Jason Blum’s Hopeful Acquisitions Fuel ‘Deadly’ Release Calendar – The Hollywood Reporter

Just hours before the first wave of films hit the big screen to kick off the landmark 40th Sundance Film Festival, one of Hollywood’s most prolific producers paid tribute to what Robert Redford and his team started here in Park City.

“Sundance is a vital, vital part of the entertainment ecosystem and I think it’s undervalued in that way,” Jason Blum said when he took the stage inside the Filmmakers Lodge Thursday morning to moderate the Sundance Scoop, a press conference and conversation that helped set the stage for this year’s festival. “Without Sundance, the United States would not be where it is in entertainment, and I truly believe there are not enough people making that connection.”

To be fair, Bloom is the ultimate Sundance insider. He has been attending the festival since 1992. One of his first headline performances was The Ben Stiller Show Reality bites Starring Bloom’s good friend and collaborator Ethan Hawke — the two of whom nearly missed the screening after getting stuck in a snow bank — he now serves on the Sundance Institute’s board of trustees. “I’ve been here almost every year since then, and it holds a very important place in my heart. My work wouldn’t be what it is without Sundance.

After saying hello, he welcomed the trio to join him in the spotlight: Joana Vicente, CEO of the Sundance Institute, Eugene Hernandez, Director of the Sundance Film Festival and Head of Public Programming, and Kim Yutani, Director of Programming at the Sundance Film Festival. The conversation covered the past, present, and future of Sundance, panelists’ favorite festival memories, takeover predictions, and recent Hollywood hits.

Regarding the dual strikes, the impact of which continues to loom over the industry, Yutani said that the work stoppage did not affect the orders placed. Programmers received a record 17,435 submissions from 153 countries or territories, including 4,410 feature films. She cited two films produced as independent films that received tentative SAG deals, namely Sean Wang’s Didi Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson Ghost light.

“We’ve put together a program that includes films that deserve to find their audience. These filmmakers are ready, and these films are ready for their audiences,” Hernandez said in continuing his commentary on the strike regarding acquisition activity. “While doing my own reporting over the past few weeks, I’ve spoken with buyers And different vendors to check out how things turned out, I heard excitement. Everyone I spoke to said they were attending and looking forward to connecting with the films and considering distribution. We have a roster ready to meet its audience and the industry.”

Bloom jumped in with his own thoughts by pointing out the dire situation facing the exhibition market this year. “The release schedule for the first half of the year has been decimated, and I hope, especially for the theatrical distributors, that the market will be very healthy. I hope the only positive thing about the strike is that a lot of films that might have been struggling don’t have to suffer because there’s Lots of holes in the release schedule. Hopefully a bunch of Sundance movies will end up in theaters quickly In the next six months.”

Vicente then pointed out that 80 percent of the festival titles shown are “open”, meaning available for purchase. “Fresh, bold” are the adjectives I used to describe the menu. “We go through cycles. Sometimes it seems like everyone’s talking about ‘It’s the end of independent film.’ I think Sundance is always a place of renewal. It’s always a place of discovery. The films are very compelling, and we very much hope they find a way to connect with audiences.”

The event marked Hernandez’s official debut for this year’s festival after taking over as director. He got the job in 2022 but didn’t take the position until it was time to program this year’s festival. Hernandez is well known in film circles as one of the founding members of IndieWire And as the longtime head of Lincoln Center’s film department.

“It definitely feels very different sitting in this chair than sitting in one of these chairs that I’ve sat in for many years,” he said, noting that he has been coming to the festival for three decades. “That’s what’s always interested me about Sundance is the opportunity to come here … and see films by some directors that you know but the opportunity to walk into the theater this afternoon, all day, (over) this weekend, and meet someone new, something new. I really hope you take this opportunity and just explore.

A lighter moment of the conversation came as each of the panelists shared their favorite Sundance memories. Bloom singled out two special experiences, including bringing his film injury To the festival. He noted how proud he was to see Damien Chazelle’s film starring Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons take the top spot on Sundance’s just-released list of the 10 best films of 40 years, as selected from a film community poll.

Sundance’s Top 10 list includes another special from Blum, Jordan Peele Get outalongside Quentin Tarantino Reservoir dogsJonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris Little Miss SunshineChristopher Nolan souvenirSteven Soderbergh Sex, lies and videosRichard Linklater before the sun rise And boyhoodAlfonso Cuaron And your mother as wellAnd Joel and Ethan Coen Blood is simple.

Bloom recalls screening the film and emailing acquisitions executives inviting them to a bar on Main Street afterward. “We’ll be waiting for you and taking offers,” he said of the email that came out loud. “About an hour and a half into the screening, Lionsgate showed up and said, ‘We’re going to offer you $5 for your movie.’” He joked about the last part but not about this: “What’s so amazing about Sundance is bringing attention to movies that wouldn’t get attention. injury She couldn’t have had the career she had without her.

Same for Bill Get out. “We all didn’t really know what we had. We knew it was different. We knew it was special. We had no idea what the audience was going to think about it,” recalls the Oscar-nominated best picture show. “And the first ever screening in front of an audience It was here in the library. People went crazy and Barack Obama’s daughter was in the audience – it was amazing. “That’s what started it all.”

Yutani singled out a show at Eccles of John Carney’s Flora and his son. “It was an amazing experience to feel the energy from the audience, and it reminds me of what Sundance is, what we do well and what we will always do.”

Hernandez remembers his first Sundance experience, when he came to Park City in 1993 and participated in a screening of Robert Rodriguez’s film. mariachi. “That was a transformative experience for me as an attendee. “I still have a memory of that experience at home,” he said. Someone else may also have a memento from that year. “I think there weren’t a lot of Latinos at the festival that year because Someone came up to me and asked for my autograph (thinking I was Robert Rodriguez). “I didn’t want to disappoint them, so I signed it.”

Sundance runs January 18-28 in Park City, with selections available online later in the week.