Sundance 2019: 10 things to do besides movies

The 2019 Sundance Film Festival begins on Thursday, January 24 and Monsters and Critics will be there reviewing films and interviewing filmmakers and celebrities.

If you’re not a member of the press or a Sundance member, it can be difficult to land the hot tickets, at least at the beginning of the week. Fortunately, there are plenty of other events put on by Sundance itself and other organizations that are open to badge holders or even to the public. 

Here are 10 things to do at Sundance when you’re not seeing movies, including music performances, panels and food. 

10. Ava Della Pietra Performances

School of Rock Broadway Star Ava Della Pietra will be performing three times this weekend. The first is on Park City TV which you can stream at  http://parkcity.tv.

The other two public performances are at Flanagan’s (438 Main St) at 3:30pm on Saturday January 26 and Music Lodge (738 Main) on Sunday January 27 at 4pm.

9. Blackhouse Sponsored Facebook Panels 

The Blackhouse Foundation has announced two Facebook panels they are sponsoring at their venue at 804 Main. Saturday, January 26, sees the SEEN Inclusivity panel and Monday, January 28, is The Future of Storytelling panel which includes Miley Alfred, Justin Chon, Deborah Riley Draper, Sherri Daye Scott and Datari Turner discussing their use of digital platforms.

Blackhouse has their own festival app (iOS) (Android) to keep up with their events.

8. Jewish Film Institute Light Lunch And Not-So-Light Conversation

On Friday, January 25 at 2pm, Matt Tyranauer, director of Where’s My Roy Cohn?, will have a conversation with Festival Programmer Caroline Libresco at the Kimball Art Center. That’ll be a heavy talk, so there will be some nosh to go with it. 

7. SundanceTV HQ Panels

Sundance TV will set up their HQ at 268 Main and several of their events are open to the public. Saturday, January 26 at 1pm is Close Up With The Hollywood Reporter Live: Actors, and at 3pm Women Breaking Barries: Where Are We Now? which will include Octavia Spencer, Annette Benning and Cassian Elwes.

Sunday, January 27 at 1pm is Close Up With The Hollywood Reporter Live: Indie Filmmakers, and at 3pm Railroad Ties short film screening and panel. Monday, January 28 at 1pm is a State of the Union panel featuring Chris O’Dowd and Nick Hornby.

Tuesday, January 29 at 1pm has From Idea to Deal: How Legal Challenges Cultivate Creativity. Wednesday, January 30 at 1pm has Spotlighting (In)Justice In America: The Power of Film to Drive Social Change. 

6. GLAAD Panel and Awards

For credentialed badgeholders, Sundance and GLAAD present the panel Beyond the Transition Narrative: Transgender Storytelling in the 21st Century. Look for the GLAAD Media Award Nominations announcement on Friday, January 25 at 8am too. 

5. Cinema Cafe Talks

The Cinema Cafe at 550 Main Street (2nd floor) will host conversations with famous Sundance attendees all week at 11:30am. Jackie Chan kicks things off on Friday, January 25.

Saturday is Ashton Sanders and KiKi Layne. Sunday is Chiwetel Ejiofor and Boots Riley. Monday is Jenny Slate and Ed Helms. 

Thursday has the double pairing of Jen Tullock and Hanna Pearl Utt with Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe. Friday is Tessa Thompson and Jane Campion. Saturday, February 2 concludes with Desiree Akhavan adn Nisha Ganatra.

4. The Fly Lounge

Set up at 427 Main, where past attendees will remember is the former spot of Rock & Reilly’s and Monkey Bar, The Fly Lounge will offer sponsored beauty and mind treatments from NUGL, technology center with augmented and virtual reality stations, along with invite-only Chefdance and premiere parties.

If you’re lucky enough to attend Tuesday, January 29 the after hours party features a performance by Wu Tang Clan in support of their Indie Episodic series Of Mics and Men. 

3. ASCAP Music Cafe

Open to all badgeholders 21 and over, check ascap.com for performance schedules daily from 2-6pm. Performers will include Stephen Bishop, Creamer, Dounia, Everlast., Flor De Toloache, Patty Griffin, Herizen, iDKHOW, Leland, Patrick Martin, Shim Moore, Milck, Judith Owen, Park88, J.P. Saxe and Warbly Jets. 

2. Celebration of Music in Film Concert

One night only, Saturday January 26, from 7-10pm at The Shop (1167 Woodside Ave.), first come first served for badgeholders until it’s full. Performers include Feist, The Head and the Heart, Patty Griffin, Rotana Tarbzouni, Frally Hynes and Kris Bowers. 

1.Waiting in Line

I’m serious. I’ve always said the best part of Sundance is waiting in line for movies with other film lovers. You can talk about what you’ve seen, share recommendations and make line friends. 

If you’re not in line for a movie, do it around town, on Main Street or anywhere in Park City. Just introduce yourself. Sundance is friendly.