“Scrapper”
World premiere date: Sunday, Jan. 22 at 9:00 PM MT
Director: Charlotte Regan
Key Talent: Harris Dickinson, Lola Campbell, Alin Uzun
Buzz: Dickinson, who just starred in “Triangle of Sadness,” usually makes very smart indie choices.
“Mutt”
World premiere date: Monday, Jan. 23 at 2:55 PM MT
Director: Vuk Lungulov-Klotz
Key Talent: Lío Mehiel, Cole Doman, MiMi Ryder, Alejandro Goic
Buzz: The subject matter, a New York City trans man dealing with ghosts from his past he can’t avoid, is compelling. The Monday premiere for a U.S. Dramatic Competition entry is…concerning.
“Fairyland”
World premiere date: Friday, Jan. 20 at 8:55 AM MT
Director: Andrew Durham
Key Talent: Emilia Jones, Scoot McNairy, Geena Davis, Cody Fern, Adam Lambert, Maria Bakalova, Sofia Coppola (Producer)
Buzz: This adaptation of Alysia Abbott’s 2013 memoir tells the tale of a young woman (eventually Jones) who experiences the energy and tragedy of the ’70s and ’80s San Francisco alongside her now-out gay father (McNairy). That 8:55 AM premiere time is absolutely homophobic through.
“The Pod Generation”
World premiere date: Thursday, Jan. 19 at 9:00 PM MT
Director: Sophie Barthes
Key Talent: Emilia Clarke, Chiwetel Ejiofor
Buzz: Already the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize winner (frankly, not always a ringing endorsement), but word is it has style and fashion to spare. Can Clarke and Ejiofor’s star power get this opening night film a distributor by Monday?
“A Little Prayer“
World premiere date: Monday, Jan. 23 at 5:30 PM MT
Director: Angus MacLachlan
Key Talent: David Strathairn, Jane Levy, Celia Weston, Will Pullen, Anna Camp
Buzz: MacLachlan returns to Sundance after having written the 2005 breakout “Junebug.” That movie took Amy Adams’ career to another level. Could ‘Prayer’ do so for Levy?
The 2023 Sundance Film Festival runs from Thu, Jan 19 to Sun, Jan 29. Look for full coverage on The Playlist. And follow us on @ThePlaylistNews for the latest reviews.
