27th Apr2014

Sundance Film Festival London – Film

by timbaros

images-157The famous film festival that is Sundance is back again this weekend, in London.

Held at the 02, Sundance again promises films that have not yet been seen in the UK, plus loads of events, including some that are open to the general public.
Kicking off the festival is the UK premiere of Fruitvale Station, a devastating re-creation of the death of San Francisco Bay area resident Oscar Grant, who was accidentally shot and killed by the police on New Year’s Day, 2009. The performances by both Michael B. Jordan as Grant and especially Octavia as his mother are said to be the best of the year. This one is not to miss.
Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon with Director Michael Winterbottom bring to the festival a film called The Trip to Italy. Edited from the six episodes which were show on the BBC, the film is a stand alone sequel that will include a heavy dose of humor from both Coogan and Brydon.
In one of the most unusual films of the festival and of Michael Fassbender’s career, he plays Frank in a movie of the same name. Fassbender unfortunately wears a large fake head in this film as he plays a musical genius who leads a rock band.
Famous American actors Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler come together to star in a film called They Came Together. They find themselves in a romance after Rudd’s corporate executive character tries to shut down Poehler’s small candy store. Are they meant to be together or will their business dealings tear them apart?
Sundance London is hosting the international premiere of the documentary The Case Against 8, with 8 being the law that California passed in 2008 that was Proposition 8, which repealed the right of same-sex couples to marry. Though it may seem outdated now that quite a few states in the U.S. have approved gay marriage, it is nonetheless the telling of how one of the most liberal states in the U.S. tried to prevent gay marriage from being legally accepted.
Sundance London will also be showing films that they call ‘From the Collection.’ These films include Reservoir Dogs, Memento, and Winter’s Bone, which starred a then unknown Jennifer Lawrence. There is also two Short film programmes and a Shorts workshop, which is designed to empower the next generation of filmmakers.
The best part of the festival could be the free events. There will be a pop-up stage right in the new Brooklyn Bowl in the 02, with shows to be performed by over a dozen artists, including The Soho Hobo, Goldheart Assembly, 18-year old singer Luke Fincher, Lesley Pike, 15-year old Natalie Shay, and Mo Evans. A free comedy show will be performed by David Cross, an Emmy-winning comedian, and David Wain, a comedy writer. This will be held in the Brooklyn Bowl venue and is a free event subject to venue capacity.
For information on more events and the entire film/shorts programme, please visit Sundance London at: