Today, in advance of the 40th edition of the Sundance Film Festival, kicking off on January 18, the Sundance Institute revealed the results of a poll taken on the top ten films that have screened at the Festival since it began in 1985.
I was one of the 500 filmmakers, critics, and industry members who shared their personal top 10 lists for the poll. Nearly 4,000 feature films that have been presented at the Festival — and below is the collective top 10 list:
1. Whiplash (2014), Damien Chazelle
2. Reservoir Dogs (1992), Quentin Tarantino
3. Get Out (2017), Jordan Peele
4. Little Miss Sunshine (2006), Dayton/Faris
5. Memento (2001), Christopher Nolan
6. sex, lies and videotape (1989), Steven Soderbergh
7. Before Sunrise (1995), Richard Linklater
8. Boyhood (2014), Richard Linklater
9. Y tu mamá también (2002), Alfonso Cuarón
10. Blood Simple (1985), Joel and Ethan Coen
They actually got it, mostly, right. I can’t complain about this list. I’m also immensely grateful to have attended the premieres for almost half of these films. That first 2014 screening of Damien Chazelle’s “Whiplash” was WILD. I can’t think of a better word to describe it. The whole Theater erupted after that final shot.
I’ll add another 20 that deserve mention:
“Manchester by the Sea,” “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” “The Blair Witch Project,” “American Psycho,” “In the Bedroom,” “The Squid and the Whale,” “Hereditary,” “Take Shelter,” “You Can Count On Me,” “Roger and Me,” “Moon,” “Martha Marcy May Marlene,” “Winter’s Bone,” “Clerks,” “Citizen Ruth,” “Exit Through the Gift Shop,” “Tangerine,” “A Ghost Story,” and “El Mariachi.”
The 2024 Sundance Film Festival will take place January 18–28, 2024, in person in Park City and Salt Lake City.
Still no distributor for "Bucking Fastard," "Alpha Gang," "The Last Photograph," "Closing Night," and "The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd." The issue seems to be quality more than a lack of willingness to buy.