The complete lineup for next year's drama and documentary contenders of the largest indie film festival in the U.S. is finally revealed. The said event is slated to run from January 21 to 31, 2016.
It can be recalled last week that the festival committee has already announced the first nine films debuting at the festival. According to AP Entertainment correspondent Sandy Cohen, this year's lineup delves into various genre and setting- from the slave days in the South to the gay-sex scene today in LA's Korean spas.
Festival director John Cooper said that the unifying force behind this year's lineup is a "thorough understanding of the craft of filmmaking, especially writing."
Cooper added that independent film is ever evolving and there seems a demand and need for different kinds of stories.
Some of the most anticipated performances included in the slate is Nick Jonas in Andrew Neel's "Goat", a fraternity-set drama produced by James Franco about a 19-year-old college kid who signs up for his brother's fraternity only to face a harrowing hazing process, Daniel Radcliffe alongside Paul Dano in "Swiss Army Man," which is about a hopeless loner who befriends a dead body, and Ellen Page in "Tallulah," about a young woman who steals a baby from a wealthy family.
Next year's domestic documentary slate features themes and stories of unsung heroes and prevalent youth issues such as gun violence and teenage cyber bullying. We are able to see the amazing story of ALS advocate and former NFL star Steve Gleason, and perspectives on gun violence and social media.
Meanwhile in the international drama slate, themes of sexuality were explored; there's "Brahman Naman" from India which tells the story of a group of college virgin brainiacs trying to get their cherry popped; Poland's entry "The Lure" about a mermaid who fell in love with a man. Also there's Germany's "Wild" about a woman who forms a special relationship with a wolf.
Cooper said that it's the beginning of a cultural year, and also new talents are being discovered: "talent that go onto direct other films, and acting talent that go on to be in other films and really become what's driving the film business forward."
For a complete list of 2016 Sundance festival in competition lineup, click on the official festival site page.
