Sundance Film Festival Announces Slate of Panels & Music Performances

The excitement of the 2017 Sundance Film Festival happens both on-screen and off, with a robust slate of panels and music performances, many of which are free and live streamed so independent film and music fans can tune in from anywhere.

John Cooper, Director of the Sundance Film Festival, said, "The conversations that start at the Festival and spread well beyond the mountain can now do so in realtime. Thanks to our live streams, fans of independent film and the latest in storytelling can connect with creative minds, get stories from behind the screen, and add context to the work we showcase."

The Festival will live stream both panels in its longstanding Power of Story series. Power of Story: The New Climate, announced previously, will convene former Vice President of the United States Al Gore, global entrepreneur and philanthropist Jeff Skoll, scientist and broadcaster Dr. David Suzuki, former President of the Maldives Mohamed Nasheed, filmmaker Heather Rae, and moderator Amy Goodman.

As part of the Festival's Art of Film Weekend (January 26-28), which celebrates the art and craft of creative storytelling, Power of Story: Art of Episodic Writing will gather Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Rock Bythewood (Shots Fired), Larry Karaszewski (The People v. O.J. Simpson), Marti Noxon (To the Bone), Issa Rae (Insecure), Jill Soloway (Transparent), and moderator Michelle Satter (Founding Director, Sundance Institute Feature Film Program). Also in THE ART OF Film Weekend, the live-streamed Creative Tensions: Empathy will explore the forces that shape how and why we say we care for others.

A Celebration of Music and Film, hosted annually by the Sundance Institute Film Music Program as the centerpiece of its music programming at the Festival, returns this year with a special edition centered around the theme "There is a Crack In Everything / That's How the Light Gets In," based on lyrics by Leonard Cohen. The evening will feature music and readings that celebrate free speech, diverse voices, and the power of art to unite us and propel us forward. Featuring a wide range of artists, including Common, Jim James, Andra Day, Jenny Slate, Nick Offerman, Hunter Hayes, Ava DuVernay and Gael Garcia Bernal, the event will be streamed in 360-degree virtual reality from Festival Base Camp presented by Canada Goose to Festival Village presented by Acura.

Live music at the Festival includes performances at the Sundance ASCAP Music Café (free and open to all Festival credential holders 21 and older) by Michael Franti, Rooney, CLARE BOWEN, Josh Kelley and Andy Shauf, and performances at Festival Base Camp presented by Canada Goose by Thundercat, R.LUM.R, Chrome Canyon and live DJ set by Elijah Wood, Samora Pinderhughes, Lalah Hathaway, Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal as well as the first-ever local music showcase, featuring Talia Keys, Joshy Soul & The Cool, Bboy Federation Performers. The annual BMI Snowball Showcase will feature Angela McCluskey, Paul Cantelon , Sean McConnell , The National Parks, Rachel Crow, and The Hearings .

Other noteworthy live streamed conversations at the Festival include the Cinema Café daily series of informal chats, which this year will include conversations between Jon Hamm and Sam Elliott, Kumail Nanjiani and John Cho and others; more conversations will appear on sundance.org/program shortly.

Three short films from the 2017 Festival are available online: Dear Mr Shakespeare, an exploration of Shakespeare's intentions when writing Othello; Deer Squad: The Movie, one filmmaker's story of going viral after befriending a group of wild deer in his backyard; and Project X, an undercover journey to the site of a hidden partnership, based on NSA documents. From the Special Events section, the pilot of I Love Dick is available on Amazon.

For dates, times, locations and ticket information for these and other offscreen events, including panels and live music hosted by our sponsors, visit sundance.org/festival.

Need more Utah Theatre News in your life?
Sign up for all the news on the Summer season, discounts & more...