ANN ARBOR, MICH. – The Michigan Theater will become an official venue of the 2010 Sundance Film Festival as part of a groundbreaking initiative called Sundance Film Festival U.S.A. On the night of Thursday, January 28, the celebrated 10-day festival will expand nationwide to theatres in eight cities, including Ann Arbor, while featuring coinciding premiere screenings and topical events at the Festival in and around Park City, Utah. Sundance Film Festival U.S.A. is designed to both entertain audiences and to highlight the ability of art, specifically film, to introduce new concepts, challenge ideals and spur debate. The Sundance Film Festival runs January 21-31, 2010.
On January 28, eight filmmakers and their films will be dispatched from Park City to cities across America, for the first time providing audiences the opportunity to experience screenings direct from the Festival in their home town art houses and to engage in live conversation with Festival artists. An introduction video featuring Robert Redford and highlights from the Festival will precede the screenings. Determination of the film and filmmaker traveling to Ann Arbor will take place shortly after the Festival’s overall programming announcement in December. The film screening here will be selected from the official Sundance Film Festival program.
Reserved seats are priced at $15 and are available at ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster outlets, including the Michigan Union Ticket Office and Macy’s stores. Charge by phone at 800-745-3000.
Participating cities and their theatres are:
Ann Arbor, MI Michigan Theater www.michtheater.org
Boston, MA Coolidge Corner Theatre www.coolidge.org
Chicago, IL Music Box Theatre www.musicboxtheatre.com
Los Angeles, CA Downtown Independent www.downtownindependent.com
Madison, WI Sundance Cinemas Madison www.sundancecinemas.com
Nashville, TN The Belcourt Theatre www.belcourt.org
New York, NY BAM www.bam.org
San Francisco, CA Sundance Kabuki Cinemas www.sundancecinemas.com
“The concept behind Sundance Film Festival U.S.A. is to ignite dialogue as people across the country engage in a collective film experience. It is an extension, really, of the work we have done for decades: supporting the independent voice, bringing artists to the table and inserting art more and more into the social context of how we live,” said Robert Redford, Sundance Institute President and Founder of the Sundance Film Festival. “We hope by speaking with artists about their work and experiencing the Festival as it is happening, audiences will be inspired to share opinions, discuss the key issues of our day and reflect on the role art plays in social change.”
Southwest Airlines is the official airline partner of Sundance Film Festival U.S.A.
About the Sundance Film Festival
Presenting dramatic and documentary feature-length films from emerging and established artists, innovative short films, filmmaker forums and panels, live music performances ranging from solo acts to film composer events, cutting-edge media installations, and engaging community and student programs, the Sundance Film Festival brings together the most original storytellers of our time.
Supported by the non-profit Sundance Institute, the Festival has introduced global audiences to some of the most ground-breaking films of the past two decades, including sex, lies, and videotape, Maria Full of Grace, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, An Inconvenient Truth, Trouble the Water, and Central Station and, through its New Frontier initiative, has brought to audiences the cinematic works of media artists including Isaac Julian, Doug Aitken, Pierre Huyghe, Jennifer Steinkamp, and Matthew Barney. The Presenting Sponsors for the 2010 Festival are Entertainment Weekly, HP, Honda and Sundance Channel. www.sundance.org/festival
About the Michigan Theater
The Michigan Theater is Ann Arbor’s not-for-profit historic center for fine film and performing arts. Saved in 1979 by a group of concerned citizens, the Theater has gone on to win numerous awards for its restoration, its programming and its role in the community, including the Outstanding Historic Theatre Award from the League of Historic American Theatres. It is located in downtown Ann Arbor at 603 East Liberty Street, across the street from Borders Books and Music. Regular movie prices are $9.00, $7.00 for students, seniors and US veterans, $6.50 for Michigan Theater members, $6.00 for all Wednesday screenings. Please visit the theater’s website at http://michtheater.org. The 24-hour information line is (734) 668-TIME.
