Shall We dance
Utah's January film festivals press ahead through uncertain times.
By Scott Renshaw @scottrenshawPage 3 of 3
How to (Virtually) Sundance
The omicron COVID variant threw us all a bunch of curve balls as 2022 got underway, and the cancellation of the in-person Sundance Film Festival was certainly one of them. Now, while you don't have to navigate the logistics of Park City—parking, getting from one festival venue to another during high-traffic times, finding a place to eat that doesn't cost an arm and a leg—you will need to figure out the logistics of the festival's online platform.
If you participated last year, most of the particulars are fairly similar. If not, here are the basics for how to participate in Sundance '22 from the comfort of your home.
Create an account. Everything on the online platform at festival.sundance.org is predicated on creating your individual account, including the ability to interact with other festival-goers in the "spaceship" that hosts the Film Party as well as the New Frontier programming. Upload a picture, create an avatar, and get yourself ready to choose films.
Choose films. At press time, both select festival packages and individual film tickets were available for purchase for most titles. The full festival program (also at festival.sundance.org) includes descriptions of the films in all of the various categories, as well as the times and dates they'll be available for viewing.
Pick your viewing time. Every festival film has at least two primary viewing options. The "Premiere Screening" takes place on a specific date, with a three-hour viewing window beginning at a specific time. While you can watch the film in its entirety if you begin any time within that three-hour window, it's recommended that you start at the beginning of that window if you want to participate in the live Q&A session with the filmmaking team. You can enter the "lobby" for the film 15 minutes before the viewing window start time, with a chance to chat with other audience members.
The "Second Screening" window for each film begins at 8 a.m. MT two days after its "Premiere Screening" date, and lasts for 24 hours until 8 a.m. the next morning. Again, you can begin any time within that window. A third screening option will be available for festival prize-winners on Jan. 29 and Jan. 30; visit the website on those dates for specific titles and screening times.
Check your tech. You can, of course, watch films through your computer via festival.sundance.org, where your selected films will appear on your calendar—or an HDMI cable or wireless cast can turn your TV into a theater screen. Those with Roku or AppleTV setups can also download the Sundance festival app and follow the steps to get your account connected. And the festival app will also be available for iOS and Android on phones and tablets.
Enjoy and participate. Audience members will still get a chance, as was true for live screenings, to submit a ballot as part of the festival's Audience Awards. As previously mentioned, you can share questions with filmmakers as part of the live Q&As, and interact with other festival-goers in the screening lobby or in the spaceship's Film Party.
Watching the movies is only part of the experience, and while there's no way to truly duplicate an in-person festival in the virtual world, you can help make a festival experience that's truly interactive, and makes it the closest approximation until the state of the world allows for Park City to buzz with activity again.
More by Scott Renshaw
-
Film Reviews: New Releases for May 16
Final Destination Bloodlines, Hurry Up Tomorrow, Deaf President Now!
- May 15, 2025
-
Summer Movie Guide 2025
Mission: Impossible, Karate Kid, Jurassic Park, Superman and more fill a busy summer.
- May 14, 2025
-
2025 Living Traditions Festival preview
Continuing to celebrate Utah's cultural uniqueness at a challenging moment
- May 14, 2025
- More »
Latest in Cover Story
Readers also liked…
-
Women decry harassment and toxic culture at St. George auto dealership
Men at Work
- Oct 11, 2023
-
At 98, skiing legend Junior Bounous is still carving up the powder with a smile.
Singing Down the Slopes
- Apr 3, 2024
