THE "IT" GIRLS OF SUNDANCE 2017!

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While President Trump is settling into the White House and overturning Obamacare, the 2017 Sundance Film Festival is in full swing in Park City, Utah!

This season, many feared the reports earlier in the year on the shortage of snow might affect the festival turnout.  Yet, despite the snow reports, the turnout was OTT and showed no shortage of Hollywood "it" girls frolicking around town!  In fact, several quintessential "it" girls were spotted on the red carpet promoting their upcoming films.  Ya know that quintessential Sundance "it" girl...She's that indie actress that everyone is talking about.

In the middle of a blizzard, she manages to arrive at her scheduled screening fashionably late, just in time for a few pictures posing with her hair perfectly messy, snow-kissed skin all a glow and an entourage of directors and writers in tow! 

This year at Sundance the "it" girls were in full force!  Ms. Rooney Mara (Ghost Story), Aubrey Plaza (Ingrid Goes West), Elizabeth Olsen (Ingrid Goes West, Wind River), Riley Keough (The Discovery), Zoey Deutch (Rebel in the Rye, Before I Fall), and Jenny Slate (Landline) all made the list!  

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Rick Egan/The Salt Lake Tribune

In 2014, Rooney attended the festival to support her boyfriend, Charlie McDowell’s directorial debut film, "The One I Love."  THE WANNA was there to capture all the action.  You can watch our interview with Charlie and the cast HERE.

In 2014, Elizabeth Olsen attended the festival alongside her now ex-boyfriend Boyd Holbrook.  This season, Olsen hit the slopes solo and promoted two films that premiered at Sundance this season including:  "Ingrid Goes West," directed by Matt Spicer and "Wind River," directed by Taylor Sheridan.  

You can catch Olsen and the cast of Wind River’s red carpet interview here.

Olsen's co-star in "Ingrid Goes West" is the Indie darling, Aubrey Plaza!  Plaza is Hollywood's next leading lady!  The edgy and talented actress attended the festival in 2014 to promote and star in her boyfriend’s latest film, "Life After Beth."  The couple shared some tips on how to date and successfully work together...watch our coverage HERE!

Speaking of Sundance "it" girls, in 2012, "Fifty Shades of Grey" star, Dakota Johnson was a complete unknown and the new girl on the scene.  Watch this interview with THE WANNA host, Gina Glickman Giordan and a very shy Johnson who was promoting the indie film, "Goats," directed by Christopher Neil and co-starring David Duchovny and Vera Farmiga.  

Be sure to WATCH our Sundance series:  “Shit Celebs Say" starring more Sundance "it" girls including:  Kristen Wiig, Kate Bosworth, Lake Bell, Anna Lynne McCord, Amy Poehler and more!  

Teaser for In the Mixx's Sundance 2013 coverage featuring Steve Carell, Amanda Seyfried, Amy Poehler, Jessica Alba and many more!

Ya Know You Wanna!

CELEBS AND MOVIES TO WATCH FOR AT THE 2017 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL

Kevin Sawyer

The 33rd annual Sundance Film Festival kicks off this year on January 19th in Park City, Utah.  The Sundance film festival is the largest independent film festival in the United States, and each year thousands of attendees turn up to see the most anticipated films of the coming year.  If you plan to head to Sundance this year, you may catch a glimpse of a few celebrities as they make their way around the streets of Park City for the festival.  Celebrities with films in the 2017 festival include Kristen Stewart, Jeremy Renner, Cate Blanchett, Kiefer Sutherland, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jon Hamm, Mahershala Ali, Mary J. Blige, Jason Segel, Rooney Mara, Elijah Wood, Elle Fanning, Aubrey Plaza, Jennifer Aniston, and so many more.  This year’s Sundance jury includes Peter Dinklage, Gael Garcia Bernal, and Patton Oswalt.

This year, there are several highly anticipated films that you will WANNA know about.  The WANNA has gathered some of the biggest films of the 2017 Sundance film festival for you to keep an eye out for below.

Where Is Kyra?

“A drama set in Brooklyn, Kyra loses her job and struggles to survive on her ailing mother's income. As the weeks and months go on, her problems worsen. This leads her on a risky and enigmatic path that threatens her life.” 

Directed by Andrew Dosunmu

Starring Kiefer Sutherland, Michelle Pfeiffer

Marjorie Prime

“A service that provides holographic recreations of deceased loved ones and allows a man to come face-to-face with the younger version of his late father-in-law.” 

