Fans of indie cinema will be in their element this week as the London Sundance film festival opens on Thursday (6th July) at Picturehouse Central for four days of magnificent movies.
And there’s a veritable feast for the eyes on offer, all kicking off with the UK premiere of ‘Scrapper’, written and directed by Londoner Charlotte Regan on July 6th. The drama stars Harris Dickinson (Triangle of Sadness) as a man looking to reconnect with his estranged 12-year-old daughter Georgie (Lola Campbell) when her mum dies.
Another major highlight is the A24 produced supernatural horror for the Instagram-generation, ‘Talk to Me’, directed by Aussie brother’s Danny and Michael Philippou.
Sophie Wilde stars as Mia, a girl looking for a distraction on the anniversary of the death of her mother, who attempts to try and conjure spirits. After holding a séance with her friends using an embalmed hand, they become hooked on their new hobby, until terrifying forces from the other side turn their festivities into ghastly goings on.
Other flicks to keep a close eye on are ‘Passages’ starring Ben Whishaw (Women Talking) and Adèle Exarchopoulos (Blue Is The Warmest Colour). This already highly acclaimed love triangle drama helmed by Ira Sachs, tells the intimate story of a gay couple whose marriage is thrown into crisis when one of them begins a passionate affair with a younger woman.
There’s also the anticipated romance ‘Past Lives’ starring Greta Lee (Russian Doll), Teo Yoo (Decision To Leave), and John Magaro (First Cow).
This debut feature from writer and director Celine Song follows a reunion between two childhood friends as they contemplate their relationship and their own lives.
There’s ‘Fairyland’ a stylish coming-of-age drama based on Alysia Abbott’s memoir. The film is told from the perspective of a young girl being brought up by her single gay father in San Francisco in the 1970s and stars Emilia Jones (CODA), Scoot McNairy (Argo), Geena Davis (Thelma & Louise) and singer-songwriter Adam Lambert.
If documentaries are your thing, there are plenty to get stuck into from Anton Corbijn’s (Control) ‘Squaring the Circle (The Story of Hipgnosis)’, which explores the the duo behind some of music’s most iconic album covers. As well as Maximilien Van Aertryck and Axel Danielson’s award-winning ‘Fantastic Machine’, a journey into the life of the video camera. Not to mention, ‘Invisible Beauty’, which puts a spotlight on celebrated activist and model, Bethann Hardison.
In an exclusive repertory strand, the Festival will present three films by radical American filmmaker, producer, writer, and editor, Gregg Araki. He’ll be in town to attend the special screenings and Q&A sessions of the Rose McGowan and James Duval starring, ‘The Doom Generation’, ‘Three Bewildered People In The Night’ and ‘Mysterious Skin’.
Once again, the line-up this year includes a short film programme dedicated to UK productions, highlighting some of the amazing talent in the Short Film art form, in films either produced in the UK or made by filmmakers based in the UK.
Closing out proceedings this year is acclaimed filmmaker Nicole Holofcener’s Brooklyn-set comedy-drama, You Hurt My Feelings, which stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Seinfeld) and Tobias Menzies (The Crown).
They play a couple whose marriage is suddenly upended when she overhears her husband’s honest reaction to her latest book.
Sundance Film Festival: London 2023 runs from the 6th – 10th July. Find all the info at picturehouses.com/sundance
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