They call it the Sundance alchemy…..the strange and rather unknowable process by which films with advanced buzz fall flat and titles that come out of nowhere become the next big indie flings. Such was the case at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, where several of the higher profile films did not get the love from audiences, critics or distributors, and where a few unheralded films walked away with the lion’s share of prizes and, most importantly, distribution contacts that will insure th...

  THE SURROGATE (Ben Lewin, USA) Perhaps even more of an indicator of a film’s eventual commercial career is the Audience Awards given at the Sundance Film Festival because they point to an enthusiasm by the public. Distributors who may be wary of taking on certain titles can look to these prize winners for an early indication of how they will be received by audiences. In the U.S. Documentary Competition, the audience favorite announced at Saturday’s closing awa...

They call it the Sundance alchemy…..the strange and rather unknowable process by which films with advanced buzz fall flat and titles that come out of nowhere become the next big indie flings. Such was the case at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, where several of the higher profile films did not get the love from audiences, critics or distributors, and where a few unheralded films walked away with the lion’s share of prizes and, most importantly, distribution contacts that wil...

The Creative Coalition announced the slate of honorees headlining the 2012 Spotlight Initiative Awards Gala Dinner to be held during the upcoming film festival in Park City, Utah.  This year's Spotlight Initiative Award recipients include actress Kate Bosworth, actor and artist Common, actor and comedian Tracy Morgan, actress Anna Lynne McCord, and filmmaker Stacy Peralta.  Leaders in the entertainment industry will join together to celebrate these luminaries, as well as the art an...