@Sundance Institute
Whiplash has topped the list of the top 10 feature films that have screened during the Sundance Film Festival over the past four decades, Variety is reporting. The psychological drama, which premiered in competition at the festival in 2014, was written and directed by Damien Chazelle. After the movie’s premiere, the filmmaker was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
The film stars Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons as music conservatory student Andrew Neiman and abusive music teacher Terrence Fletcher, respectively. The latter was honored with the Best Supporting Actor Oscar, Golden Globe and SAG Award for his performance.
Placing second on Sundance’s Top 10 Feature Films List was the 1992 neo-noir movie Reservoir Dogs. The drama drama penned and helmed by Quentin Tarantino in his feature-length debut.
The Independent Spirit Award-winning film is followed on the list by the 2017 psychological horror feature, Get Out, which was scribed by Jordan Peele. The movie, which marked his feature film directorial debut, won him the Best Original Screenplay Academy Award in 2018.
Following Whiplash, Reservoir Dogs and Get Out, the other seven movies that made the list were, in descending ranking: Little Miss Sunshine, Memento, sex, lies and videotape, Before Sunrise, Boyhood, Y tu mamá también and Blood Simple.
In honor of this month’s 40th edition of the festival, the Sundance Institute surveyed over 500 filmmakers, critics and industry members. Those who participated in the poll selected their favorite movies from nearly 4,000 features that have played at the festival throughout its entire run.
Sundance has released an official press release about its Top 10 Feature Films List:
“Today, in advance of the 40th edition on the Sundance Film Festival kicking off on January 18, the nonprofit Sundance Institute is commemorating the four decades of extraordinary independent filmmaking presented at the Festival with the results of a survey taken by the filmmaking communities on their top ten feature films that have screened at the Festival since it began in 1985.
“In honor of this milestone Festival, filmmakers, critics, and industry members shared their personal top 10 lists. Over 500 people participated — pouring over the nearly 4,000 feature films that have been presented at the festival — …that have touched hearts and changed lives.”
Sundance’s 40th edition, which is America’s most influential indie movie festival, will continue supporting groundbreaking independent artists. Stars who are expected to attend the festival to promote their new films include Richard Linklater, Steven Soderbergh, Kristen Stewart, Steven Yeun, Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin and Saoirse Ronan.
This year’s festival, which was co-founded by Robert Redford, is set to take place in person from this Thursday, January 18 to Sunday, January 28 in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah. A selection of titles will also be available online nationwide from January 25–28.