiere – Day 1
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(L-R) Chris Kaye, Karl Spoerri, VIviana Vezzani, Nicky Weinstock, Josh Margolin, Fred Hechinger, June Squibb, Clark Gregg, Coral Pena, Zoe Worth and Benjamin Simpson
2024 Sundance Film Festival – “Power” Premiere – Day 1
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Yance Ford attends the “Power” premiere during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival on January 18 at the Library Center Theater
2024 Sundance Film Festival – “Power” Premiere – Day 1
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(L-R) Dan Cogan, Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe, Yance Ford, Netsanet Negussie, Sweta Vohra, Jess Devaney, Ian Olds, Dominic Stewart, Julia C. Liu, Jot Sahi and Jillian Bergman attend the “Power” premiere
2024 Sundance Film Festival – Short Film Program 1 – Day 1
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(L-R) Jodie Foster and Alexandra Hedison attend the “ALOK” premiere in Short Film Program 1 during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival at Prospector Square Theater on January 18
2024 Sundance Film Festival – Short Film Program 1 – Day 1
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(L-R) Meggan Lennon, Jodie Foster, Mory Fontanez, Dylan Mulvaney, Alok Vaid-Menon, Alexandra Hedison, Natalie Shirinian and Elizabeth Baudouin attend the “ALOK” premiere in Short Film Program 1 during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival at Prospector Square Theater on January 18th
Sundance Film Festival 2024 – Kneecap – Day 1
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Members of Kneecap roll in front of the Egyptian Theater for the Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival 2024 – Kneecap – Day 1
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Members of Kneecap at the Sundance Film Festival in front of the Egyptian Theater
2024 Sundance Film Festival – “How To Have Sex” Premiere – Day 1
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Director Molly Manning Walker attends the premiere of “How To Have Sex” during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival on January 18 at the Library Center Theater
2024 Sundance Film Festival – Short Film Program 1 – Day 1
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Malia Ann Obama
2024 Sundance Film Festival – Short Film Program 1 – Day 1
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(L-R) Makoto Nagahisa, Aurelia Aasa, Yero Timi-Biu, Malia Ann Obama, Alexandra Hedison and Alison Rich attend the “Pathological” premiere in Short Film Program 1 during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival at Prospector Square Theater on January 18
2024 Sundance Film Festival – “Stress Positions” Premiere – Day 1
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(L-R) Greg Nobile, Allie Jane Compton, John Roberts, Qaher Harhash, John Early, Theda Hammel, Faheem Ali, Gordon Landenberger, Amy Zimmer, Stephanie Roush and Brad Becker-Parton attend the “Stress Positions” premiere
2024 Sundance Film Festival – “Layla” Premiere – Day 1
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(L-R) Safiyya Ingar, Darkwah, Samantha Spellman, Louis Greatorex, Amrou Al-Kadhi, Savannah James-Bayly, Bilal Hasana, Craig Dean Devine, Cobbie Yates, Farhana Bhula, Louise Ortega and Nina Yang Bongiovi attend the “Layla” Premiere at the Egyptian Theater on January 18th
2024 Sundance Film Festival – “Ghostlight” Premiere – Day 1
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(L-R) Alex Thompson, Katherine Mallen Kupferer, Tara Mallen and Kelly O'Sullivan attend the “Ghostlight” premiere during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival at Prospector Square Theater on January 18
2024 Sundance Film Festival – “Ghostlight” Premiere – Day 1
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(LR) Bradley Grant Smith, Dexter Zollicoffer, Tara Mallen, Katherine Mallen Kupferer, Alex Thompson, Alma Washington, Kelly O'Sullivan, Hanna Dworkin, Tommy Rivera-Vega and Marlene Slaughter attend the 'Ghostlight' premiere during the Sundance Film Festival 2024 at Prospector Square Theater on January 18th
2024 Sundance Film Festival – “Eno” Premiere – Day 1
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(L-R) Chris Cechin-De La Rosa, Derrick Morton, Jessica Edwards, Maya Tippet, Gary Hustwit, Marley MacDonald, Natasha Dack and Brendan Dawes attend the “Eno” premiere during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival at Ray on January 18 Theater part
2024 Sundance Film Festival – General Atmosphere – Day 1
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General view of the Marquis of the Egyptian Theater during the Sundance Film Festival on January 18, 2024 in Park City
2024 Sundance Film Festival – General Atmosphere – Day 1
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General view of main street signage during the Sundance Film Festival
