Monday, January 19

I Love You, Phillip Morris (Premieres)

Directors/Screenwriters: Glenn Ficarra and John Requa

Cast: Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor, Rodrigo Santoro, Leslie Mann

(USA, 2008, 100 min., color)

Based on a remarkable true story, a local Texas cop turns to a life of fraud after coming out of the closet, which eventually lands him in prison. There he falls in love with the titular inmate Phillip Morris, and begins a series of daring escape attempts to reunite with his soon-released lover.

Eccles Theatre, Park City

Chop Off (US Documentary Shorts)

Documentary Shorts

Director: M. M. Serra

(USA, 2008, 6 min., color)

The artist's own body becomes the medium in this short film documenting the work of performance artist R.K., who sees amputation and body modification as an art form.

Holiday Village Cinema III, Park City

Everything Strange and New (Spectrum)

Director/Screenwriter: Frazer Bradshaw

Cast: Jerry McDaniel, Beth Lisick, Luis Saguar, Rigo Chacon Jr.

(USA, 2009, 84 min., color)

Trapped in a "good on paper" life that he never wanted, Wayne struggles to handle careening family members, emotionally troubled friends, and issues of sexuality and substance abuse.

Library Center Theatre, Park City

Steel Homes (International Documentary Shorts)

Documentary Shorts Program

Director: Eva Weber

(United Kingdom, 2008, 10 min., color)

A poetic exploration of memory and loss in this portrait of life at a self-storage warehouse.

Holiday Village Cinema III, Park City

Taking Chance (US Dramatic Competition)

Director: Ross Katz

Screenwriters: LtCol Michael R. Strobl (Ret.), Ross Katz

Cast: Kevin Bacon

(US, 2008, 85 min., color)

Based on the personal journal of Lieutenant Colonel Michael Strobl, USMC (Ret.), Taking Chance follows the journey Strobl made in the spring of 2004 across the country as a volunteer military escort with the remains of Lance Corporal Chance Phelps, a young Marine killed in action in Iraq.

Screening Room, Sundance Resort

Amreeka (Dramatic Competition)

Director/Screenwriter: Cherien Dabis

Cast: Nisreen Faour, Melkar Muallem, Hiam Abbass

(USA/Canada/Kuwait, 2009, 96 min., color)

After her family is granted a U.S. green card, a Palestinian single mother must choose between a desire to remain in her homeland, and a potentially more secure future for her teenage son in America.

Racquet Club, Park City

Humpday (Dramatic Competition)

Director/Screenwriter: Lynn Shelton

Cast: Mark Duplass, Joshua Leonard, Alycia Delmore, Lynn Shelton, Trina Willard

(USA, 2009, 92 min., color)

A farcical buddy comedy in which a night of drunken boasting and big talk somehow leads two straight former college buddies into a dare to film themselves having sex with each other for an amateur porn contest.

Screening Room, Sundance Resort

Dare (Dramatic Competition)

Director: Adam Salky

Screenwriter: David Brind

Cast: Emmy Rossum, Zach Gilford, Ashley Springer, Ana Gasteyer, Alan Cumming, Sandra Bernhard

(USA, 2009, 92 min., color)

The lives of three high school seniors become emotionally and sexually intertwined with each other when their last semester of school and encroaching adulthood prompts them to shed their inhibitions. Ben, the sexually confused outsider, is one of the three.

Racquet Club, Park City

My Surfing Lucifer (International Documentary Shorts)

Shown before Big River Man

Director: Kenneth Anger

(Switzerland/USA, 2008, 9 min., color)

Queer film pioneer Kenneth Anger's examination of the short life of Bunker Spreckles — Clarke Gable's stepson and surf legend — constructed through found footage.

