Sundance Film Festival 2025

The Sundance festival arrives with a rather extensive variety of dramas, documentaries and short films to cater the expectations of the audience. A roster that will also include international films and animations. However, in addition to the screenings, the festival has planned other activities as well, such as daily conversations with filmmakers, industry panel discussions and a cinema café. 

Whether you are a returning visitor or a first-time attendee, Sundance has many hidden gems that no one would like to miss. However, as anticipation builds, we have decided to help you to navigate this packed schedule. We have narrowed down our ten favourite movies from this year’s line-up, so you don't need to bother where to start.

In his feature debut, Mark Anthony Green brings this vibrant but unsettling pop-horror movie about celebrity worship. The film follows a young writer, Ariel (Ayo Edebiri), venturing into the house of a legendary pop star who mysteriously disappeared thirty years ago. Amidst the loyal followers and voracious journalists, Ariel soon finds herself in the middle of a twisted and sinister plan. With bold stylistic choices, including musical sequences, Opus combines psychological horror with a sharp social commentary on the cult of celebrities.

Set against the picturesque backdrops of Amsterdam and Helsinki, Sophie Hyde returns to the festival with this poignant exploration of family, identity and self-discovery. Hannah (Olivia Colman) and her non-binary teenager, Frances, visit their hedonistic gay grandfather, Jimpa (John Lithgow) in Amsterdam. However, while the teen discovers the pleasures and perils of queer life in the big city, Hannah will have to reconsider her beliefs about parenting. Jimpa is a heartfelt and insightful exploration of the evolving dynamics of family ties in the LGBTQ+ community.

It’s 1974. Photographer and activist Peter Hujar (Ben Whishaw) and his friend, Linda Rosenkrantz (Rebecca Hall), meet in his apartment and discuss the trivialities of his day and the fear of an artist to not be truly seen. Fifty years later, Ira Sachs unearths with elegance this conversation in the big screen. Peter Hujar’s Day is an honest portrait of New York City’s downtown art scene and the struggles that define an artist life. An honest and evocative portrait of a very specific time that, somehow, manages to be timeless.

A musician and her husband move to an isolated house in the eerie woods of Wales seeking peace. Instead, their music will disturb a local ancient folk magic that will invoke a supernal dread over the couple. Bryan Chainey takes inspiration from British folklore to deliver this unsettling horror story that also dives deep into artistic obsession and the shadows of buried trauma. Dev Patel and Rosy McEwen as the main leads give a moving performance of a couple sustained through fraught intimacy and creativity.

Amalia Ulman is no stranger to the Sundance, and this time she has returned with her unique blend of absurdity and charm. The film, co-starring Chloë Sevigny, follows a helpless media crew as they bumble their way into the wrong country while profiling a local musician. While they interact with locals, unexpected relationships will flourish while a health crisis looms unacknowledged in the background. This satire of media exploitation combines Ulman’s distinctive humour with a warm portrait of human connections.

During Argentina’s dirty war, Valentin Arregui (Diego Luna), a revolutionary Marxist, and Luis Molina (Tonatiuh), a gay hairdresser, are unusual cellmates with nothing in common but their unfair situation. However, the two will form an unlikely bond over the escapist stories of Molina about his favourite screen diva — played by Jennifer Lopez. This reinterpretation of the classic musical Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985) blends together a rich political drama with the flashy and colourful extravagance of the old Hollywood musicals.

A poignant tale of love, loss, and resilience throughout three generations of a Palestinian family. After the defiant acts of a teenager in a protest at the West Bank, the narrative unfolds through his mother’s memories, tracing back to his grandfather’s displacement. Both epic and intimate, All That’s Left of You is a heartbreaking film about intergenerational trauma, but also an exploration of healing.

Set against the remnants of his family farm, a rancher, portrayed by Josh O’Connor, seeks a way to rebuild both his land and his life. Rebuilding is a loving portrait of the American West and the strength and resilience of a community bound by shared grief. A poignant, authentic and nuanced drama directed by Max Walker Silverman that feels like a tip of the hat to community building and human tenacity.

The musician Jeff Buckley had a promising career ahead. His music captivated thousands of fans after he debuted with the album Grace in 1994, and he was working on his sophomore record. Unfortunately, his career was cut short when he suddenly passed away at the age of thirty. However, nor him or his music was ever forgotten. Now, through never-before-seen footage, exclusive voice messages, and the words of those closest to him, Amy Brierg returns with this elegant and compassionated portrait of this talented musician. A history of a one-in-a-generation voice and the love and loss that shape it.

In China, a country where eligible men greatly outnumber women, two dating coaches have completely different philosophies for their students. Hao's signature method, ‘strategic deception,’ is based on hiding your own personality and building an image that will attract women. However, his wife, Wen, focuses on boosting her female clientele’s self-esteem. Unsurprisingly, such opposite views can cause friction in a marriage. With humour and empathy, director Violet Du Feng tackles  the consequences of the one child policy, societal pressure, and gender norms in her new documentary.