2010 Sundance Film Festival: Extra Tidbits on the U.S Dramatic Competition Selections

As we wait for tomorrow’s selections in the non-competitive categories, I figured I’d further explore/familiarize myself with the sixteen titles (Blue Valentine, Douchebag, The Dry Land, Happythankyoumoreplease, Hesher, Holy Rollers, Howl, The Imperialists Are Still Alive!, Lovers of Hate, Night Catches Us, Obselidia, Skateland, Sympathy for Delicious, 3 Backyards, Welcome to the Rileys and Winter’s Bone) selected for the U.S Dramatic Competition. Much like what IndieWIRE did here, I’ll point to my own set of factoids. 

Derek Cianfrance’s Blue Valentine was originally set up at Thinkfilm and Cianfrance was the DoP on a Sundance entry called Streets of Legend (2003). Douchebag helmer Drake Doremus was in Park City last year for Spooner – not for Sundance, but Slamdance. I know this because I had a convo we his producer during a screening of Bronson. Ryan Piers Williams’ The Dry Land probably counts as Maya Releasing’s first ever participation at the festival. Josh Radnor’s happythankyoumoreplease is a long, one word film title. 

Spencer Susser’s Hesher was written by Susser and David Michod. Michod is coming to the festival with his own film: Animal Kingdom. Kevin Tyler Asch’s Holy Rollers was pegged to go into production in 2007. Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman’s Howl has the distinction of being the opening film this year – but is labeled as the first film of the festival – a question of downplaying red carpet ideology. Zeina Durra’s The Imperialists are still Alive! is among the very low budget films selected in the category. Here’s the official site.

Tanya Hamilton’s Night Catches Us was originally called Stringbean and Marcus. Mos Def and Sophie Okonedo were originally attached. The trailer for Diane Bell’s Obselidia can be seen here. For the Twilight folk: Anthony Burns’s Skateland stars Ashley Greene and Jake Scott’s Welcome to the Rileys stars Kristen Stewart. Speaking of dueling cast members, “Rileys” also see The Sopranos‘ James Gandolfini, while Eric Mendelsohn’s 3 Backyards stars Edie Falco. The it party to get into on Main Street will be for the Sympathy for Delicious gig. Debra Granik’s Winter’s Bone’s is a second film in a row that “contains” drug addiction. Down to the Bone won at Sundance back in 2004.