"Back in the '90s through the aughts, the excitement of discovering the next "In the Bedroom," "sex, lies, and videotape," or Jennifer Lawrence was palpable, when buyers for American narratives were plentiful and the indie market was on the rise. It wasn't all about celebrity suites and swag giveaways back then. The burgeoning Main Street parties were always musts to avoid, except for one: It was always tough to get into Cinetic's Monday night party."
"But as Sundance preps for its January 2026 Park City finale, the industry is wondering what the first Sundance Boulder edition in 2027 will look like. Many hope the festival will contract in scale. My first visit to the 13th Middleburg Film Festival, set at billionaire founder Sheila Johnson's posh Salamander resort in the rolling hills of Virginia outside of Washington, D.C., reminded me of the pleasures of a small film festival."
"I dropped into a late-night library circle as Oscar-winner Chloé Zhao (whose "Hamnet" shared the audience prize with "Rental Family") confessed she'd like to open a funeral home. I ate lunch with Rose Byrne and Mary Bronstein ("If I Had Legs I'd Kick You"), Nina Hoss ("Hedda"), and Zoey Deutch ("Nouvelle Vague"). I ate dinner with Middleburgh producer-advisors Ron Yerxa and Albert Berger ("Little Miss Sunshine")"
Sundance served for decades as a central marketplace for independent American narratives, generating excitement and notable discoveries in the 1990s and 2000s. Key networking venues and parties, including Zoom and Cinetic gatherings, played important roles in deal-making, though those elements and Robert Redford's presence have diminished. Sundance will stage a January 2026 Park City finale with a planned Boulder edition in 2027, prompting industry questions and hopes for a reduced scale. Smaller festivals such as the 13th Middleburg Film Festival demonstrate how limited programming and selective guests increase venue access and direct engagement with filmmakers, talent, and producers.
Read at IndieWire
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