With an opening weekend loaded with celebrities, Utah’s Sundance fest moves toward second half

SALT LAKE CITY – The first weekend of the Sundance Film Festival traditionally brings with it stars, cameras and plenty of international media attention.

What remains on Monday is a festival that continues to show films in Park City and Salt Lake City throughout the weekend and tends to have a bit more local flavor, with awards, sales and headlines still to come.

One thing is clear: Freaky Tales, a supernatural-themed feature film set in 1980s Oakland and featuring four interconnected stories, is a hot ticket. After the premiere, a Saturday night screening in Salt Lake City was flooded with pass holders showing up to watch, leaving dozens – perhaps hundreds – of ticket holders unable to attend the screening.

It stars Pedro Pascal — director co-Ryan Fleck told KSL TV he's “having a moment” — and many other notable faces, including Jay Ellis and Ben Mendelsohn, as well as a big cameo from a video store worker named Hank. Buzz at Sundance never hurts, and Fleck and co-director Anna Boden aren't coming to Salt Lake City to talk to audiences either. There is also a mention of Karl “The Mailman” Malone with a focus on the Golden State Warriors players of the time.

There have been reports of other films attracting pass holders and frustrating other ticket holders. The fest offers additional viewing options for ticket holders who miss a screening, even though it may not be the same film, which can only be shown a few times.

The festival's opening weekend brought a host of familiar faces to Utah while celebrating a pretty incredible list of past attendees who have achieved both critical and commercial theatrical success. There are also panels, discussions and, for those who can get it, great nightlife.

Salt Lake City also hosted an opening event and premiere of the documentary “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story,” which introduced the late actor's three children who play roles in the film. They also provided directors Ian Bonhote and Peter Ettedgui with much of the home video stills and video to tell the definitive story of the actor and father who in many ways ushered in the superhero era of modern cinema.

Matthew Reeve, Alexandra Reeve and William Reeve attended along with city dignitaries including former Utah Governor Gary Herbert and local business leaders.

But Park City was home to the highest-profile launches, including “Oppenheimer” director Christopher Nolan, who broke into Sundance in 2004 with his film “Memento.” There were two films for Kristen Stewart, who was there to support both, including a hard-to-get-to film. Get a ticket to “Love Me,” which she stars in with Steven Yeun, also in Utah. This film is also causing quite a stir.

The list of stars in attendance is impressive and includes Jodie Foster, Robert Downey Jr., Kerry Washington, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sebastian Stan, Alicia Silverstone, Saoirse Ronan, Kathryn Newton, Zach Galifianakis, Riley Keough, Lucy Liu, Kieran Culkin and Lionel, among others Richie, Chrissy Teigen, WNBA legend Sue Bird, NBA veteran Eric “Sleepy” Floyd, Giancarlo Esposito, Glen Powell, Chris Sullivan, Greg Clark, Jena Malone, Justice Smith and David Alan Grier, to name a few of the actors in the to name the city.

The festival is screening films in Park City and Salt Lake this week, with award-winning films showing on Saturday and Sunday. Press, industry and talent remain in Utah, even though star power may be on the decline. The market for films is expected to be healthy as there are vacancies in the film release calendar in both theaters and streaming as Hollywood strikes halted film production last year.

Tickets are still available for individual screenings, and online ticketed screenings are also available January 25-28.

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