Matt Passantino
Years Covering Sundance: This was my third
Movies Reviewed: CODA, John and the Hole, Knocking, How It Ends, Marvelous and the Black Hole, Prime Time, Coming Home in the Dark, Philly DA
Favorite Movie: Passing
Thoughts on the festival: While nothing will ever replace the excitement of the in-person festival experience – which hopefully will be reinstated next year, if public health is in better shape – Sundance’s first hybrid festival was a success on my end. I was able to screen 24 movies, with a lot of time eliminated running between screenings. The portal was easy to use and it allowed me to see most movies I was interested in. I hope to be back in Park City one day, but Sundance did its best to adapt to the circumstances.
Norman Gidney
Years attending Sundance: This was my third consecutive year, and easily the strangest.
Sundance 2020 Films Reviewed: Fire in the Mountains, My Name is Pauli Murray, Misha and the Wolves, Strawberry Mansion, Captains of Za’atari, We Are All Going to the World’s Fair, Jockey, Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It, The Most Beautiful Boy in the World, Flee
Fave Sundance 2021 Film: Strawberry Mansion
Best Party or Lounge: The Party where I would sit, drinking whiskey, writing copious words on the films I saw.
Tales from the Film Threat Condo: The time Alan locked himself in the Film Threat Condo Panic room and we couldn’t figure out how to release him.
Best Sundance Post-Screening Experience or Q&A: VIOLATION. Easily one of the most disturbing films I have seen at Sundance, it was a jarring image to see all involved in the production on screen, alive, and happily participating in a Q&A. Just see the movie and you will understand. There is literally no relief from the oppressive tone and what happens is almost unwatchable.
Celebrity Sighting: Alan in the Film Threat Condo Escape Room.
The Thing that I missed the most at 2021 Sundance: The friends that I have made with the locals and volunteers of Park City during the festival. Shout out to Tommy who works at the Library coffee shop.
Sabina Dana-Plasse
Years attending Sundance: 15 years and once even earlier
Sundance 2021 Films Reviewed: Mass, Land, President, R#J, First Date, Son of Monarchs, Ma Belle, My Beauty, One for the Road
Fave Sundance 2021 Film: President. It was an education that I did not expect.
Best Party or Lounge: Hands down trying to navigate the New Frontier and after-party gatherings. People would just walk right through you and I had trouble trying to sit at the bar.
Best Party I Crashed: Well, my streaming abilities crashed at the end of First Date, seriously, so I missed the party.
Tales from the Film Threat Condo: We needed more cocktails while streaming, texting, and whatever else we did to deliberate.
Best Sundance Post-Screening Experience or Q&A: First Film Threat discussion at Alan’s cabin.
Celebrity Sighting: Robin Wright was in two different places and had two very different looks from the introduction of Land to the film’s Q & A at the end.
Most Surprising Thing About Sundance 2021: Albeit virtual, Sundance made a huge effort to make you feel part of an event and festival with others. The Q & As were very well done and the moderators had great training in making them interesting and engaging while at the same time picking relevant questions and acknowledging the many people who were participating in the online chat discussions.
Enjoy this playlist of Film Threat’s 2021 Sundance Film Festival coverage on YouTube.
More Sundance Reviews from Film Threat’s Remote Team Coverage
Here’s the review round-up from our remote team who was unable to join us in Park City, but were there in spirit.
Alex Saveliev: Doublespeak, Human Factors, Searchers
Brian Shaer: When We Were Bullies
Hanna B: Hive, Users
Josiah Teal: Ailey, You Wouldn’t Understand
