The Japan Times - Sundance unveils eclectic lineup for 2025

Lily Gladstone, Benedict Cumberbatch and Melanie Griffith will be among the big names set to head to the mountains for Utah's influential indie movie gathering in January.

Alongside a slew of never-before-seen feature films, there will also be a raft of innovative documentaries from the United States and further afield.

"The Sundance Film Festival remains steadfast in its commitment to elevating unique and urgent voices in independent storytelling. Audiences can expect a 2025 program that showcases varied and vibrant filmmaking globally," said legendary actor Robert Redford, Sundance Institute's founder and president.

The feature film category includes a world premiere of "The Thing with Feathers," a British film starring Cumberbatch, about a young father who struggles to process the sudden and unexpected death of his wife.

The category will also offer a first look at Gladstone -- fresh from her success in Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon" -- in "The Wedding Banquet," about two gay couples who trade a green card marriage of convenience for help with fertility treatment.

Griffith, meanwhile, stars alongside Juliette Lewis in "By Design," a tale about a woman who swaps bodies with a chair, and finds everyone likes her better as a piece of furniture.

Alongside cinematic glitz, festivalgoers will also be able to take their pick of innovative documentaries, including two that examine America's relationship with law and order.

"The Perfect Neighbor" traces how a seemingly minor neighborhood dispute in Florida escalates into deadly violence, using police bodycam footage and investigative interviews to expose the consequences of Florida's "stand your ground" laws.

Meanwhile, "Predators" looks at the rise and fall of a popular television show in which child abusers were lured to a film set, where they would be interviewed and eventually arrested.

The festival, which will take place from January 23 to February 2 in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, will involve 87 feature-length films representing 33 countries and territories.

More than 40 percent of these are from first-time feature film directors, organizers said.

"This year's program presents stories that confront many critical issues of our time, encouraging us to look both inward and outward," said Kim Yutani, Sundance Film Festival's director of programming.

"As always, we're excited to introduce audiences to new voices, alongside new work from some familiar names.

"Audiences at the festival can not only look forward to engaging with the unexpected, but also to be entertained, challenged, and deeply moved by this year's films."

M.Fujitav--JT