The apocalypse predicted at the beginning of 2000 has arrived a little late, but will be coming to Park City, Utah. Yes, Troma Entertainment, America’s oldest independent film company has announced the inauguration of TromaDance. TromaDance will be a one-day event celebrating truly independent cinema that will take place Wednesday, January 26, 2000 in Park City, Utah, and will change film festivals forever.
Over the course of its 25-year history, Troma has carved out a reputation as a leader at the cutting edge of independent film. As part of Troma’s on-going 25th Anniversary celebration, we have created TromaDance, a genuinely democratic film festival for everyone who feels the independence seeping out of independent film. While the major studios use another so-called “independent” festival running simultaneously to promote their latest offerings, Troma will use TromaDance to bring independent film festivals back to their roots and their original creed. TromaDance will offer small, personal films made far away from the Hollywood studio system, without big stars, big money, or big corporate muscle to back them up. These will be movies made with nothing more than passion, courage, integrity, and raw talent.
The day-long event will begin at 9 AM at the Gateway Center, 136 Heber Ave., Park City, between Main Street and Swede Alley with screenings of the best short films submitted by Troma fans around the world. At 6:30 PM, there will be a special tribute to the Charged 60 Second Film Showcase, followed by a panel discussion at 7:00 PM.
At 8:00 PM, TromaDance presents its closing film: the Utah premiere of Terror Firmer. Troma’s latest and greatest release has been playing consistently in Los Angeles since its October premiere. It has been described by Mark Cummings of Film Topics as “an expression of American idealism…and the values that made art and artistic freedom something worth emulating and striving for.” At 10:00 PM, the festivities move over to the Smokehouse restaurant on Lower Main Street at the Town Lift Plaza where the TromaDance party will celebrate independent gyno-Americans with the girls of Miss Hawaiian Tropic and live independent music.
TromaDance is an opportunity for everyone who’s ever picked up a camera to have their work seen without the compromises and homogenization required by corporate interference. And unlike so many other “alternative” film festivals, there is absolutely NO entry fee to submit your movies to TromaDance. For now at least.
The complete schedule of films will be announced on the first day of the Sundance Film Festival, Thursday, January 20. For more information, go to the Tromadance website at www.tromaville.com/tromadance or while in Park City for the festival, the Troma Team can be reached at (310) 749-9585.
