Sundance Film Festival 2023 Program

The U.S. Dramatic Competition offers Festivalgoers a first look at groundbreaking new voices in American independent film, presenting the world premieres of 12 narrative feature films.

Presenting the world premieres of 12 nonfiction feature films, the U.S. Documentary Competition offers Festivalgoers a first look at American films illuminating the ideas, people, and events that shape the present day.

These 12 narrative feature films from emerging talent around the world offer fresh perspectives and inventive styles.

These 12 nonfiction feature films from emerging talent around the world showcase some of the most courageous and extraordinary filmmaking today.

Pure, bold works distinguished by an innovative, forward-thinking approach to storytelling populate this program. Digital technology, paired with unfettered creativity, promises that the films in this section will shape a greater next wave in American cinema.

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From horror flicks and wild comedies to chilling thrillers and works that defy any genre, these films will keep you wide awake and on the edge of your seat.

This showcase of world premieres presents highly anticipated films on a variety of subjects, fiction and nonfiction.

New Frontier champions artists who engage in experimental storytelling at the crossroads of film, art, performance, and media technology, showcasing cutting-edge work that explores and evolves cinema culture in today’s rapidly changing landscape. New Frontier is presently in a process of reimagination. This year, we return to our roots to offer a global lineup of resonant experimental films.

The Spotlight program is a tribute to the cinema we love, presenting films that have played throughout the world.

Spotlight presented by Audible

Geared towards our youngest independent-film fans, this section of the Festival is programmed in cooperation with Utah Film Center – host of Tumbleweeds Film Festival, the state’s premier film festival for children and adolescents.

One-of-a-kind moments highlight new independent works that add to the unique Festival experience.

Driven by innovation and experimentation, the Short Film Program calls out filmmaking’s most original voices.

Short Film Program presented by Shutterstock

Our Indie Episodic Program was created specifically for bold stories told in multiple episodes, with an emphasis on independent perspectives and innovative storytelling.

Rediscover classic works of independent cinema as the Sundance Film Festival presents films from the vaults of the Sundance Collection at UCLA. Formed in partnership with UCLA Film & Television Archive, and growing through the support of donors, the collection now contains more than 2,000 films.

The culmination of the Sundance Film Festival is the awards announcement. The competition juries, composed of individuals from the worldwide film community who have original and diverse points of view, select films from the Festival’s documentary and dramatic competition categories to receive a variety of awards.