Sundance 2026 isn’t just stacked with big-name features — it’s also pulsing with work that pushes into thornier territory: sex, power, fractured time, and the weaponization of celebrity. Three projects in particular stand out as early watchlist material: a neon-drenched sex-noir from Gregg Araki, a Hong Kong-set temporal fever dream from Kogonada, and an episodic thriller starring Riz Ahmed that charts a four-day descent into chaos.
“I Want Your Sex”
In “I Want Your Sex,” writer/director Gregg Araki teams up with co-writer/producer Karley Sciortino for what sounds like a full-throttle return to his provocative, erotically charged wheelhouse. When fresh-faced Elliot lands a job with notorious artist and provocateur Erika Tracy, his fantasies become reality as she taps him to be her sexual muse. But what begins as a dream gig mutates into something far darker as Erika pulls him into a world of sex, obsession, power, betrayal, and murder. The film stars Olivia Wilde, Cooper Hoffman, Mason Gooding, Chase Sui Wonders, Daveed Diggs, and Charli xcx, with producers Seth Caplan, Teddy Schwarzman, Michael Heimler, and Courtney L. Cunniff backing the project. It world premieres in the festival’s U.S. Fiction lineup.
“BAIT”
From Sundance’s Episodic section, “BAIT” brings a different kind of pressure cooker. Executive produced by Riz Ahmed, Allie Moore, and Ben Karlin, the series follows struggling actor Shah Latif, who lands an audition for the role of a lifetime — only to see his entire existence spin out of control over four frenetic days. With Ahmed leading the cast alongside Guz Khan, Sheeba Chaddha, Sajid Hasan, and Aasiya Sha, the six-episode series appears to be a nervy blend of psychological thriller and industry satire. Sundance will screen the first three episodes in person as part of its World Premiere Fiction Episodic slate.
“Zi”
“Zi,” written and directed by Kogonada, shifts the focus to Hong Kong, exploring the slippery nature of time and self. The film follows a young woman haunted by visions of her future self who, over the course of one night, meets a stranger who alters the trajectory of her evening — and possibly her life. Starring Michelle Mao, Haley Lu Richardson, and Jin Ha, the project promises a quiet, philosophically charged riff on destiny, connection, and the disorienting overlap between what we remember and what we fear. It premieres in the U.S. Fiction selection and will also be available online to the public, making it one of the most accessible “must-see” titles of the fest.
As Sundance 2026 gets closer, “I Want Your Sex,” “zi,” and “BAIT” hint at a program that’s as risky and psychologically charged as ever — one where desire curdles, time fractures, and opportunity starts to look a lot like a trap.
