Sundance Film Festival: Power Events And Celebration

As always, Sundance is a blur of intriguing films and provocative panels, but of course it also the private parties and invitation-only dinners which are often coveted for their high-level networking offerings. Here’s what is happening right now as everyone makes his or her way throw the show via ride-share or one of a fleet of shuttles around town: 

“Charm City Kings” a film coming-of-age film of sorts about gangs in Baltimore which features rapper Meek Mill is being screened at the Festival and a slick party for the film was held at Chase Sapphire House on the primary drag of the Festival, Main Street, until late into the morning.

In addition, the director of this film, Angel Manuel Soto, found himself speaking about the film with Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Joaquin Castro at the first-ever LatinX House at Sundance where many a discussion was had such as those entitled “The Future of Work and Film as a Catalyst for Change” was offered to standing-room-only guests.

The AT&T Warner Media Lodge is hosting a number of star-studded talks with a number of notables such as Tessa Thompson and Kelly Rowland who are present and films in which they appear that are being shown at the Festival.

 The party thrown by powerful Hollywood agency UTA has been one of the most sought-after invitations so far. Held in a massive ski home high atop the mountains in the Deer Valley area of Park City, the who’s who of the industry came through to a total of 800 people, including Issa Rae’s team. All parties well into the night with full bars, a killer DJ and views overlooking a breathtaking mountain scene. The Bootsy Bellow Pop Up hosted by actor David Arquette was a hot-ticket party presented by AT&T WarnerMedia, as well. 

The annual HBO dinner party to celebrate the networks’ documentaries was, as always, packed. Held at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse at the chic Hotel Park City, guests were treated to three rooms of all kinds of buffet stations including carving, seafood, pasta and much more. Though there does not seem to be much in the way of diverse offerings this time around at Sundance, the “McMillions” documentary that is being shown by the company has a mega-buzz.

Speaking of documentaries, CNN Films held a brunch to celebrate its film offerings at the Festival where the spotlight was on a unique recipe of bloody marys and mimosas.

The “Bad Hair” party at Chase Sapphire House was packed and high-energy where the DJ spun back-to-back urban hits from the 80s while guests sipped whiskey and champagne and danced into the night. “Bad Hair” is an eclectic film is a horror film-of-sorts directed by Justin Simien and includes everyone from Lena Waithe to Vanessa Williams to Blair Underwood and Kelly Rowland and is a unique story about a meek woman whose weave is out for blood. Yes, you read right.

 The annual no-sleep Festival is in high gear and will, no doubt, lead to just as many tales as deals as everyone is up for the activities that are the Sundance Film Festival 2020.