Feature films take center stage at Sundance Festival 2025, with a whopping 82 feature films from 24 countries gracing the screens in Park City, Utah. This famous independent film event, founded by Robert Redford, celebrates risk-takers and bold projects, continuing its tradition as the largest U.S. film festival for independent productions.
German productions are not left out of this festive event. Among these are the documentary "Eternal You - From the End of Forever" by Hans Block and Moritz Riesewieck, featuring start-ups utilizing artificial intelligence to establish digital avatars for mourners to interact with the deceased. Their world premiere here is highly anticipated.
Furthermore, Nora Fingscheidt's new feature film, which previously brought Saoirse Ronan to the screen in the book adaptation "The Outrun," will also have its world premiere. This drama revolves around an alcoholic woman who leaves London to reconnect with her Scottish home island of Orkney.
Well-known actors and Hollywood directors such as Kristen Stewart and Steven Soderbergh will be present in Park City too, displaying their indie films. The Sundance Festival serves as a stepping stone for smaller films, helping them find distributors and a broader audience. In 2021, the deaf drama "Coda" won top honors after its breakout performance.
German entries in the World Cinema Documentary Competition also include films like "Gen", which follows Dr. Maurizio Bini, an Italian specialist who aids IVF patients and transitions, and negotiates the constraints of a conservative government.
Some other notable German films featured include "Köln 75", a German story with international appeal, and "Coexistence My Ass", a timely look at a pro-Palestinian Israeli comedian.
Redford remains committed to showcasing such groundbreaking films at the Sundance Festival, now in its 40th year.
