Sundance Film Festival 2019: London
From Emma Thompson's Late Night to the jawdropping Apollo 11 – here's what to catch when Sundance comes to London this May
Holliday Grainger and Alia Shawkat in Animals
Bringing the best of Utah to London, the UK edition of the prestigious Sundance Film Festival is coming back to the big smoke this May. A jampacked weekend offers film screenings, panels and parties – here are the seven titles we'll be looking out for.
General booking for Sundance London is open now.
Opening Night: Late Night
Emma Thompson in Late Night
Hollywood is changing, and Emma Thompson is surfing the climate at the very top, whatever the weather. In her new film Late Night, Thompson steps into the shoes of a talk show host, Katherine Newbury, in dire need of some new material. At a creative meeting, she looks around the table and sees a sea of white, male faces.
The jokes write themselves but they actually don't have to – this is an original comedy from the mind of comedian Mindy Kaling, who also stars in the film. Her character, Molly Patel, is hired to reinvigorate Katherine's show before it gets cancelled.
Animals
Holliday Grainger and Alia Shawkat in Animals
Fresh faces Holliday Grainger and Alia Shawkat lead a 21st century portrait of female friendship and difficult decisions, in a fresh sophomore feature from Sophie Hyde.
After the Wedding
Michelle Williams and Julianne Moore in After the Wedding
Susanne Bier (Bird Box) hands her 2006 Oscar-nominated Danish drama over to filmmaker Bart Freundlich in an English-language remake, starring Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams. The film focuses on the revelations the manager of an orphanage (Williams) in Kolkata must come to terms with when she meets a benefactor (Moore) at her wedding in New York.
The Farewell
Awkwafina leads Lulu Wang's The Farewell
When her grandmother is diagnosed with a terminal illness, a headstrong young woman travels back to China to reckon with her family. Awkwafina proves her dramatic chops as she leads the sensitive sophomore feature from promising indie director Lulu Wang.
The Last Tree
Nicholas Pinnock in The Last Tree
A British boy of Nigerian heritage, Femi, comes to terms with his identity and growing pains in a displaced adolescence as he moves from rural Lincolnshire to bustling London during his early adult years.
The Nightingale
Aisling Franciosi in The Nightingale
If you liked The Babadook in 2014 as much as we did, get ready for director Jennifer Kent's latest horror, The Nightingale. The film follows an Irish convictwoman hellbent on revenge, in 1825. Aisling Franciosi, who plays the central character Claire, is set to offer a starmaking performance, opposite Sam Clafin and Damon Herriman.
Apollo 11
You know the name of the mission – but here's an inside look at the operation to send man to the moon, straight from the archives. Apollo 11 chronicles the moments leading up to the eponymous accomplishment, through the lens that was actually there.
If you enjoyed Ryan Gosling's portrayal of Neil Armstrong in First Man last year, consider this as one small ticket for you, one giant leap for the magic of movies. Catch Apollo 11 at the festival before it reaches UK cinemas on 28 June.
If you're planning on making a full escape of it, it's also worth considering a Festival Pass – Early Bird Lite passes (£65) offer five ticket credits as well as 10% off food and drink and further perks, while VIP passes (at £450) on the other end of the spectrum give access to all screenings, events, parties and more – as well as a Picturehouse Central Membership and goodie bag too.
General booking for Sundance London is open now.
Opening Night: Late Night
Emma Thompson in Late Night
Hollywood is changing, and Emma Thompson is surfing the climate at the very top, whatever the weather. In her new film Late Night, Thompson steps into the shoes of a talk show host, Katherine Newbury, in dire need of some new material. At a creative meeting, she looks around the table and sees a sea of white, male faces.
The jokes write themselves but they actually don't have to – this is an original comedy from the mind of comedian Mindy Kaling, who also stars in the film. Her character, Molly Patel, is hired to reinvigorate Katherine's show before it gets cancelled.
Animals
Holliday Grainger and Alia Shawkat in Animals
Fresh faces Holliday Grainger and Alia Shawkat lead a 21st century portrait of female friendship and difficult decisions, in a fresh sophomore feature from Sophie Hyde.
After the Wedding
Michelle Williams and Julianne Moore in After the Wedding
Susanne Bier (Bird Box) hands her 2006 Oscar-nominated Danish drama over to filmmaker Bart Freundlich in an English-language remake, starring Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams. The film focuses on the revelations the manager of an orphanage (Williams) in Kolkata must come to terms with when she meets a benefactor (Moore) at her wedding in New York.
The Farewell
Awkwafina leads Lulu Wang's The Farewell
When her grandmother is diagnosed with a terminal illness, a headstrong young woman travels back to China to reckon with her family. Awkwafina proves her dramatic chops as she leads the sensitive sophomore feature from promising indie director Lulu Wang.
The Last Tree
Nicholas Pinnock in The Last Tree
A British boy of Nigerian heritage, Femi, comes to terms with his identity and growing pains in a displaced adolescence as he moves from rural Lincolnshire to bustling London during his early adult years.
The Nightingale
Aisling Franciosi in The Nightingale
If you liked The Babadook in 2014 as much as we did, get ready for director Jennifer Kent's latest horror, The Nightingale. The film follows an Irish convictwoman hellbent on revenge, in 1825. Aisling Franciosi, who plays the central character Claire, is set to offer a starmaking performance, opposite Sam Clafin and Damon Herriman.
Apollo 11
You know the name of the mission – but here's an inside look at the operation to send man to the moon, straight from the archives. Apollo 11 chronicles the moments leading up to the eponymous accomplishment, through the lens that was actually there.
If you enjoyed Ryan Gosling's portrayal of Neil Armstrong in First Man last year, consider this as one small ticket for you, one giant leap for the magic of movies. Catch Apollo 11 at the festival before it reaches UK cinemas on 28 June.
If you're planning on making a full escape of it, it's also worth considering a Festival Pass – Early Bird Lite passes (£65) offer five ticket credits as well as 10% off food and drink and further perks, while VIP passes (at £450) on the other end of the spectrum give access to all screenings, events, parties and more – as well as a Picturehouse Central Membership and goodie bag too.
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| What | Sundance Film Festival 2019: London |
| Where | Picturehouse Central, Shaftesbury Avenue , London, W1D 7DH | MAP |
| When |
30 May 19 – 02 Jun 19, TIMES VARY |
| Price | £10+ depending on screenings |
| Website | Click here to book tickets |