{"id":924986,"date":"2024-12-12T20:30:25","date_gmt":"2024-12-13T01:30:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/glaad.org\/?p=924986"},"modified":"2025-01-28T10:04:17","modified_gmt":"2025-01-28T15:04:17","slug":"the-wedding-banquet-move-ya-body-heightened-scrutiny-sally-and-a-hearty-helping-lgbtq-titles-bring-queer-narratives-to-sundance-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/glaad.org\/the-wedding-banquet-move-ya-body-heightened-scrutiny-sally-and-a-hearty-helping-lgbtq-titles-bring-queer-narratives-to-sundance-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"‘The Wedding Banquet’, ‘Move Ya Body’, ‘Heightened Scrutiny’ ‘Sally’ and a Hearty Helping LGBTQ Titles Bring Queer Narratives to Sundance 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Sundance Film Festival<\/strong> announced their first round of features and episodic titles for the 2025 iteration of the Park City-based film fest which is set to kick off January 23, 2025, and continue through February 2<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This year’s fest serves a notable lineup of LGBTQ projects across all categories. Notable titles include Andrew Ahn<\/strong>‘s iteration of Ang Lee’s The Wedding Banquet<\/em><\/strong> starring Lily Gladstone, Bowen Yang, <\/strong>and Kelly Marie Tran<\/strong>. The Inspection<\/em> director Elegance Bratton<\/strong> will bring down the house with the documentary Move Ya Body: The Birth of House<\/strong><\/em>, as it showcases the origin of house music in Chicago.<\/p>\n

Disclosure<\/em> producer Sam Feder<\/strong> returns to Sundance with the world premiere of Heightened Scrutiny<\/strong><\/em> which follows Chase Strangio<\/strong> as he continues to stand on the front lines fighting for transgender rights.<\/p>\n

Cristina Costantini<\/strong>‘s documentary SALLY<\/strong><\/em> was awarded the 2025 Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize, an annual juried award granted to an artist with the most outstanding depiction of science and technology in a feature-length film. The docu follows the titular Sally Ride<\/strong>, the first American woman to blast off into space, and her relationship with her life partner, Tam O\u2019Shaughnessy<\/strong>, and the sacrifices that accompanied their 27 years together.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor nearly a year our team has been preparing for today, the moment when we can finally reveal the filmmakers who, in a few short weeks, we\u2019ll present at the 2025 edition of the Sundance Film Festival,\u201d said Eugene Hernandez<\/strong>, Director, Sundance Film Festival and Public Programming. \u201cThis year\u2019s program is ready to meet our audiences, the industry, and the wider culture in a moment of many global questions. The works our artists will debut at our upcoming Festival will spark conversation and invite connection. We\u2019re excited to be sharing these moments of discovery together with our communities soon and thankful to our artists for entrusting us with their stories.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more LGBTQ titles that will be at Sundance in 2025:<\/p>\n

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All photos courtesy of Sundance Institute<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

April & Amanda \/<\/i><\/b>Premieres\/U.S.A. (Director: Zackary Drucker, Producers: Madison Passarelli, Douglas Banker, Alex Garinger, Noah Levy, Donovan Lovell, Stephen B. Strout) \u2014 Two legends contested their identities as women in the court of public opinion: April Ashley, who was immortalized as a trailblazer by embracing her transgender history; and Amanda Lear, who has consciously denied and obfuscated her history for decades. Their divergent paths reveal disparate but intertwined legacies. World Premiere. Documentary.<\/i><\/p>\n

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Come See Me In the Good Light<\/strong><\/em> \/Premieres\/U.S.A\u00a0(Director and Producer: Ryan White, Producers: Jessica Hargrave, Tig Notaro, Stef Willen) \u2014 Two poets, one incurable cancer diagnosis. Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley go on an unexpectedly funny and poignant journey through love, life, and mortality.\u00a0World Premiere. Documentary.<\/i><\/p>\n

