Wednesday, January 21

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

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.

Prospector Square, Park City

One Day in a Life (Un altro pianeta) (World Dramatic Competition)

Director: Stefano Tummolini

Screenwriters: Stefano Tummolini, Antonio Merone

Cast: Antonio Merone, Lucia Mascino

(Italy, 2008, 82 min., color)

Salvatore's simple outing to an Italian gay beach results in his getting caught up in the unfolding dramas of his fellow beach goers, and the painful memories of his past.

Egyptian Theatre, Park City

I Sell the Dead (Opening Night Slamdance)

Directors/Screenwriters: Glenn McQuaid

Cast: Dominic Monaghan, Larry Fessenden, Angus Scrimm, Ron Pearlman

(US, 2008, 85 min., color, HD)

The harrowing tale of Arthur Blake and Willie Grimes, two bumbling grave robbers embroiled in a series of adventures with the dead and not so dead, is told by Blake to a strange priest on the eve of his execution.

Treasure Mountain Inn - Main, Park Ciity

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.

Racquet Club, Park 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.

Library Center Theatre, Park City

The September Issue (Salt Lake City Gala, US Documentary Competition)

Director: R.J. Cutler

Cast: Anna Wintour, Andre Leon Talley, Grace Coddington

(USA, 2008, 90 min., color)

Nine months in the making, Vogue magazine's September issue is considered by many to be the definitive fashion bible for the following year. This documentary chronicles the creative process and behind the scenes chaos leading up to its unveiling.

Temple 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.

Egyptian 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.

Egyptian Theatre, Park City

The Young and Evil (US Dramatic Shorts)

Shorts Program 2

Director: Julian Breece

(USA, 2008, 15 min., color)

An HIV-positive prevention advocate becomes the target of seduction by a defiantly promiscuous but self-destructive gay teenager trying to become infected himself.

Redstone Cinemas, Kimball Junction

The Anarchists' Wife (La Mujer del Anarquista) (Spectrum)

Directors: Marie Noelle, Peter Sehr

Screenwriters: Marie Noelle, Ray Loriga

Cast: Maria Valverde, Juan Diego Botto, Nina Hoss

(Germany/Spain, 2008, 112 min., color)

Against the tumultuous backdrops of the Spanish Civil War and World War II, the love of a young Spanish couple is tested by time and isolation when the husband's political activism forces them to separate.

Racquet Club, Park City

James (International Dramatic Shorts)

Shorts Program 4

Director: Connor Clements

(Northern Ireland, 2008, 18 min., color, HD cam)

Young James struggles with his sexuality and his teacher, Mr. Sutherland, is the only person he feels he can connect with. When James finally puts a voice to his feelings, Mr. Sutherland's response isn't what James had hoped for.

Holiday Village Cinema III, 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.

Egyptian Theatre, Park 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)

Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, Salt Lake City

Motherhood (Premiere)

Director/Screenwriter: Katherine Dieckmann

Producer: Christine Vachon

Cast: Uma Thurman, Anthony Edwards, Minnie Driver, Samantha Bee

(USA, 2008, 90 min., color)

The latest Sundance entry from queer film champion Christine Vachon's Killer Films, Motherhood follows an overwhelmed mom trying to throw her daughter a sixth birthday party over the course of a particularly tumultuous and revelatory day.

Eccles Theatre, 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

Push: Based on the novel by Sapphire (US Dramatic Competition)

Director: Lee Daniels

Screenwriter: Damien Paul

Cast: Gabourey Sidibe, Paula Patton, Mo'Nique, Mariah Carey, Sherri Shepherd, Lenny Kravitz

(USA, 2008, 105 min., color)

Illiterate, overweight, and sexually abused teenager Precious Jones has a harder life than most could dream of, until a lesbian teacher named Blue Rain inspires her to finally turn her life around.

Prospector Square Theatre, Park City

Rock Pockets (Anarchy Online Shorts Competition)

Director: Trevor Anderson

(USA, 2008, 5 min.)

Remembering the jealousy he felt as a boy watching headbangers at the fair walking around with hands in each other's pockets, a young man and his male friend decide to do just that and gauge the crowd's reaction.

Treasure Mountain Inn - Gallery, Park City

Saint Jude (Current TV Shorts)

Director: Nerina Penzhorn

(USA, 2008, 6 min.)

Mary, an older lesbian artist, shares some of her most despairing times and the art that accompanied it, though never without a sense of humor.

Treasure Mountain Inn - Gallery, Park Ciity