Sundance London announces more films, live talks & the UK tour

Sundance Institute and Picturehouse announced additions to the 2022 Sundance Film Festival: London programme.

Alongside the twelve feature films, two short film strands and industry events previously announced, the festival will also present a new podcast strand with live audiences, including Girls on Film and Evolution of Horror; a 25th-anniversary screening of Love Jones, a special screening of Danny Boyle’s Shallow Grave; and a screening of Janicza Bravo’s Lemon chosen by keynote speaker, producer Christine Vachon.

The Festival is thrilled to open up the spirit of Sundance Film Festival to UK audiences by screening three films at upwards of 25 cinemas across the country. A Love Song, Free Chol Soo Lee and Good Luck To You, Leo Grande will screen alongside recorded Filmmaker Q&As during the festival dates of 9 to 12 June 2022.

For the first time ever, the festival will include an exciting programme of live podcast recordings within the line-up. The exclusive podcast events are open to the general public and will be recorded live with special guests in attendance. Girls On Film shines a light on female filmmakers and critics in a professional and entertaining format; it is hosted by journalist Anna Smith and guests will include Sophie Hyde (dir Good Luck To You, Leo Grande) and writer/comedian Katy Brand. Evolution of Horror, hosted by journalist Mike Muncer, is the UK’s number one horror podcast and will be joined by Hanna Bergholm (dir Hatching) and Andrew Semans (dir Resurrection). 90 Minutes Or Less Film Fest is a podcast celebrating films with runtimes under 90 minutes long, hosted by cinema marketer Sam Clements. Clements will be in conversation with A Love Song director Max Walker-Silverman about his 81 minute feature debut.

Other special talks for the public includes an on-stage conversation with legendary independent producer Christine Vachon, co-founder of New York’s Killer Films; and a documentary-focused panel event, How To Make Archive Come Alive For Contemporary Audiences with Sara Dosa, (dir Fire of Love), Ed Perkins (dir The Princess) and Julie Ha and Eugene Yi (dirs Free Chol Soo Lee). The festival is pleased to confirm that Academy Award winning actor Emma Thompson, alongside director Sophie Hyde, is now confirmed to attend two Q&As for Good Luck To You, Leo Grande on Thursday 9 and Friday 10 June at Picturehouse Central.

The festival’s first dedicated Industry Programme will run alongside the festival’s public screenings and events. Each industry passholder will have exclusive access to more than 15 industry-only events during the festival, including intimate roundtable meetings, keynotes, masterclasses, themed panel discussions and daily networking drinks. In addition to US producer Christine Vachon delivering an in-person industry keynote talk, the festival is thrilled to confirm the following talks and panels for industry pass holders: Creating Your Impact Strategy with Sarah Mosses (Together Films) and Jessica Edwards (Doc Society); Funding For Emerging Talents with Farhana Bhula (Film4), Mia Bays (BFI) and Jordan McGarry (Film London); Getting Your Short Into The World in association with BFI Network, hosted by Mike Plante, Senior Programmer at Sundance Film Festival who will be joined by Alice Cabanas (BFI Network), Katie Metcalfe (Nowness) and shorts filmmakers; director Max Walker-Silverman in conversation about his filmmaking process for his sensational debut, A Love Song; and The Movie that Blew My Mind with directors from this year’s Festival including Jim Archer (Brian and Charles). As previously announced there will be a live podcast recording event for industry pass holders with Nicole Davis for her podcast Best Girl Grip interviewing Tabitha Jackson, director of Sundance Film Festival. Industry passes are on sale now here.

In an exclusive repertory strand, the festival will present three standout films that have screened at Sundance Film Festival in the past. Directed by Theodore Witcher, in his feature film directing debut, Love Jones won the Audience Award at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival (tied with Morgan J. Freeman’s Hurricane Streets). The film follows a young black poet and a photographer who fall in love in ‘90s Chicago. Shallow Grave is Danny Boyle’s debut feature film which premiered at Sundance Film Festival in 1994, starring Kerry Fox, Ewan McGregor and Christopher Eccleston. The intense thriller is written by John Hodge (who adapted the Trainspotting screenplay) and it follows three friends who find their flatmate dead. Breakout film Lemon (Dir. Janicza Bravo) from the 2017 edition of Sundance Film Festival has been selected to play by the festival’s keynote speaker Christine Vachon who produced the film at her company Killer Films. Lemon stars Brett Gelman (who co-wrote alongside Bravo), Judy Greer and Michael Cera.

Sundance Film Festival: London takes place from 9 to 12 June. Festival passes and general tickets are on sale now.