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2025 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL CONTINUED WITH PREMIERES AND THE GALA FEATURING CYNTHIA ERIVO, SARAH JESSICA PARKER, CONAN O’BRIEN, ROSE BYRNE, DAVE FRANCO, STEVEN YEUN, JACINDA ARDERN, ELIJAH WOOD AND MANY MORE
Cynthia Erivo, James Mangold, Sean Wang, Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, Michelle Satter and more honored at Festival Gala: Celebrating Sundance Institute Presented by Google TV
(L-R) Rt. Hon. Dame Jacinda Ardern, Olivia Colman and Cynthia Erivo, Conan O'Brien and Rose Byrne on January 24, 2025 in Park City, Utah.
Bottom Row (L-R) Elijah Wood, Sundance Film Festival Programmer Ania Trzebiatowska, Olivia Colman, and Steven Yeun on January 24, 2025 in Park City, Utah.
(Photo Credit: Shutterstock for Sundance Film Festival)
It was another exciting day in Park City for the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. The theaters were filled with a vibrant energy as festival goers experienced another full day of premieres with talent including Sarah Jessica Parker, Conan O’Brien, Rose Byrne, Himesh Patel, Dave Franco, Ben Harper, Steven Yeun, Jacinda Ardern, Elijah Wood, Soledad O’Brien, and more!
Today also marked another annual celebration, the Sundance Institute’s fundraising gala Celebrating Sundance Institute Presented by Google TV, co-chaired by Ebs Burnough and Pat Mitchell. The evening gathered innovative storytellers and champions of independent film to honor trailblazers in the film industry. The honorees included Michelle Satter, Cynthia Erivo, James Mangold, Sean Wang, Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie. The evening closed with a surprise performance by Sara Bareilles who captivated the audience as she took to the piano delivering renditions of songs from Waitress.
JANUARY 24 HIGHLIGHTS
CINEMA CAFÉ presented by Audible
Cinema Café is the Sundance Film Festival’s series of conversations that bring together special guests for thought-provoking encounters and fascinating dialogue while complementing the film program.
Audiences were treated to fascinating dialogue with Olivia Colman and Steven Yeun.
FESTIVAL GALA: CELEBRATING SUNDANCE INSTITUTE
Festival Gala: Celebrating Sundance Institute Presented by Google TV, co-chaired by Ebs Burnough and Pat Mitchell
Honorees and presenters included:
Cynthia Erivo - Sundance Institute Visionary Award
Presented by Olivia Colman
James Mangold - Sundance Institute Trailblazer Award
Presented by Joel Edgerton
Sean Wang - Sundance Institute Vanguard Award for Fiction Presented by Acura
Presented by Andrew Ahn
Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie - Sundance Institute Vanguard Award for Nonfiction Presented by Acura
Presented by R.J. Cutler
Michelle Satter - Sundance Institute Presents A Tribute to Michelle Satter
Presented by Glenn Close and Marielle Heller
Attendees were surprised with performances by the Grammy and Tony Award-winning Sara Bareilles and the Red Spirit Singers
The star-studded Gala’s attendees included:
Abby Wambach & Glennon Doyle, Boots Riley, Cherien Dabis, Erik Freig, Gigi Pritzker, Greg Nava, Kenneth Cole & Maria Cuomo Cole, Kimberly Pierce, Jon Hamm, Lena Waithe, Mark Burnett & Roma Downey, Rory Kennedy & Mark Bailey, Tessa Thompson and many more!
PREMIERES INCLUDE:
THE LIBRARIANS
Actress and executive producer Sarah Jessica Parker joined the film’s subjects and director-producer Kim A. Snyder who attended the premiere’s press line and took part in a Q&A.
Touching on her love for libraries and the profound impact they’ve had on her life, Sarah Jessica Parker said:
“I have a long history with books, a long relationship with libraries and librarians. I’ve worked closely with the American Library Association over the years. It is my big fortune that I just happen to make numerous public proclamations about my affection for books, libraries, and librarians. Like many people in this room probably, I was raised in a library. One of eight kids, we were incredibly reliant upon our local public library - it was cool in the summer and warm in the winter, and had the most wonderful people as shepherds and they were in council with my parents, they weren’t leaving me astray, they were answering my curiosity.”
She continued: “I can’t imagine my life without books, and I can’t imagine our country without the opportunity to know the world, to be better people, to learn about people different than ourselves, to be in a different country far away, to smell something different, to be patient, to listen, and it is through these people’s shepherding that we have our kids and grownups have to opportunity to be elsewhere.”
IF I HAD LEGS I'D KICK YOU
Rose Byrne and Conan O’Brien joined director Mary Bronstein at the premiere’s press line and had audiences fascinated and entertained during their Q&A.
IT'S NEVER OVER, JEFF BUCKLEY
The press line for the premiere of the documentary was attended by Director Amy Berg and Ben Harper, a close friend of Buckley’s who is a subject in the film.
Ben Harper took to the stage with a surprise performance of Jeff Buckley’s "Hallelujah."
BUBBLE & SQUEAK
The dynamic cast of Bubble & Squeak including Himesh Patel, Sarah Goldberg, Dave Franco, Steven Yeun (cast and producer), director Evan Twohy, and producer Christina Oh attended the premiere’s press line followed by an engaging Q&A.
RABBIT TRAP
The gripping film, Rabbit Trap, premiered tonight with Rosy McEwen, Jade Croot, producer Elijah Wood, and director Bryn Chainey in attendance.
RICKY
The cast and filmmakers of Ricky, attended the premiere and Q&A including Stephan James, Simbi Kali, Titus Welliver, Maliq Johnson, Imani Lewis, and director Rashad Frett.
Director Rashad Frett has a deep connection to Sundance, he premiered his short film Ricky at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and was a 2023 Sundance Institute Directors & Screenwriters fellow where he developed the feature film that tonight premiered at the 2025 Festival.
(L-R) Cynthia Erivo, Dave Franco, Himesh Patel, Sarah Goldberg, and Evan Twohy, Stephan James and Rashad Fretton on January 24, 2025 in Park City, Utah.
(Photo Credit: George Pimentel/Shutterstock for Sundance Film Festival)
A LOOK AHEAD:
The excitement continues tomorrow, January 25 (DAY THREE) of the Festival with premieres including ATROPIA, THE THING WITH FEATHERS, THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND, SUKKWAN ISLAND, COME SEE ME IN THE GOOD LIGHT, THE STRINGER, & many more! Check out the Program Guide for more details: festival.sundance.org/program/films.
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