Slamdance Film Festival 2019
By Peter Belsito
25 years now in the making Slamdance is established here in Park City atop Main Street. A somewhat smaller festival in number of films than Sundance, and with a lot fewer screening venues. In the compact confines of the Treasure Mountain Inn Slamdance has made its mark as the outsider that cannot be ignored.
Let me give two examples from this week.
As I am prone to do, I walked blindly into a dramatic film at Slamdance The Vast of Night. (Okay I confess, when in the lobby where they sell warm hats and festival tee shirts I asked some of the nice teenage young women working the stands there ‘what’s good?’. They all agreed on this title.) The film is a great masterpiece. See my review here. That film is one of the best festival experiences I’ve ever had.
Then yesterday I went to High Flying Bird about which I knew nothing and which turned out to be directed by Steven Soderbergh. Review of the film here as well. But before the film, Soderbergh comes out and gives a half hour rambling q&a about film, the current Netflix world, the future, what’s happening now etc. He has been a Slamdance fan since it began 25 years ago.
Slamdance is an important film event. Much more I must say than a Sundance appendage or tag along. Their identity of course has always been defined by the Fest’s proximity in time and space to what many regard as the US’ top film event.
I think it must be considered differently from the great Sundance, on its own and its importance and unique identity is established. Long live Slamdance.
