Top Films to Watch at Park City’s Final Year Festival

The 2026 Sundance Film Festival is poised for significant transformations. This year marks its final appearance in Park City, Utah, before relocating to Boulder, Colorado. The festival also faces the loss of two pivotal figures: Robert Redford and Tammie Rosen. Redford, who founded the Sundance Institute in 1981, passed away in September, while Rosen, who managed communications, died in December after battling cancer.

Key Highlights of Sundance 2026

The festival will run in-person starting this Thursday, with a virtual component beginning next Thursday. As Sundance continues to spotlight independent cinema, it has already generated excitement with over 40 premier films lined up.

U.S. Dramatic Competition

• Josephine: Directed by Beth de Araújo, this film features Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan.
• Ha-chan, Shake Your Booty: From director Josef Kubota Wladyka, starring Rinko Kikuchi.
• Carousel: Rachel Lambert directs this film with Chris Pine and Jenny Slate in lead roles.
• Bedford Park: A drama focusing on a Korean American woman dealing with a life-altering accident.
• Take Me Home: This film explores the life of a disabled adoptee navigating major changes.

U.S. Documentary Competition

• The Lake: Abby Ellis directs this compelling documentary about efforts to save Utah’s Great Salt Lake.
• Nuisance Bear: A look at how society alters the natural behavior of a polar bear.
• American Doctor: Explores the challenges faced by Palestinian and Jewish doctors in ongoing conflicts.
• Who Killed Alex Odeh: An investigative documentary on the unsolved assassination of activist Alex Odeh.
• Joybubbles: This film tells the story of a blind hacker and his community of supporters.

World Cinema Dramatic Competition

• Shame and Money: A poignant depiction of a Kosovan family struggling to survive.
• How to Divorce During the War: A compelling narrative on a crumbling marriage amid the backdrop of war.
• Hold Onto Me: An intimate story of a young girl reconnecting with her estranged father in Cyprus.
• Big Girls Don’t Cry: A coming-of-age tale set in New Zealand, capturing the struggles of adolescence.

World Cinema Documentary Competition

• One in a Million: A decade-long documentary tracing the refugee experience from Syria to Germany.
• Birds of War: Focuses on the impact of the Syrian civil war on personal relationships.
• To Hold a Mountain: Chronicles a community’s fight against militarization in Montenegro.

Notable Premieres

This year features a strong lineup in the Sundance premieres section. Some films to watch include:

• Once Upon a Time in Harlem: An extraordinary documentary reflecting on the Harlem Renaissance.
• Queen of Chess: Chronicles Judit Polgár’s rise in the male-dominated world of chess.
• Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant: A quirky exploration of pregnancy through a sci-fi lens.

Tickets for Sundance 2026 are available both online and for in-person attendance. Be sure to follow Filmogaz.com for complete festival coverage and updates.