Summer has finally arrived, which means it’s time for the return of Utah’s outdoor movie tradition, now in its 22nd year! The nonprofit Sundance Institute will once again celebrate the season and Utah’s natural beauty with free screenings of eleven Sundance Film Festival favorites, taking place in Salt Lake City, Park City, Ogden, St. George and, new this year, Coalville. The screenings will also feature special guests, fun activities, delicious food and many surprises.
“I can’t think of a better way to spend the summer than sharing these great films made by talented artists with our friends and neighbors, all while surrounded by our state’s natural beauty,” said Betsy Wallace, Managing Director and CFO of Sundance Institute. “We’re proud of our year-round partnership with the state of Utah and always look forward to this opportunity to express our appreciation for our home state and the people we share it with.”
Films start at dusk (approximately 9:00 p.m.), with gates opening and activities beginning at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. All screenings are free and open to the public (no tickets needed) with seating on a first-come, first-served basis. Attendees are encouraged to bring picnic baskets and blankets or low-back lawn chairs to outdoor screenings.
FULL LINEUP:
Wednesday, July 3 ∙ Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre ∙ Salt Lake City
Get Out / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Jordan Peele) — Now that Chris and Rose have reached the meet-the-parents milestone of dating, she invites him for a weekend getaway. At first, Chris reads her family’s behavior as nervous attempts to deal with their daughter’s interracial relationship. But as the weekend progresses, a series of disturbing discoveries lead him to a truth that he could have never imagined. Cast: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Catherine Keener, Caleb Landry Jones, Lakeith Stanfield.
Sweet treats available from San Diablo Churros.
Tuesday, July 9 ∙ Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre ∙ Salt Lake City
Abe / Brazil (Director: Fernando Grostein Andrade, Screenwriters: Lameece Issaq, Jacob Kader) — The Israeli Jewish side of his family calls him Avram. The Palestinian Muslim side Ibrahim. His first-generation American agnostic lawyer parents call him Abraham. But the 12-year-old kid from Brooklyn who loves food and cooking prefers, well, Abe. Just Abe. Cast: Noah Schnapp, Seu Jorge Mário da Silva, Mark Margolis, Dagmara Dominczyk, Arian Moayed, Tom Mardirosian.
Delicious meals available from Spice Kitchen in support of local entrepreneurs in our refugee community.
Friday, July 12 ∙ The Ray Theatre ∙ Park City
Top End Wedding / Australia (Director: Wayne Blair, Screenwriters: Joshua Tyler, Miranda Tapsell) Lauren and Ned are engaged, they are in love, and they have just 10 days to find Lauren’s mother (who has gone AWOL somewhere in the remote far north of Australia), reunite her parents, and pull off their dream wedding. Cast: Miranda Tapsell, Gwilym Lee, Kerry Fox, Huw Higginson, Ursula Yovich, Shari Sebbens.
Indoor screening. Venue opens at 6 p.m., screening starts at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, July 17 ∙ Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre ∙ Salt Lake City
Eighth Grade / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Bo Burnham) — Thirteen-year-old Kayla endures the tidal wave of contemporary suburban adolescence as she makes her way through the last week of middle school — the end of her thus far disastrous eighth grade year — before she begins high school. Cast: Elsie Fisher, Josh Hamilton.
Friday, July 19 ∙ Ledges Event Center ∙ Coalville
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind / United Kingdom (Director and Screenwriter: Chiwetel Ejiofor) — Against all the odds, a 13-year-old boy in Malawi invents an unconventional way to save his family and village from famine. Based on the true story of William Kamkwamba. Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Maxwell Simba, Lily Banda, Noma Dumezweni, Aïssa Maïga, Joseph Marcell.
Summit County Power Works will be hosting a Light Swap where you can switch in your old light bulbs for energy and money-saving LED light bulbs for free! There will also be games and a raffle drawing for prizes.
Friday, July 26 ∙ City Park ∙ Park City
RBG / U.S.A. (Directors: Betsy West, Julie Cohen) — An intimate portrait of an unlikely rock star: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. With unprecedented access, the filmmakers show how her early legal battles changed the world for women. Now this 84-year-old does push-ups as easily as she writes blistering dissents that have earned her the title “Notorious RBG.”
Sweet treats available from Waffle Love.
Monday, July 29 ∙ Ogden Amphitheater ∙ Ogden
Hearts Beat Loud / U.S.A. (Director: Brett Haley, Screenwriters: Brett Haley, Marc Basch) — In Red Hook, Brooklyn, a father and daughter become an unlikely songwriting duo in the last summer before she leaves for college. Cast: Nick Offerman, Kiersey Clemons, Ted Danson, Sasha Lane, Blythe Danner, Toni Collette.
Film preceded by a screening of the short film The Saint of Dry Creek. Shown in collaboration with Ogden Amphitheater. Venue opens at 6:30pm, screening starts at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, July 31 ∙ Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre ∙ Salt Lake
The Cockettes / U.S.A. (Directors: Bill Weber, David Weissman) — This documentary traces the rise and fall of the Cockettes, a troupe of hippies in drag famous for a notorious cabaret act in San Francisco in the 1960s and 70s.
In-person Q&A with co-directors Bill Weber and David Weissman to precede the screening.
Friday, August 2 ∙ City Park ∙ Park City
Life, Animated / U.S.A. (Director: Roger Ross Williams) — Owen Suskind, an autistic boy who could not speak for years, slowly emerged from his isolation by immersing himself in Disney animated movies. Using these films as a roadmap, he reconnects with his loving family and the wider world in this emotional coming-of-age story. Shown in collaboration with Kimball Arts Festival.
Sweet treats available from San Diablo Churros.
Friday, August 9 ∙ Dolores Doré Eccles Fine Arts Center ∙ St. George
Science Fair / U.S.A. (Directors: Cristina Costantini, Darren Foster) — Nine high school students from around the globe navigate rivalries, setbacks, and of course, hormones, on their journey to compete at the international science fair. Facing off against 1,700 of the smartest, quirkiest teens from 78 different countries, only one will be named Best in Fair.
Indoor screening. Q&A with co-directors Christina Costantini and Darren Foster to follow screening. Venue opens at 6pm, screening starts at 7pm. Shown in collaboration with DOCUTAH International Documentary Film Festival.
Wednesday, August 21 ∙ Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre ∙ Salt Lake City
Utah Community Choice Film — For the seventh year, Sundance Institute wants YOU to select the last film of the Summer Film Series. Through mid-August, vote onsite at screenings or at sundance.org/utah from a selection of Sundance films by female filmmakers. The winning film will be announced in late August.
Sweet treats available from Crumbl Cookies.