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GEN_\u00a0<\/i><\/b>\/World Cinema Documentary Competition\/ France, Italy, Switzerland (Director and Screenwriter: Gianluca Matarrese, Screenwriter: Donatella Della Ratta, Producers: Dominique Barneaud, Donatella Palermo, Alexandre Iordachescu) \u2014 At Milan\u2019s Niguarda public hospital, the unconventional Dr. Bini leads a bold mission overseeing aspiring parents undergoing in vitro fertilization and the journeys of individuals reconciling their bodies with their gender identities. He navigates the constraints set by a conservative government and an aggressive market eager to commodify bodies. World Premiere. Available online for Public.<\/i><\/p>\n

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Hal & Harper<\/i><\/b> \/Episodic\/ U.S.A. (Director and Executive Producer: Cooper Raiff, Executive Producers: Clementine Quittner, Lili Reinhart, Daniel Lewis, Addison Timlin) \u2014 Hal and Harper and Dad chart the evolution of their family. Cast: Lili Reinhart, Mark Ruffalo, Betty Gilpin, Havana Rose Liu, Addison Timlin, Alyah Chanelle Scott. World Premiere. Fiction. Available Online for Public. Eight-episode season, screening first four episodes in person and full season online.<\/i><\/p>\n

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Heightened Scrutiny<\/strong><\/em> \/Premieres\/ U.S.A. (Director and Producer: Sam Feder, Producers: Amy Scholder, Paola Mendoza) \u2014 Amid the surge in anti-trans legislation that Chase Strangio battles in the courtroom, he must also fight against media bias, exposing how the narratives in the press influence public perception and the fight for transgender rights.\u00a0World Premiere. Documentary. Available\u00a0<\/i>o<\/i>nline for Public.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

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Jimpa<\/strong> \/Premieres\/ Australia, Netherlands, Finland (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Sophie Hyde, Screenwriter: Matthew Cormack, Producers: Liam Heyen, Bryan Mason, Marleen Slot)\u00a0<\/i>\u2014\u00a0<\/i>Hannah takes her nonbinary teenager, Frances, to Amsterdam to visit their gay grandfather, Jim \u2014 lovingly known as Jimpa. But Frances\u2019 desire to stay abroad with Jimpa for a year means Hannah is forced to reconsider her beliefs about parenting and finally confront old stories about the past.\u00a0Cast: Olivia Colman, John Lithgow, Aud Mason-Hyde. World Premiere. Fiction.<\/i><\/p>\n

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Kiss of the Spider-Woman<\/strong><\/em> \/Premieres\/ U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Bill Condon, Producers: Barry Josephson, Tom Kirdahy, Greg Yolen) \u2014 Valent\u00edn, a political prisoner, shares a cell with Molina, a window dresser convicted of public indecency. The two form an unlikely bond as Molina recounts the plot of a Hollywood musical starring his favorite silver screen diva, Ingrid Luna.\u00a0Cast: Diego Luna, Tonatiuh, Jennifer Lopez, Bruno Bichir, Josefina Scaglione, Aline Mayagoitia. World Premiere. Fiction.<\/i><\/p>\n

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The Librarians\u00a0<\/b><\/i>\/Premieres\/ U.S.A. (Director and Producer: Kim A. Snyder, Producers: Janique L. Robillard, Maria Cuomo Cole, Jana Edelbaum) \u2014 As an unprecedented wave of book banning is sparked in Texas, Florida, and beyond, librarians under siege join forces as unlikely defenders fighting for intellectual freedom on the front lines of democracy. World Premiere. Documentary.<\/i><\/p>\n

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Magic Farm<\/i><\/b> \/Premieres\/ Argentina, U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Amalia Ulman, Producers: Alex Hughes, Eugene Kotlyarenko, Riccardo Maddalosso) \u2014 A film crew working for an edgy media company travels to Argentina to profile a local musician, but their ineptitude leads them into the wrong country. As the crew collaborates with locals to fabricate a trend, unexpected connections blossom while a pervasive health crisis looms unacknowledged in the background. Cast: Chlo\u00eb Sevigny, Alex Wolff, Joe Apollonio, Camila del Campo, Simon Rex.<\/i>\u00a0World Premiere. Fiction.<\/i><\/p>\n

