10 Buzz-Worthy Films That Might Show Up at Sundance 2022

The Sundance Film Festival is happening in a little less than 8 weeks from now. Purely spitballing the Park City-set event is almost near impossible given that it is a festival about discovery, which is what makes it such an exciting endeavour for cinephiles.

However, along with the always intriguing Next, Midnight Madness and Competition, there is the “Premieres” section, which has given us in recent years “Manchester By the Sea,” “Call Me By Your Name,” and “Boyhood,” among many others.

I have narrowed down a wish-list for this year’s edition. 15 or so titles that could premiere with considerable “buzz” attached to them. Then again, these films could hold out from the fest, potentially frightened by the virtual component, and instead go for for non-hybrids such as Berlin, Cannes or Venice.

I’m thinking these might potentially show up:

“Bones and All”
Director: Luca Guadagnino (“Call Me By Your Name”)

“Infinity Pool” 
Director: Brandon Cronenberg (“Possessor”)

“Second Chance”
Director: Ramin Bahrani (“99 Homes”)

“Sharp Stick”
Director: Lena Dunham (“Tiny Furniture”)

“The Son”
Director: Florian Zeller (“The Father”)

“The Whale”
Director: Darren Aronofsky (“The Wrestler”)

“Cha Cha Real Smooth”
Director: Cooper Raiff (“Shithouse”)

“Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Director: Kwan and Scheinert (“Swiss Army Man”)

“Call Jane”
Director: Phyllis Nagy (Writer of “Carol”)

“Dual”
Director: Riley Stearns (“The Art of Self-Defense”)

The Festival this year takes place between Thursday, January 20, through Tuesday, January 25, 2022. There will be six days of world premieres.

I’m sure COVID put a stop to a lot of indie productions that couldn’t afford mass testing their crew/actors, so the amount of quality films available to screen will again be similar to this past January’s lineup, maybe a little better. 

Some of the highlights from this past January’s “COVID lockdown” Sundance included “Passing,” “Flee,” “CODA,” “Summer of Soul,” and “Pleasure.”

Will this be a regular thing going forward? Sundance seems to be embracing the digital era. Also, worth pondering, if every film screen in Park City will be available digitally then A24 will be very nervous to bring their stuff to the festival - judging by the studio’s absence at most of the digital fests we’ve seen, they seem to absolutely want their films screened in a theatre.