Sundance Primer: The 2018 Dramatic Competition Lineup
Thursday, November 30, 2017 at 10:00PM 
It's a wonderful week for diversity! In the festival world, at least. The American and International Dramatic Competition lineup for the 2018 Sundance Film Festival was announced and it includes narratives representing people of all kinds from all over the world. This year's lineup also features exciting film directorial debuts from familiar (Idris Elba! Paul Dano!) and new visionaries.
In the past, major films like Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire and this year's awards darling Call Me By Your Name premiered under this category. Check out this year's contenders to gauge who critics and audiences will still be talking about months after the festival's run.
American Animals (USA | directed by Bart Layton) This crime drama features Evan Peters, Blake Jenner, Jared Abrahamson, and The Killing of a Sacred Deer’s Barry Keoghan as four men that participate in an ill-advised heist. Ann Dowd and Udo Kier also star.
And Breathe Normally (Iceland, Sweden, Belgium | directed by Ísold Uggadóttir) Kristín Thóra Haraldsdóttir and Babetida Sadjo star as two women from different cultures made to work together to overcome each other's struggles.
A Translator (Canada, Cuba | directed by Rodrigo & Sebastián Barriuso) Rodrigo Santoro stars as a Russian professor working in Havana who is obligated to translate for victims of the Chernobyl accident being treated in Cuba.
Blaze (USA | directed by Ethan Hawke) Ben Dickey stars as country artist Blaze Foley in a film that explores the artist’s life and his contributions to the outlaw country music genre. The film also includes Sam Rockwell, Steve Zahn, Alia Shawkat, and Richard Linklater.
;)
Blindspotting (USA | directed by Carlos López Estrada) Hamilton’s Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal star as unlikely buddies in López Estrada’s film debut. The film explores gentrification and friendship in Oakland. Also stars Tisha Campbell Martin, Janina Gavankar, and Wayne Knight.
Burden (USA | directed by Andrew Heckler) Garrett Hedlund stars as a member of the KKK reconsiders his ideals after falling in love and being mentored by a black revered. Cast includes Forest Whitaker, Usher Raymond, Andrea Risenborough, and Tom Wilkinson.
Butterflies (Turkey | Tolga Karaçelik) Three siblings meet each other for the first time after the death of a father they all shared, but never knew. The film explores their bond as they get to know each other and their father's history. The film stars Tolga Tekin, Bartu Küçükçağlayan, Tuğçe Altuğ, and Hakan Karsak.
Dead Pigs (China | directed by Cathy Yan) Vivian Wu, Haoyu Yang, Mason Lee, and Meng Li star in this tale that follows the stories of a farmer, beautician, busboy, architect, and rich girl converging after dead pigs are found floating near their village's river.
Eighth Grade (USA | directed by Bo Burnham) Introduces Elsie Fisher as a teenager wrapping up a tumultuous last week in the titular eighth grade.
The Guilty (Denmark | directed by Gustav Möller) With only a phone on his side, an alarm dispatcher is challenged to locate a kidnapped woman that sought his help. Jakob Cedergren, Jessica Dinnage, Johan Olsen, and Omar Shargawi star.
Holiday (Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden | directed by Isabella Eklöf) A love triangle in the Turkish Riviera involving a dangerous drug lord complicates the lavish lives of its protagonists.
;)
I Think We’re Alone Now (USA | Reed Morano) Reed Morano gets in the film director’s seat for the second time. This time, she directs Elle Fanning and Peter Dinklage in an apocalyptic drama.
The Kindergarten Teacher (directed by Sara Colangelo) Based on the Israeli movie of the same name—except this time set in Long Island—Maggie Gyllenhaal stars as a caring teacher that sacrifices much to make sure the brilliance of one of her precocious students is recognized. Parker Sevak, Gael Garcia Bernal, and Rosa Salazar also star.
;)
Lizzie (USA | Craig William Macneill) Chloë Sevigny and Kristen Stewart are love interests in this psychological thriller that takes on the murders of Lizzie Borden’s family in 1892.
Loveling (Brazil, Uruguay | directed by Gustavo Pizzi) A mother in Rio de Janeiro, played by Karine Teles, struggles as her son leaves their home.
The Miseducation of Cameron Post (USA | Desiree Akhavan) Based on Emily Danforth’s 2012 novel, the film explores a young girl’s experience in gay conversion camp. Cast includes Chloë Grace Moretz, Jennifer Ehle, Sasha Lane, and John Gallager Jr.
;)
Monster (USA | Anthony Mandler) Stars Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Steve Harmon, an aspiring filmmaker wrongfully accused of murder, as he struggles for his freedom in court.
Monsters and Men (USA | directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green) Green’s film tells three stories that follow a policeman killing a black man: a bystander’s, a black police officer’s, and an inspired high school athlete’s.
