"Each year, most films leave the festival without a distributor in place, and we've only seen a handful of sales so far despite Netflix, Neon, Searchlight, Focus, A24, and more all on the ground. Plus, newcomer distribution groups like Row K and Warners' independent label also landed in Utah to make an impression. Alas, many movies still need a home, and below, IndieWire rounds up the ones we think distributors will click with - some more intrepid than others, but all worthy of a hopefully big-screen landing place."
"Projects like "Too Many Cooks" have proved that Adult Swim legend Casper Kelly can cram far more creativity into a short film than you'll find in most features. So it should come as no surprise that when he finally got a chance to make a proper feature - one that, with all due respect to the "Adult Swim Yule Log" series, didn't have to be disguised as a glorified screensaver - he delivered a must-see cinematic event. "Buddy" is an easy elevator pitch (it's "Barney" as a horror movie), but the high concept wouldn't have played nearly as well in anyone else's hands. Kelly's reverence for the analog quirks of old TV shows is on full display, and he backs it up with some serious horror chops to deliver a hilariously bloodthirsty good time."
Sundance Film Festival 2026 concluded both online and in Park City. Most films left the festival without distribution deals despite the presence of major buyers such as Netflix, Neon, Searchlight, Focus, and A24. New independent distribution efforts, including Row K and Warner's indie label, also attended seeking acquisitions. A selection of documentary and narrative features emerged as strong candidates for theatrical release. Casper Kelly's Buddy transforms children's television nostalgia into a violent, analog-horror midnight movie. Other anticipated titles, including Michał Marczak's Closure, represent long-awaited follow-ups likely to attract distributor interest and wider audiences.
Read at IndieWire
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