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PARK CITY -- The Sundance Film Festival is set to open Thursday, bringing along with it the movies, filmmakers and of course the paparazzi. The festival will present 118 feature-length films, representing a total of 29 countries and 40 first-time filmmakers.
Festival organizers opted to open the festival with five screenings, the first of which to air are documentary "Sing Your Song" and dramatic entry "The Guard." "Sing Your Song," follows the life of singer, actor and activist Harry Belafonte. "The Guard," starring Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle focuses on a Irish cop and a straitlaced FBI agent chasing an international drug-smuggling ring. Stars from both films are expected to attend the premiers.
As of Monday, Sundance still had 20,000 tickets available. Even if tickets to a particular film are sold out, movie-goers can try to get wait-list tickets. To do so, show up at the movie venue two hours before the screening to receive a number then return a half hour before the film. Additionally, the box office releases previously unavailable tickets the morning of each show.
Music lovers can visit the ASCAP Café which features eight days of both established and up-and-coming musicians. Performers include Guster, Josh Ritter and The Low Anthem, The Chapin Sisters and Julia Fordham & Paul Reiser. Musicians play from 1:30 to 6:00, but because the venue is small and seating is limited for the general public, it's recommended to get there early.
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Skull Candy, a company that specializes in headphones, is hosting a music series all week long at Harry O's in Park city with acts like Snoop Dogg and a Tribe Called Quest.
The festival has historically had a huge economic impact on the state of Utah. According to a study by the University of Utah's Utah's Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the David Eccles School of Business, it generated an overall impact of $62.7 million and supported 1,500 jobs.
E-mail: sdallof@ksl.com
