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Photo by: MITCH ALLEN PHOTOGRAPHY
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Movie industry people wearing black and shivering upon arrival, because they’re not quite ready for the elements, weave in and out of less fashionable yet warm movie lovers searching for celebrities. It’s the Sundance Film Festival, when rustic Park City, Utah, plays charming host to more than 40,000 visitors and 200 independent films over 10 days.
The culture of Sundance springs from the great
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Stacy Peralta (blue shirt) with (from left) Steve Caballero, Lance Mountain, Tommy Guerrero, Rodney Mullen and Mike McGill, stars of Peralta’s new skateboarding documentary “Bones Brigade.”
Photo by: MOLLY MAZZOLINI
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loves of founder Robert Redford — Utah, snow and film — and offers the opportunity both to watch inspirational films and to play in the powder, but sports at Sundance goes beyond the slopes. The festival has launched some critical sports films, from the highly praised basketball documentary “Hoop Dreams” in 1994 to last year’s “Senna,” on the life of late Formula One champ Ayrton Senna. This year’s 10-day event, which came to a close Jan. 29, featured several more sports-related titles whose creators are hoping for wider release (see reviews, Page 13).
— Molly Mazzolini
Sundance London
This year’s opening news conference included news of AEG Europe’s new Sundance-related role. Among the initiatives outlined by The
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AEG Europe is partnering with Sundance at the O2.
Photo by: MOLLY MAZZOLINI
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Sundance Institute was the Sundance London Film and Music Festival, a multidisciplinary arts festival whose inaugural run will take place April 26-29 at London’s O2 Arena. AEG Europe, which owns and operates the O2, will be a partner in the project. The four-day festival is set to kick off with an opening event featuring Redford and record producer
T Bone Burnett and moderated by
Nick Hornby (“High Fidelity”). Fourteen films from the Park City lineup (to be announced in March) will make their U.K. debut.
Sundance Seen
In addition to film celebrities, athletes and sports executives made appearances to support their projects at the festival.
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Pearce was part of the Bing Speaker Series.
Photo by: BING BAR / GETTY IMAGES
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The Bing Bar was also a Sundance concert spot.
Photo by: BING / GETTY IMAGES
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Kevin Pearce, the U.S. snowboarder seriously injured in 2009 while training in Park City, returned to town and discussed his recovery from head trauma at the Bing Bar, the Microsoft search engine’s party and gathering space. As the official search engine of the Sundance Film Festival, Bing activated with this temporary event space featuring a lineup of premiere parties for the filmmakers and concerts from the likes of Drake, Jason Mraz and Lil’ Jon, as well as the Bing Speaker Series.
“Because Bing is for people who do interesting things, we are honored to shine a spotlight on Kevin’s incredible journey through our new advertising campaign,” said Bing’s Lisa Gurry. Pearce appeared along with one of his doctors, Holly Ledyard, and ESPN X Games commentator Sal Masekela.
Donnie Nelson, the Dallas Mavericks’ president of basketball operations and general manager, flew in for the premiere of “The Other Dream Team,” about the 1992 Lithuanian basketball team. Nelson appeared in the film and has a long relationship with the Lithuanian national program.
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Photo by: SALLY GARRISON
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Kim Bohuny, NBA senior vice president of basketball operations-international, interviewed in “The Other Dream Team,” was also at the premiere. She has worked with members of the Lithuanian men’s basketball team since 1992 and was instrumental in supporting the film with NBA footage, interviews and team access. At right, Bohuny (center) and film producer Jon Weinbach (left) posed with ’92 team members Arturas Karnisovas (second from left) and Sarunas Marciulionis (second
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Actress Isla Fisher plays ping pong, Puma style.
Photo by: JOHN SHEARER / GETTY IMAGES
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from right), and director
Marius Markevicius.
Sundance Play
The invitation-only Puma Social Lounge has been part of the Sundance scene for five years. “It has been very successful for us and has given us the opportunity to let the film and entertainment industry experience our brand,” said Tara McRae, vice president of strategic planning and brand management for Puma North America. The footwear company, whose list of international athlete endorsers is led by Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, provides mini air hockey stations, classic board games and a slick ping pong table, all ready for break time in a lounge setting. It’s more of an experience than a gifting lounge to reflect the Puma Social campaign. By the end of the festival, the matte black ping pong table was covered in silver signatures ready for auction to raise funds for the Boys & Girls Club.
