January 28, 2013
USC Has Record Year at Sundance Film Festival
Films with SCA Alums in Key Roles Make Deals in Park City
A record twenty-one films showcasing SCA talent screened at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and its sister festival, Slamdance. The festival launched on January 17th and ended last weekend with an awards ceremony highlighting standouts that resonated with critics and audiences. To support the alumni, students and friends of the School who visited Park City this year, SCA hosted two events, a filmmaker breakfast and party, at the Riverhorse Tavern on Main Street.
"2013 was a terrific year for alumni and students at both Sundance and Slamdance,” said Head of Alumni Relations at SCA Justin Wilson. “We had over forty filmmakers with different projects at the festivals, which is a record. The success of our alumni shows the value of our program and their achievements speak for themselves."
Fruitvale, Inequality for All, Mother of Georgeand Josephine and the Roach all took home awards.
Founded in 1981 by Robert Redford, Sundance Institute is an internationally recognized, non-profit organization dedicated to showcasing and advancing original storytelling. Each year, the Institute hosts the festival, which has become the premier destination for independent film in the United States.
In addition to hosting a wealth of screenings and panels throughout its ten-day duration, Sundance also serves as a primary market for independent film. Filmmakers come to Park City seeking distribution, and the lucky ones leave with a deal. Among the films picked up for distribution that have SCA alums on the roster were Fruitvale, Kill Your Darlings, The Spectacular Now, Inequality for All, Twenty Feet From Stardom, Don Jon’s Addiction and The Way, Way Back (information composited from Deadline and Entertainment Weekly).
One of the biggest success stories of Sundance 2013 was Ryan Coogler, MFA Production ‘11 who made his feature film debut with Fruitvale, a story based on the real-life killing of an Oakland young man by a transit cop. Coogler discussed his rationale behind creating a film about a heavy subject, saying, “Everybody’s pattern is different, everybody’s goal is different, but if you stay true to your heart and true to making movies for the reason [being] that you loved movies in the first place, I think you’ll always find that you’ll move in the right direction.”
Below is the full list of films screened at Sundance and Slamdance which featured SCA alums in major positions.
U.S. DRAMATIC COMPETITION
FRUITVALE
Written & Directed by Ryan Coogler ‘11
Produced by Nina Yang Bongiovi and Forest Whitaker
Associate Produced by Haroula Rose and Gerard McMurray ‘11
Co-Produced by Sev Ohanian
Edited by Claudia Castello and Michael Shawver ‘12
Music by Ludwig Goransson
KILL YOUR DARLINGS
Executive Produced by John Wells ‘82
THE SPECTACULAR NOW
Produced by Shawn Levy ‘94
Co-Produced by Billy Rosenberg ‘00
WORLD CINEMA DRAMATIC COMPETITION
METRO MANILA
Written by Frank E. Flowers ‘01
U.S. DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION
INEQUALITY FOR ALL
Assistant Edited by Barbara Steele ’12
Edited by Kevin Klauber ’08 & Jason Zeldes ‘09
VALENTINE ROAD: THE MURDER OF LAWRENCE KING
Edited by Tchavdar Georgiev ‘00
Consulting Editor Yana Gorskaya '02
NEW FRONTIER
Interior. Leather Bar
Starring A.J. Goodrich
PREMIERES
A.C.O.D.
Written & Directed by Stuart Zicherman ‘93
Cinematography by John Bailey
BEFORE MIDNIGHT
Executive Produced by Liz Glotzer ‘85
DON JON'S ADDICTION
Chief Lighting by Ryan McCoy '97
LOVELACE
Edited by Robert Dalva ‘67
STOKER
Sound Design by Chuck Michael
SWEETWATER
Edited by Robert Dalva ‘67
THE WAY, WAY BACK
Cinematography by John Bailey
DOCUMENTARY PREMIERES
THE CRASH REEL
Produced by Julian Cautherley ‘00
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO DICK CHENEY
Produced & Directed by R.J. Cutler
And at the SLAMDANCE FESTIVAL
BABOON Directed by Einar Arnason
HANK AND ASHA
Written, Directed & Produced by James Duff ‘99
Co-Produced & Assistant Directed by Padmini Narumanchi ‘01
JOSEPHINE AND THE ROACH
Directed by Jonathan Langager
PEARL WAS HERE
Cinematography by Kimberly Culotta
View the Sundance 2013 Photo Gallery »