Nancy (USA | directed by Christina Choe) Andrea Risenborough stars as the titular character, an woman who convinces herself she was kidnapped as a child after meeting a couple that lost their daughter a few decades back. Luckily, Ann Dowd shows up.
Pity (Greece, Poland | directed by Babis Makridis) Follows the tale of a man whose happiness feeds on others' pity and only surfaces when he's unhappy. Perfectly relatable, perfectly Greek story starring Yannis Drakopoulos, Evi Saoulidou, Nota Tserniafski, and Makis Papadimitriou.
The Queen of Fear (Argentina, Denmark | Valeria Bertuccelli) Valeria Bertuccelli directs herself as famed actress Robertina about to debut her latest solo production. However, her personal conflicts and recurring anxieties promise to threaten her big night.
Rust (Brazil | directed by Aly Muritiba) Rust follows a young cast that includes Giovanni De Lorenzi, Tifanny Dopke, Enrique Diaz, and Clarissa Kiste as they leave technology behind during their final school trip together.
Sorry to Bother You (USA | directed by Boots Riley) A black telemarketer lucks into success after finding a way to make his voice sound like a white man’s. His success introduces him and his girlfriend to a bizarre, magical version of Oakland. The film’s cast includes Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, Armie Hammer, and Steven Yeun.
;)
The Tale (USA | directed by Jennifer Fox) Elizabeth Debicki, Common, Laura Dern, and Ellen Burstyn in! one! film! You shouldn’t need to know more, but the film is based on the director’s experience as a journalist looks back on a sexual experience she had with two adult coaches when she was thirteen.
Time Share (Mexico, Netherlands | Sebastián Hofmann) Two patriarchs team up in Mexico to avoid the threat of a foreign time share giant. The film features performances from Luis Gerardo Mendez, Miguel Rodarte, Andrés Almeida, Cassandra Ciangherotti, and Monserrat Marañon.
Tyrel (USA | directed by Sebastián Silva) Chilean Silva’s (The Maid, Nasty Baby) new movie follows a group of men—that include Caleb Landry Jones, Michael Cera, and Christopher Abbott—as they celebrate a birthday in Catskill Mountains. The celebration takes a turn when Jason Mitchell’s Tyler realizes he will the only person of color in attendance. Luckily, Ann Dowd shows up.
Wildlife (USA | directed by Paul Dano) Paul Dano and partner Zoe Kazan’s adaptation of Richard Ford’s novel centers on the struggles of a young boy’s family in 1960s Montana. The film’s cast includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Carey Mulligan, Bill Camp, and Ed Oxenbould.
Yardie (UK | directd by Idris Elba) Elba sets his directorial debut in 1970s Jamaica as a teacher takes in a boy who has recently witnessed the assassination of his brother. The film stars Aml Ameen, Shantol Jackson, Stephen Graham, Fraser James, and Sheldon Shepherd.
The 2018 Sundance Film Festival will take place in Utah from January 18-28. A total of 110 feature-length films from 29 different countries were selected.
Any titles you were anticipating that missed the cut? What are we thinking will be this lineup's Boyhood come next awards season?
Reader Comments (10)
.The first thought that came in into my head when I saw that still of Maggie and the kid:
Gloria!
I would be down for a Gloria remake with Maggie - I'm down for anything with Maggie at this point - her performance in The Deuce is one of the bravest and most moving in recent TV.
But instead it's a remake of the Israeli film - interesting.
..Good to see Ethan Hawke directing again - it's been too long since the great and underrated The Hottest State.
... Nice to see my country Denmark represented 3 times.
Everything sounds interesting. Please, try to post the entre line-up (so many movies, so little time).
It would be really great if Ann Dowd showed up as the same character in each film. My idea of a franchise.
@Peter
Great idea. How about a reality show? There is a dynamic that isn't really working in the confines of a show, but you add Ann Dowd and watch the magic happen!
Andrea Risenborough (and Ann Down) appears to be a threat for queen of Sundance 2018, which I'm here for 100%. (She was so-o-o winning in Battle of the Sexes, y'all.)
"Luckily, Ann Dowd shows up."
Ha, this really does apply to everything she's in.
I'm trying to spot the breakout hit from the descriptions but I guess I don't have that gift of foresight. I wonder what will be the Call Me By Your Name that will emerge?
Anything that features Maggie Gyllenhaal these days is a treasure to behold.
She was so captivating in The Honourable Woman and, after a three years hiatus, she proves she's still as essential an actress as ever in the excellent The Deuce, where she gives her bravest performance since Secretary, being so charismatic in every scene you just can't keep your eyes off the screen.
So I won't miss an opportunity to see her on the silver screen !!
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