And with the Oscars delayed to their latest-ever date — April 25 — several top contenders have not been released or even screened for critics yet, meaning Sundance could play an outsized role in the awards conversation.
Others that could contend are wilderness drama “Land” — the directorial debut from “House of Cards” star Robin Wright — and period romance “The World To Come,” produced by and co-starring Casey Affleck. In fact, with several major 2020 film festivals scrapped or curtailed, bizarrely this year’s Sundance hits may end up contending with front-runners that debuted at the very same festival least year.
“So many of the films that are now feeling the heat of the cultural conversation began their life at Sundance last year,” said Jackson.For now, Sundance organizers are urging Hollywood to stay home and watch virtual premieres and Q&As on their laptops. But plans to host Sundance events at venues in Park City and near Los Angeles had to be scrapped after Utah and southern California suffered some of the nation’s most severe winter Covid spikes.