Broadway Centre Cinemas VI, Salt Lake City

La Mission (Spectrum)

Director/Screenwriter: Peter Bratt

Cast: Benjamin Bratt, Erika Alexander, Jeremy Ray Valdez, Jesse Borrego, Talisa Soto Bratt

(USA, 2008, 117 min., color)

A recovering alcoholic and ex-con that gets by on intimidation, Che is also a devoted father to teenage son Jesse, who he violently rejects after discovering that Jesse is gay. Prompted in part by his headstrong neighbor Lena, Che must confront his long held prejudices to repair his parental relationship.

Prospector Square Theatre, Park City

575 Castro St. (US Documentary Short)

Shown before Shouting Fire: Stories from the Edge of Free Speech

Director: Jenni Olson

(USA, 2008, 7 min., color, HD)

An experimental short film shot on the empty set of Gus Van Sant's Milk, featuring the original archival audio recorded by Harvey Milk on November 18th, 1978 — to be played in the event of his assassination.

Temple Theatre, Park City

Shouting Fire: Stories From the Edge of Free Speech (US Documentary Competition)

Director: Liz Garbus

(USA, 2008, 80 min., color)

Though it may have taken a beating in our post-9/11 society, the First Amendment remains one of our most cherished, core tenants, even though we may not always like the things it guarantees others the right to say. This documentary explores both the Amendment's history and several contemporary cases, including that of a young boy fighting for the right to wear a shirt in school bearing anti-gay scripture.

Temple Theatre, Park City

Louise-Michel (World Dramatic Competition)

Directors: Benoit Delepine, Gustav de Kervern

Cast: Yolande Moreau, Bouli Lanners

(France, 2008, 94 min., color)

After being unceremoniously fired by the toy factory that employed them, a group of women seek revenge by hiring a hit man to off the company's owner. This dark and absurdist French comedy features an unexpected queer twist.

Tower Theatre, Salt Lake City

Countertransference (US Dramatic Shorts)

Shorts Program 3

Director: Madeleine Olnek

(USA, 2008, 16 min., color, HD Cam)

An awkward woman seeks out therapy to help her deal with assertiveness issues, but it unfortunately only multiplies her problems in this dark comedy.

Holiday Village Cinema IV, Park City

The Kinda Sutra (US Documentary Shorts)

Shown before Over the Hills and Far Away

Director: Jessica Yu

(USA, 2008, 8 min., color)

Part insightful documentary and part animated short, Oscar winning filmmaker Jessica Yu has crafted this film about the fanciful childhood misconceptions we have about where babies come from, some of which still prevail today. Some gay perspectives are included as well.

Broadway Centre Cinemas IV, Salt Lake City

Good Hair (Documentary Competition)

Director: Jeff Stilson

Screenwriters: Chris Rock, Jeff Stilson, Lance Crouther, Chuck Sklar

Cast: Chris Rock, Ice-T, Nia Long, Maya Angelou, Reverend Al Sharpton

(USA, 2009, 95 min., color)

In an attempt to change his young daughter's misconceptions about her own hair, comedian Chris Rock set out to investigate the history, business, and unexpected facets of black hair culture. (WAITING ON QUEER DETAILS)

Holiday Village Cinema IV, Park City

Vapid Lovelies (Narrative/Experimental Shorts Competition)

Director: Frank Feldman

Screenwriters: David Luna, Chris Lemon, Frank Feldman

(USA, 2008, 22 min.)

Two young, aspiring gay designers from Utah set about to craft the perfect outfit for Sundance with creativity, fierce attitude, and an excess of ego.

Treasure Mountain Inn - Gallery, Park City

City Rats (Narrative Feature Competition)

Director: Steve M. Kelly

Screenwriter: Simon Fantuzzo

Cast: Susan Lynch, Kenny Doughty, Tamer Hassan

(United Kingdom, 2008, 96 min.)

Among the ensemble of denizens in a gritty London neighborhood are Chris and Olly; a disabled man and the brother who cares for him. Confused about his sexuality, Olly is shocked to discover his deaf and mute brother is also gay — and amazingly less conflicted about it than he is.

Treasure Mountain Inn - Main, Park Ciity