2019 Sundance Film Festival Predictions: #40. Liza Mandelup – Jawline (Docu)

Featured as one of Filmmaker Mag’s 25 New Faces of Independent Film 2017, it’s the close proximity with her subjects (perhaps in the same philosophy or approach as Crystal Moselle) that should make Jawline an incredibly personal docu to watch out for. Liza Mandelup saw her project get backed by the Cinereach folks and was recently encouraged by support from the Sundance Institute Documentary Fund and SF Film Fund Grant for the final stretch.

Gist: This intimate story about teenage connection in the digital age, follows Austyn Tester, a rising star in the live-broadcast ecosystem who had built his following with grassroots and big dreams. Propped up by fangirl lust and wide-eyed optimism, Austyn tries to escape his life in rural Tennessee against all odds.

Production Co./Producers: Bert Hamelinck, Lauren Cioffi, Sacha Ben Harroche, Hannah Reyer

Prediction: U.S. Documentary Competition.

U.S. Distributor: Rights Available. TBD (domestic). TBD (international).