Directed by Michael Almereyda

Starring John Hamm, Geena Davis, Tim Robbins

A Ghost Story

“This is the story of a ghost and the house he haunts.” 

Directed by David Lowery

Starring Rooney Mara, Casey Affleck

Come Swim (Short)

“A diptych of one man's day; half impressionist and half realist portraits.” 

Directed by Kristen Stewart

Starring Kristen Stewart

Sidney Hall

“Sidney Hall finds accidental success and unexpected love at an early age, then disappears without a trace.” 

Directed by Shawn Christensen

Starring Elle Fanning, Logan Lerman, Michelle Monaghan, Kyle Chandler

Ingrid Goes West

“Ingrid Thorburn, a mentally disturbed young woman, becomes obsessed with Taylor Sloane, a social media star who appears to have the perfect life. But when Ingrid decides to drop everything and move west to befriend Taylor, her behavior turns unsettling and increasingly dangerous.” 

Directed by Matt Spicer

Starring Aubrey Plaza, Elizabeth Olsen

The Yellow Birds

“Two young soldiers, Bartle (21) and Murph (18) navigate the terrors of the Iraq war under the command of the older, troubled Sergeant Sterling. All the while, Bartle is tortured by a promise he made to Murph's mother before their deployment.” 

Directed by Alexandre Moors

Starring Alden Ehrenrich, Jennifer Aniston, Toni Collette, Tye Sheridan

Wind River

“An FBI agent teams with the town's veteran game tracker to investigate a murder that occurred on a Native American reservation.” 

Directed by Taylor Sheridan

Starring Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen, Jon Bernthal

Manifesto

“Cate Blanchett performs manifestos as a series of striking monologues.” 

Directed by Julian Rosefeldt

Starring Cate Blanchett

The Discovery

“A love story set one year after the existence of the afterlife is scientifically verified.” 

Directed by Charlie McDowell

Starring Jason Segel, Rooney Mara, Robert Redford

Mudbound

“Two men return home from World War II to work on a farm in rural Mississippi where they struggle to deal with racism and adjusting to life after war.” 

Directed by Dee Rees

Starring Garrett Hedlund, Carey Mulligan, Jason Clarke, Mary J. Blige

Make sure to check out The WANNA’s exclusive coverage from the 2016 Sundance Film Festival of the films Dope, Cop Car and Diary of a Teenage Girl.  Enjoy!

Ya Know You Wanna!

7th ANNUAL WILLIAMSBURG INDIE FILM FESTIVAL HONORS THE CREATIVE SPIRIT OF BROOKLYN

http://www.willfilm.org/

Calling all indie film lovers!  This year the 7th annual Williamsburg Independent Film Festival will take place at the Wythe Hotel, 80 Wythe Ave. at N. 11th Street, from November 17th to 20th.  Each year since 2010 the festival premieres independent films from around the world, most with a focus on Brooklyn and Williamsburg.  The festival aims to honor the creative spirit of Brooklyn and celebrate indie filmmakers.  If you’re a fan of innovative, independent filmmaking, then you should seriously think about checking this festival out!

Peter Bloch, one of the festivals’ co-founders and co-directors, stated, "We are excited to announce another outstanding line-up of films this year.  We have a great mixture of emerging and established filmmakers, as well as a great group from Brooklyn and Williamsburg."  Bloch also said, “It's exciting to see that the power of Williamsburg and Brooklyn to inspire creativity only grows with time.”  The full line-up of films to screen at the festival can be viewed here.

shootmenicely.com

The Williamsburg Independent Film Festival will open with the film, “Shoot Me Nicely,” directed by Elias Plagianos and starring Linda Hamilton, John Behlmann, William Sadler, and Jackie Martling.  The film was shot in Brooklyn and lower Manhattan.  The film highlights the artistic and creative-type people that live in the city.  Director Plagianos said, “'Shoot Me Nicely' takes a fun and sometimes skewering look at the lives of artists, celebrities, and the creative community in New York City. We were able to attract some incredible talent both in front of and behind the camera. Having shot most of the show in Brooklyn, and being a Brooklyn filmmaker, I thought it was important to premiere the project here.”

If you wish to attend the festival to support indie filmmakers and celebrate the creative spirit of Brooklyn, get your tickets here ASAP!

Ya Know You Wanna!