Sundance Film Festival 2024 Photos: ‘Love Me’, ‘Love Machina’ & ‘Out Of My Mind’ Premieres On Day 2

The Sundance Film Festival 2024, beloved by independent film enthusiasts, opens the film festival circuit with a bustling calendar of parties, thought-provoking panels, and red-carpet premieres.

Celebrating its 40th milestone, the lineup boasts diversity across various categories, featuring 53 short films, 35 documentary features, and 83 feature films. Among the buzzworthy titles premiering are My Old Ass; Realm of Satan; A Different Man; A Real Pain; Freaky Tales; Little Death; Love Lies Bleeding; Love Me; Sasquatch Sunset; and Thelma.

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Day 1 of the fest started with Thursday’s opening-night film, Thelma directed by Josh Margolin, starring Oscar-nominated actress June Squibb as an unlikely action star. The ensemble cast includes Fred Hechinger, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg and Malcolm McDowell. Also among the cast is actor Richard Roundtree, who passed away in October 2024.

The film revolves around  Thelma Post (June Squibb), a 93-year-old grandmother who gets duped by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson. Determined to retrieve what was taken from her, she embarks on a treacherous quest across the city. The film’s inspiration came from a real-life experience of writer-director Josh Margolin’s centenarian grandmother.

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Pedro Pascal, Jay Ellis, Normani Kordei Hamilton, Keir Gilchrist, Jack Champion, Ji-young Yoo, Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden attended the Freaky Tales premiere at the Eccles Center Theatre. Fleck and Boden return to Sundance after premiering their breakout film Half Nelson (2006), starring Ryan Gosling, who received an Academy Award nomination for his performance in the film. The ensemble cast includes Angus Cloud, Dominique Thorne and Ben Mendelsohn.

Other premiering films on the schedule today are Power; Stress Positions, Girls State, I Saw The TV Glow, Layla, Ghostlight, Veni Vidi Vici & Kneecap.

The Opening Night Gala this evening will host a star-studded presenter lineup on January 18, honoring Christopher Nolan with the Inaugural Sundance Institute Trailblazer Award. Kristen Stewart will be presented the Visionary Award, Celine Song and Maite Alberdi will receive the Vanguard Award and Mary Robinson will present Pat Mitchell with the Vanguard Award for Philanthropy.

The 2024 Sundance Film Festival will take place January 18–28, 2024, in person in Park City and Salt Lake City with the jury and audience awards to be presented on January 26th at The Ray Theatre.

Whether you’re a seasoned film fanatic or curious to discover new talent, check back for daily updates from the festival.