IN BRUGES

Thursday, January 17---------------The build up is over and it's now time to begin the Sundance Film Festival marathon. The Festival, which runs through January 27th in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah, opens this evening with the world premiere of  IN BRUGES, the directorial debut of Irish playwright Martin McDonagh. The film, which stars Ralph Fiennes, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson is, according to the Festival release, "a twisted tale of two London hit men who are ordered to take a forced vacation in Bruges, Belgium."

McDonagh has become an internationally celebrated playwright in Europe and in the United States for his productions of such provocative plays as The Beauty Queen of Lenane, The Lonesome West and The Pillowman. In 2005, he directed the short film SIX SHOOTER, which also starred Brendan Gleeson, and won the Oscar for Best Short Film the following year.  IN BRUGES is produced, and will be released in the United States, by Focus Features, the company behind behind leading Oscar contenders as ATONEMENT, INTO THE WILD, LUST CAUTION and EASTERN PROMISES). The film is co-produced by the UK's Film Four, along with Blueprint Pictures and Scion Films. IN BRUGES will open in American theaters on February 4th via Focus Features.

The Sundance Film Festival, long respected as the prime showcase for new American independent production, has emphasized international cinema in its last few years, introducing competition categories for World Fiction and World Documentary films. The choice of a non-American film for the Festival's Gala Opener is another indication of Sundance's aspiration to be the primary film event for international cinema as well. Stay tuned.

Sandy Mandelberger, Sundance FF Editor