The 2012 Slamdance Film Festival was a film festival held in Park City, Utah from January 20 to January 26, 2012. It was the 18th iteration of the Slamdance Film Festival, a complementary fest to the Sundance Film Festival.
With nearly 5,000 submissions, 18 feature-length films were shown along with 75 short films and 8 special screenings selected from across the globe.[1] The festival took place at the Treasure Mountain Inn on Main Street in Park City. Festival alumni include acclaimed directors, such as Christopher Nolan ("The Dark Knight'), Seth Gordon ("Horrible Bosses") and Oren Peli ("Paranormal Activity").[2] Festivities included the Opening and Closing Night Parties at the Carhartt Lounge, panel discussions, daily happy hours and the annual Sled Off. The festival also featured Morning Coffee Master Classes with Neil Young, Jonathan Demme and Stan Lee. “These events with Stan Lee, Neil Young and Jonathan Demme are incredible opportunities to learn from some of the world's best storytellers, and a rare chance to experience the stories, wisdom, and tribulations of iconic artists and filmmakers,” said Peter Baxter, Slamdance President and Co-Founder. Demme and Young shared their stories about making the documentary Neil Young Journeys.[3] Young also confirmed that he is working with longtime collaborator Crazy Horse on a new album.[4] Stan Lee and director Will Hess discussed the making of their new doc With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story.[5]
Special screenings, included Wild In The Streets, No Room For Rockstars, Neil Young Journeys and Ed Wood's Lost Film Final Curtain.[6]
The feature competitions at Slamdance are limited to first-time filmmakers working with production budgets of $1 million or less. The festival showcased 10 Narrative Films and 8 Documentary Films, including 13 World Premieres.[7]
Title | Country | Director | Premiere | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bindlestiffs | USA | Andrew Edison | World Premiere | |
Comforting Skin | Canada | Derek Franson | US Premiere | |
Doppelgänger Paul (or A Film About How Much I Hate Myself) | Canada | US Premiere | ||
Faith, Love and Whiskey | Bulgaria | Kristina Nikolova | World Premiere | |
Heavy Girls | Germany | Axel Ranisch | US Premiere | |
OK, Good | USA | Daniel Martinico | World Premiere | |
Roller Town | Canada | US Premiere | ||
The Sound of Small Things | USA | Peter McLarnan | World Premiere | |
Sundowning | Singapore/USA | Frank Rinaldi | World Premiere | |
Welcome to Pine Hill | USA | Keith Miller | World Premiere |
Title | Country | Director | Premiere | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Buffalo Girls | Thailand/USA | Todd Kellstein | World Premiere | |
Danland | USA | Alexandra Berger | World Premiere | |
The First Season | USA | Rudd Simmons | World Premiere | |
Getting Up | USA | Caskey Ebeling | World Premiere | |
I Want My Name Back | USA | Roger Paradiso | Utah Premiere | |
Kelly | USA | James Stenson | World Premiere | |
No Ashes, No Phoenix | Germany | Jens Pfeifer | World Premiere | |
USA | World Premiere |
Slamdance co-founder and president Peter Baxter is quoted as saying, “This year's narrative and documentary competitions are stronger than ever, and these filmmakers represent the vanguard of true independent filmmaking.”[8] The following films were honored with prizes from the Grand Jury, audience members and festival sponsors.[9]