It’s time!
This year’s Sundance Film Festival is full of Black star power, and we’ve compiled a list of everything you should have on your radar for entertainment.
Festival premieres include new work by Dee Rees, starring Mary J. Blige and Jason Mitchell and a documentary on Winnie Mandela. We also get to see a sneak peek at Fox’s Shots Fired, created by Gina Prince-Bythewood, Reggie Rock Bythewood and starring Sanaa Lathan.
Here are our picks for films to check out at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.
01
Crown Heights
When Colin Warner is wrongfully convicted of murder, his best friend devotes his life to proving his innocence. A true story adapted from ‘This American Life.’ Starring Lakeith Stanfield and Nnamdi Asomugha.
02
Burning Sands
A raw, voyeuristic journey of fraternity pledging through the eyes of one favored pledgee. Staring Trevor Jackson, Alfre Woodard, Steve Harris, Tosin Cole, DeRon Horton, and Trevante Rhodes. Directed by Gerard McMurray.
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03
Kuso
Discarded televisions illuminates life after Los Angeles’s worst earthquake nightmare. Starring Hannibal Buress.
04
Strong Island
Examines the violent death of the filmmaker’s brother and the judicial system that allowed his killer to go free. Directed by Yance Ford.
05
Quest
A 10-year portrait of a North Philadelphia family and the creative sanctuary offered by their home music studio.
06
Roxanne Roxanne
At age 14, Roxanne Shanté was well on her way to becoming a hip-hop legend; this is her story. Written and directed by Michael Larnell. Starring Chanté Adams, Mahershala Ali, and Nia Long.
07
The Incredible Jessica James
Life of an aspiring NYC playwright goes topsy-turvy after a recent breakup. Starring Jessica Williams and Lakeith Stanfield
08
Tell Them We Are Rising
‘The Story of Black Colleges and Universities,’ director Stanley Nelson takes a look at the 150 year history of Black colleges.
09
The Workers Cup
10
The Wound
A lonely South African factory worker discovers a forbidden love. Starring Nakhane Touré, Bongile Mantsai, and Niza Jay Ncoyini.
11
Winnie
The documentary chronicles the rise and fall of Winnie Madikizela Mandela. Directed Pascale Lamche.
12
Whose Streets?
A nonfiction account of the Ferguson uprising told by the people who lived it. Directed by Sabaah Folayan and co-directed by Damon Davis.
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13
Carpinteros (Woodpeckers)
Love is found in the last place imaginable: the Dominican Republic’s Najayo Prison. Directed and written by José María Cabral.
14
Dayveon
In the wake of his older brother’s death, 13-year-old Dayveon tries to find his way in a rural Arkansas town. Starring Devin Blackmon, Kordell “KD” Johnson, Dontrell Bright, Chasity Moore, Lachion Buckingham, and Marquell Manning.
15
STEP
Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women’s high school step team attempts to be the first in their families to attend college.
16
The Force
A cinema verité look at the long-troubled Oakland Police Department. Directed by Peter Nicks.
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17
Mudbound
Two families struggle in post–World War II South. Co-written by Dee Rees and Virgil Williams. Starring Carey Mulligan, Jason Clarke, Mary J. Blige, Rob Morgan and Jason Mitchell.
18
The Workers Cup
The African and Asian migrant workers building Qatar’s facilities for the 2022 World Cup compete in their own soccer tournament.
19
18 Black Girls / Boys Ages 1-18 Who Have Arrived at the Singularity and Are Thus Spiritual Machines: $X in an Edition of $97 Quadrillion
In this pair of performances, the artist Googles the phrase “one-year-old black boy” and “one-year-old black girl,” allowing Google’s “popular searches” algorithm to populate what words will follow.
20
Shots Fired
After racially-charged shootings in a North Carolina town, an investigator digs into the cases alongside a special prosecutor. Created by Gina Prince-Bythewood, Reggie Rock Bythewood. Starring Sanaa Lathan, Stephan James, and Mack Wilds.
21
Installations
A three-part exploration of black women and the roles they play in technology, society and culture with artists Ashley Baccus-Clark, Carmen Aguilar y Wedge, Ece Tankal, and Nitzan Bartov
22
Time: The Kalief Browder Story
After his arrest at age 16, Kalief Browder fought the system and prevailed, despite unthinkable circumstances. Executive produced by Shawn “Jay Z” Carter.
23
Where Is Kyra?
A lonely woman fights depression and possible eviction. Directed by Nigerian photographer and filmmaker Andrew Dosunmu.