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\n<\/i>Move Ya Body: The Birth of House <\/i><\/b>\/Premieres\/ U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Elegance Bratton, Producer: Chester Algernal Gordon) \u2014 Out of the underground dance clubs on the South Side of Chicago, a group of friends turn a new sound into a global movement. World Premiere. Documentary.<\/i><\/p>\n

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Pee-wee as Himself<\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/b>\/Episodic\/ U.S.A. (Director: Matt Wolf, Producer: Emma Tillinger Koskoff) \u2014 A chronicle of the life of artist and performer Paul Reubens and his alter ego Pee-wee Herman. Prior to his recent death, Reubens spoke in-depth about his creative influences, and the personal struggles he faced to persevere as an artist. World Premiere. Documentary. Two-part documentary, screening in its entirety.<\/i><\/p>\n

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\n<\/i>Peter Hujar\u2019s Day <\/i><\/b>\/Premieres\/ U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Ira Sachs, Producers: Jordan Drake, Jonah Disend) \u2014A recently discovered conversation between photographer Peter Hujar and his friend Linda Rosenkrantz in 1974 reveals a glimpse into New York City\u2019s downtown art scene and the personal struggles and epiphanies that define an artist\u2019s life. Cast: Ben Whishaw, Rebecca Hall.<\/i>\u00a0World Premiere. Fiction<\/i><\/p>\n

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\n<\/i>Plainclothes<\/i>\u00a0<\/b>\/U.S. Dramatic Competition\/U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Carmen Emmi, Producers: Colby Cote, Arthur Landon, Eric Podwall, Vanessa Pantley) \u2014 A promising undercover officer assigned to lure and arrest gay men defies orders when he falls in love with a target. Cast: Tom Blyth, Russell Tovey, Maria Dizzia, Christian Cooke, Gabe Fazio, Amy Forsyth. World Premiere. Available online for Public.<\/i><\/p>\n

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\n<\/i>Rains Over Babel<\/i><\/b> \/NEXT\/ Colombia, U.S.A., Spain (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Gala del Sol, Producers: H.A Hermida, Ana Cristina Guti\u00e9rrez, Andr\u00e9s Hermida, Natalia Rend\u00f3n Rodr\u00edguez) \u2014 A group of misfits converges at Babel, a legendary dive bar that doubles as purgatory, where La Flaca \u2014 the city\u2019s Grim Reaper \u2014 presides. Here, souls gamble years of their lives with her, daring to outwit Death herself. Cast: Saray Rebolledo, Felipe Aguilar Rodr\u00edguez, John Alex Castillo, William Hurtado, Santiago Pineda, Celina Biurrun. World Premiere. Fiction. Available\u00a0<\/i>o<\/i>nline for Public.<\/i><\/p>\n

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Sabar Bonda (Cactus P<\/i><\/b>ears)<\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/b>\/World Cinema Dramatic Competition\/\u00a0<\/b>India, U.K., Canada (Director and Screenwriter: Rohan Parashuram Kanawade, Producers: Neeraj Churi, Mohamed Khaki, Kaushik Ray, Hareesh Reddypalli, Naren Chandavarkar, Sidharth Meer) \u2014 Anand, a 30-something city dweller compelled to spend a 10-day mourning period for his father in the rugged countryside of western India, tenderly bonds with a local farmer struggling to stay unmarried. As the mourning ends, forcing his return, Anand must decide the fate of his relationship born under duress. Cast: Bhushaan Manoj, Suraaj Suman, Jayshri Jagtap. World Premiere. Available online for Public.<\/i><\/p>\n

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\n<\/i>SALLY <\/i><\/b>\/Premieres\/ U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Cristina Costantini, Screenwriter: Tom Maroney, Producers: Lauren Cioffi, Dan Cogan, Jon Bardin) \u2014 Sally Ride became the first American woman to blast off into space, but beneath her unflappable composure was a secret. Sally\u2019s life partner, Tam O\u2019Shaughnessy, reveals their hidden romance and the sacrifices that accompanied their 27 years together. World Premiere. Documentary. Available\u00a0<\/i>o<\/i>nline for Public.\u00a0<\/i>2025 Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize Winner.<\/i><\/p>\n

