Sundance Kids
Good films, cool bands, of-the-minute fashion and beautiful people? Who can resist the glamorous sensory overload that is the Sundance Film Festival?
If you’re like us, you’re a local that, despite the draw(s), has a hard time making the trek to Park City from Jan. 18 til Jan. 28. It’s not that you shy away from traffic and crowded restaurants–it’s that you find it nearly impossible to get your fingers on Sundance tickets, and you’re not the type to head all the way up there to strut around in your best garb only to catch a glimpse of Kevin Spacey’s too-polished shoe just before he shuts the door to his limo.
Take heart, young film aficionado. There’s still a chance to don your sunglasses and that new fur-lined bomber hat. True, the deadline has already passed to get tickets (registration opportunities expired on Dec. 29) but we suggest that you opt for Best Of Fest instead: when Sundance thanks locals for their “support” with free tickets to see award-winning films.
Though you’re not as likely to see a celeb, you’re twice as likely to get a good seat without having to wait in line for hours to see a show that may or may not be totally lame.
Head on over to a Sundance box office on January 13 or 14 with a Utah drivers license and a proof-of-residency power bill to get tickets–they’ll give away two per person. Any remaining tickets will be distributed day-of-show at theater locations.
Best Of Fest show dates are January 29 and 30 with films starting at either 6 or 6:30 p.m. or 9 or 9:30 p.m. at various locations. Watch for updates here.
Box office locations:
Park City: 136 Heber Ave.
Salt Lake City: Trolley Square (main floor, east side), 552 S. 602 East
Sundance: North Fork, Provo Canyon
Ogden: 2415 Washigton Blvd.
See the list of 2007 films here.
January 10th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
If you need a Sundance fix & you don’t have tickets or any ideas of your own on how to get in.. here are some things that have worked for me.
It may not always work out so make sure its worth it for you to even try, that way if you don’t get in you’ll still have a good time trying. Oh and remember buyer beware: just like with EVERYTHING at Sundance you have to do your research. I have walked out of many screening/ events that I didn’t really check out first. Ok, now that the warnings are out of the way I guess the best advice that I can give anyone attending the festival is to volunteer. The volunteers are on the inside track of everything. They get a credential which will helps get them into almost anything. The level of credential you get depends on how much time you will put in..obviously you get more access with more volunteer hrs. so that is a great route to get into everything that you want. Also the later in the festival you try to go to a movie the better shot you have to get in, people really start to thin out after the first week. The next best way to get in w/o buying a pass in advance is to get an event schedule. They usually have them floating around everywhere in P.C. during those couple of weeks. Pick out the things that matter to you and GO EARLY! You will most likely be added to the wait list which is a pain but if the seats are sold but not yet taken its your best chance to get in. So GO EARLY and be ready to wait out in the cold. (Or you can do what my best friends mom use to do to us. Drop us off in front of the theater to wait in the cold while she would go shopping, periodically bringing us hot chocolate and a promise to pay for our tickets if we got in. We were poor students so we did it!) If you plan to go to a well publicized premier w/o a ticket then you probably won’t get in w/o a credential but go ridiculously early if you really want a shot at it. Or just plan on going the next day. A lot of the directors & actors go to a few screening and will have a Q&A after the movie because they go not only to premier the movie but in my opinion they really want to hear what people think and to tell you what they were thinking when they made it.
Anyhow if movies aren’t your thing Sundance also has tons of other events. They have tons of musicians that come through and the events aren’t very well publicized. They usually play at the Music Cafe or the Star Bar which are the perfect settings for mellow and intimate mini concerts. Last year my husband & I saw Rufus Wainwright, Imogen Heap & Augustana at the Star Bar one night. And when I say intimate & mellow I mean we sat next to Augustana’s mom’s who were selling their t-shirts & CD’s. & Imogen Heap walked in & hung out and watched the concert for a while before she went on. Anyhow we arrived on time and got right in, I think only because the bands are a distant second to the films for most people. We had credentials so we got in for free, however I know that the cost to get in was minimal. So if you like music Sundance is great place to discover new artists but do your research, you don’t want to show up on a night where the preforming artist is Sharon Stone & Friends.
And yes, that was actually on the schedule.
January 10th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
Wow! Those are helpful hints indeed! The only advice I ever got was to dress sassy, head up there, and see what happens. I only got invited to some celebrity parties, which were filled with really drunk/high/outspoken famous people who think they are more important than they are. Totally not worth it! After that, I stuck to films and music.
All of our NY friends lalalalove to question us about Sundance, and try to get us to go home and take them along. You locals should take advantage of Sundance!
January 10th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
Great suggestions, as usual! I’ve always wanted to go, but never done enough homework to figure out the best plan. Free tickets? Definitely the best plan I’ve ever heard!
January 10th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Agreeeed! I have been wanting to look into Sundance this year and actually get into a movie… so thank you thankyou for the suggestions!! This will save me a ton of time…THANKS! I hope to get up there:)
January 24th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
Don’t give up on Sundance!
These last few days are a locals dream come true. Its so much easier now to get into movies. So if you have ever wanted to try, this is the time!
Also a quick note to any VW owners who go to main street in PC. Take your VW key into the VW tent and you’ll get an extra goodie bag with a fun brown flannel that says NOT FAMOUS across the front, a sweet BULA ski hat with ipod earphones built in, a CD, t-shirt, lip balm etc. Its not half bad for a goodie bag.