Featuring works by Welsh, Swedish, and Puerto Rican filmmakers
From January 23 to February 2, skiing and snowboarding will play second fiddle to Park City's annual Sundance Film Festival, known as the country’s top showcase for independent cinema. Attendees can choose from 118 feature-length films representing 27 countries and selected from a record high of 15,100 submissions.
Here, five compelling, sports-centric picks.
And Then We Danced
Swedish-born filmmaker Levan Akin is of Georgian descent, and sets his latest film, a 113-minute feature, in the conservative confines of modern Tbilisi. In telling the tale of Merab, a gifted dancer, and the handsome, dangerous male dancer he falls for, Akin explores both Georgia's renowned dance culture and its deep-seated homophobia.
Charm City Kings
This 125-minute feature by Puerto Rican filmmaker Angel Manuel Soto is based on the 2013 documentary 12 O’Clock Boys. Soto shares the coming-of-age story of an inner-city Baltimore teen who yearns to join a renegade group of dirt-bike riders. Expect gravity-defying bike tricks, life-and-death drama, and more.
The Climb
Native New Yorker Michael Angelo Corvino’s 98-minute feature directorial debut starts with a bike ride on the twisty roads of the South of France. As Kyle (played by co-writer Kyle Marvin) struggles to keep up with Mike (Corvino), the more experienced cyclist, a surprise confession alters the course of their friendship.
Dream Horse
Welsh director Euros Lyn’s new 102-minute feature film tells the true story of a waitress (played by Toni Colette) turned racehorse breeder. She rallies her sleepy working-class community behind her to produce a fierce equine competitor that takes part in the prestigious Grand National at Aintree.
Lance
For this two-part, 201-minute feature documentary, Emmy Award-winning writer and director Marina Zenovich gained extensive access to Lance Armstrong. Interviews with his family, teammates, friends, and enemies weave together a powerful portrait of the former cycling champion’s epic rise and fall.