Sundance lures big premieres

Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Douglas, John Cusack, Queen Latifah, Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins and Lindsay Lohan, among others, will be joining moviegoers and spectators for January's Sundance Film Festival — or at least their films will be.

On Thursday, festival officials announced the big-name premiere films that will be debuting at the 2007 edition of the festival, which runs Jan. 18-28 in a variety of Salt Lake and Park City locations.

On the schedule are:

• The Salt Lake City Gala selection, "Away From Her," a drama starring Olympia Dukakis and Julie Christie, and directed by actress Sarah Polley.

• Two Samuel L. Jackson features, the Deep South fable "Black Snake Moan," with Christina Ricci, and the boxing drama "Resurrecting the Champ," with Josh Hartnett and Alan Alda.

• "King of California," starring Michael Douglas as a mentally unstable man seeking hidden treasure.

• Antonio Banderas' latest venture into directing, the biographical drama "Summer Rain (El Camino de los Ingleses)."

• "Chapter 27," starring Lindsay Lohan, and Jared Leto as Mark David Chapman, who assassinated John Lennon.

• "Life Support," a drama based on the true story of an HIV activist and recovering drug addict (played by Queen Latifah). That film will be showcased during closing-night's activities in Park City.
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Sundance also unveiled its Spectrum, New Frontier and Park City at Midnight films, to include "Slipstream," written and directed by Anthony Hopkins.

Earlier this week the festival announced the 64 films that are scheduled to play in its dramatic, documentary and World Cinema competition categories, including "Grace is Gone," an Iraq War drama starring John Cusack, and an as-yet-untitled blues music drama starring Dakota Fanning, David Morse and Robin Wright Penn.

In all, more than 120 films will be shown, according to festival director Geoffrey Gilmore, who touted "the sheer diversity of independent film," and said the range of "artistic expression this year — both directorial and in performances — gives a special quality to the films."

As always, the festival will also feature panel discussions, a music cafe, parties (both official and unofficial) and much more during its 10-day run.

For a full list of films scheduled to play during the 2007 Sundance Film Festival and ticket information, go online to www.sundance.org.

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E-mail: jeff@desnews.com

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