The Countdown to Sundance Begins

With less than two months to go until the annual electrification of the indie film scene that occurs courtesy of the Sundance Film Festival, the films selected for the festival’s U.S. and World Cinema Dramatic and Documentary Competition categories have been announced. Of the over 4,000 feature films submissions the festival received, only 110 were were selected; those lucky few represent 31 countries and 46 first-time moviemakers.

Among the films selected are the new films from directors Kirby Dick (This Film Is Not Yet Rated), Quentin Dupieux (Rubber), Antonio Campos (Afterschool) and Eugene Jarecki (Why We Fight).

The films that made it into Sundance’s non-competition categories—Spotlight, Park City at Midnight, NEXT and New Frontier—will be announced on December 1st. Those waiting with bated breath to see which films were accepted into the Premieres and Documentary Premieres section will have to wait until December 5th to find out.

Reflecting on the films submitted to the 28th annual festival—which will take place from January 19-29 in Park City, Utah—festival director John Cooper notes their “more fully realized visions and stronger stories… The overall quality of the films in the 2012 Competition section will make for an exciting Festival and a remarkable year ahead for independent film audiences everywhere.”

For a complete list of the lineup as it’s been announced so far, head to www.sundance.org/festival.