In years past I’ve been sent the catalog of films ahead of time, where I’ve been able to make notes about what I’m looking forward to and what I can’t wait to avoid. This year I never got the book, probably because I was nearly late with my press application. Though I’ve gone through some of the films on-line, it’s harder to make notes in the margins when looking at a computer screen.

Two Seattle films are playing in Park City, one at Sundance and one at Slamdance, and I’m looking forward to them both.

I’ve heard from people in Seattle who’s worked on both the sound and the video post-production that Iraq in Fragments is a poetic and visually arresting film. I’ll report back on it once I’ve been to the press screening.

The other local film is Lynn Shelton’s Slamdance entry We Go Way Back, which was produced by the non-profit studio The Film Company. I’ve seen an advanced screening of this sweet and deceptively simple film, and I’ll report on that down the line. Plus, I’m dying to find out if they raised enough money to retrieve the 35mm print from the lab. I’m guessing they did, but I’ll know for sure in a day or two.

Anyway, I’m grabbing the catalog from the press office right now, and I’ll write back with more movie news in a bit.

-Andy Spletzer slogging from Sundance in Park City, Utah