NYWIFT Blog

Postcard from Park City 2024: Sundance Film Festival Recap

By Tammy Reese

I had the incredible opportunity to cover the 40th edition of the Sundance Film Festival, and it was an absolute blast. From capturing the excitement on the red carpets to immersing myself in the world of independent cinema, every moment was filled with energy and anticipation.

Let me take you on a recap of some of the unforgettable film premieres I had the privilege to cover. The red carpets were a spectacle in themselves, as A-list celebrities and emerging talents and filmmakers graced them with their presence. It was a surreal experience witnessing their arrivals and hearing their insights about their latest projects.

Tammy Reese at Sundance 2024

 

Additionally, attending Variety, Audible, Acura, ASCAP, MACRO, Chase Sapphire, Impact Lounge, Adobe, Shutterstock, and The Cabin events, panels, and activations allowed me to immerse myself in a diverse range of networking, learning and impactful experiences. The atmosphere through the festival was electric, and shockingly Park City, Utah was not as cold as the previous year!

Overall, covering the 40th edition of the Sundance Film Festival was an exhilarating experience that allowed me to witness firsthand the power of independent cinema. It was a truly unforgettable journey that I am grateful to have been a part of.

In no particular order, here are some of the highlights:

Love Me Red Carpet Premiere

Long after humanity’s extinction, a buoy and a satellite meet online and fall in love.

Love Me’s whimsically philosophical, shape-shifting structure ingeniously weaves together the real, the virtual, and the surreal. Its star-crossed, web-paired metallic protagonists — inhabited in different forms by Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun — awkwardly navigate romance and companionship, equipped only with untold petabytes of archived web data, social media, and online videos. Awash in these mediated experiences and fabricated expressions of love and identity, they yearn to understand who they are, whether their feelings are real, and for that matter, whether they are real.

My interview with cast member Emmy and Golden Globe Winner Steven Yeun

 

 

My interview with Producer, Oscar Nominee and NYWIFT Member Shivani Rawat

 

The American Society of Magical Negroes Red Carpet Premiere

A young man, Aren, is recruited into a secret society of magical Black people who dedicate their lives to a cause of utmost importance: making white people’s lives easier. The American Society of Magical Negroes is a must-see satire about what it means for Black people to protect and care for ourselves and each other.

My interview with cast member David Alan Grier

 

As We Speak Red Carpet Premiere

Bronx rap artist Kemba explores the growing weaponization of rap lyrics in the United States criminal justice system and abroad — revealing how law enforcement has quietly used artistic creation as evidence in criminal cases for decades.

My interview with EP and NYWIFT Member Amanda Culkowski

 

Exhibiting Forgiveness Red Carpet Premiere

Utilizing his paintings to find freedom from his past, a Black artist on the path to success is derailed by an unexpected visit from his estranged father, a recovering addict desperate to reconcile. Together, they learn that forgetting might be a greater challenge than forgiving.

Cast Member Grammy Award, Emmy Award, and Golden Globe Award Winner Andra Day shouts out NYWIFT!


My interview with cast member Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor


Presence Red Carpet Premiere

A family moves into a suburban house and becomes convinced they’re not alone.

Working from a taut, mysterious script by David Koepp and featuring an exciting cast of known actors and newcomers, Presence is a thrilling cinematic ride that reifies Steven Soderbergh’s status as an icon of American independent film.

Cast member and NYWIFT Muse Honoree Lucy Liu shouts out NYWIFT!

 

At Sundance you just never know who you may run into and meet. It was super awesome to meet Colman Domingo, Lionel Richie, DJ Spinderella, SWV and more! Enjoy the photos including my first solo Getty Image which was taken at “Variety X Audible “Cocktails and Conversations” panel at The Audible Listening Lodge. The conversation featured Chiwetel Ejiofor, Giancarlo Esposito, Susanna Fogel, Alok Vaid-Menon and Audible’s Kate Nevin, and explored the importance of creative freedom in storytelling, across different mediums of entertainment.

Be sure to follow me on Instagram @tammyreesemedia for more Sundance fun and highlights!

Here are some of my favorite photos from the festival:

Tammy Reese with Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor

Tammy Reese with Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and LaKisa Renee

LaKisa Renee, Shivani Rawat, Tammy Reese

LaKisa Renee, Lucy Liu, Tammy Reese

Tammy Reese & LaKisa Renee with R&B Supergroup SWV

LaKisa Renee, Lionel Richie, Tammy Reese

LaKisa Renee, Oscar Nominated Actor Colman Domingo , Tammy Reese

PUBLISHED BY

Tammy Reese

Tammy Reese Tammy Reese is CEO of Visionary Minds PR & Media, and a New York award winning Actress, Writer, and Journalist.

View all posts by Tammy Reese

Comments are closed

Related Posts

How to Decide Which Screenwriting Contests to Submit To

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of screenwriting competitions out there — so how do you decide which ones are worth your time and money? As the co-founder of Moonshot Initiative, a nonprofit that works toward gender equity in film and television, NYWIFT Member Katrina Medoff has been on the other side of the application process. Her team reads hundreds of submissions a year for the Moonshot Pilot Accelerator and their newest program, the Moonshot Feature Accelerator. They know that their applicants poured their time, talents, and energy into their scripts, and that every fellowship submission means putting more time and money into your career. So it’s important to carefully consider which labs and contests to prioritize. If you’re ready to submit your feature film screenplay or TV pilot script to screenwriting competitions, here’s how to determine which labs, fellowships, and contests would be a good fit.

READ MORE

The Vital Importance of Mental Health Awareness for Women in Media and Entertainment: Insights from World Mental Health Day Festival 

In the fast-paced world of media and entertainment, women often find themselves balancing demanding careers while also managing their mental health. Prioritizing self-care is not only important but necessary. NYWIFT Members LaKisa Renee and Tammy Reese had the privilege of attending Project Healthy Minds’ World Mental Health Day Festival on October 10th in New York City, the largest global celebration of mental health awareness. The event brought together influential leaders from the arts, including Award-winning Musician, Actor and Advocate Demi Lovato; TODAY Co-Host Carson Daly; Founder and CEO of OBB Media, Michael D. Ratner; and Peoplehood Co-Founder; Actress Sanaa Lathan, to share insights on the importance of mental health, the power of storytelling, and the impact of self-advocacy.

READ MORE

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Val Dowd

We’re thrilled to welcome our new NYWIFT member, Val Dowd! Val is a film sales manager with a passion for highlighting underrepresented voices. Some of her career highlights thus far include doing outreach for Matthew Heineman’s documentary The First Wave and working with her team on Hulu’s The Jewel Thief. She’s very motivated by community and finding films that can open doors for people and offer fresh perspectives. Read our interview with Val to learn more about the role of a film sales manager, how she approaches selling and distributing projects, and her love for film.

READ MORE

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Katharine Chin

Mic up. Headphones on. Press record for Chapter 1: NYWIFT’s Newest Member. We’re pleased to welcome Katharine Chin to the NYWIFT community! Katharine is an actor, writer, and audiobook narrator who has worked on numerous audiobooks for Harper Collins, Penguin Random House and more. As an actor and writer, her career spans television, film and theater. She’s a founding member of The Nobodies Collective, which offers a space to nurture new work for the stage and screen. Read our interview with Katharine to learn more about her creative journey, what it’s like recording audiobooks, and her advice for other artists.

READ MORE
JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER
css.php