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Sauna\u00a0<\/i><\/b>\/World Cinema Dramatic Competition\/\u00a0<\/b>Denmark (Director and Screenwriter: Mathias Broe, Screenwriter: William Lippert, Producer: Mads-August Hertz) \u2014 Johan thrives as a gay man in Copenhagen, enjoying endless bars, parties, and casual flings. Everything changes when he meets William, a transgender man, and falls into a deep love that defies societal norms around gender, identity, and relationships.\u00a0Cast: Magnus Juhl Andersen, Nina Rask, Dilan Amin, Klaus Tange. World Premiere. Available online for Public.<\/i><\/p>\n

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Speak.<\/i><\/b>\u00a0\/<\/i>U.S. Documentary Competition\/ U.S.A. (Directors and Producers: Jennifer Tiexiera, Guy Mossman, Producer: Pamela Griner) \u2014 Five top-ranked high school oratory students spend a year crafting spellbinding spoken word performances with the dream of winning one of the world\u2019s largest and most intense public speaking competitions.\u00a0World Premiere. Available online for Public.<\/i><\/p>\n

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\nTouch Me<\/i><\/b> \/<\/i>Midnight\/ U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Addison Heimann, Producers: John Humber, David Lawson Jr.) \u2014 Two codependent best friends become addicted to the heroin-like touch of an alien narcissist who may or may not be trying to take over the world.\u00a0Cast: Olivia Taylor Dudley, Lou Taylor Pucci, Jordan Gavaris, Marlene Forte, Paget Brewster. World Premiere. Fiction.<\/i><\/p>\n

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\nTwinless<\/i><\/b>\u00a0\/<\/i>U.S. Dramatic Competiton\/ <\/i>U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: James Sweeney, Producer: David Permut) \u2014 Two young men meet in a twin bereavement support group and form an unlikely bromance.\u00a0Cast: Dylan O\u2019Brien, James Sweeney, Lauren Graham, Aisling Franciosi, Tasha Smith, Chris Perfetti. World Premiere. Available online for Public.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

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\n<\/i>Unzipped<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 \/Documentary\/\u00a0U.S.A. (Director: Douglas Keeve, Producer: Michael Alden) \u2014 Director Douglas Keeve goes behind the scenes of designer Isaac Mizrahi\u2019s relentless drive and bold vision to bring his 1994 collection to life. From sketches to runway, this insider\u2019s journey is packed with backstage drama, creative triumphs, and iconic supermodels, including Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, and Linda Evangelista. Documentary.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

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The Wedding Banquet\u00a0<\/i><\/b>\/Premieres\/ U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Andrew Ahn, Screenwriter and Producer: James Schamus, Producers: Anita Gou, Joe Pirro, Caroline Clark) \u2014 Frustrated with his commitment-phobic boyfriend, Chris, and out of time, Min makes a proposal: a green card marriage with his friend Angela in exchange for expensive in vitro fertilization treatments for her partner, Lee. Plans change when Min\u2019s grandmother surprises them with an elaborate Korean wedding banquet. Cast: Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran, Han Gi-chan, Joan Chen, Youn Yuh-jung. World Premiere. Fiction.<\/i><\/p>\n

In October, Sundance published guidance on its website after receiving calls for clarity on how Utah House Bill 257, introduced and passed during last year\u2019s Sundance Film Festival, would affect attendance this year, especially for trans filmmakers and audiences. You can read that article here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

At GLAAD\u2019s Transgender Storytellers Panels last year at Sundance, which included Yance Ford, Shar Jossell, Sav Rodgers, River Gallo,<\/strong> and Sundance Manager of Equity, Impact, & Belonging Moi Santos,<\/strong> GLAAD’s Senior Director of Entertainment & Transgender Inclusion Alex Schmider<\/strong> noted on stage: “If this bill becomes law, by next year, Sundance 2025\u2026the people you will see on this stage will have to make decisions about their safety in order to be here. Many already are. It\u2019s incumbent on all of us to speak out against this anti-trans legislation that not only endangers trans people but anyone who is suspected of knowing their own gender better than Utah\u2019s government.\u201d<\/p>\n

Click here to read the full programming for the Sundance Film Festival.<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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