Photo courtesy The Sundance Institute

In case you missed it, last month The Sundance Institute kicked off its “For the Locals” film series, a buzzy outdoor screening series designed with the Utah community in mind. Admission is free, and there’s still time to sign up for upcoming events in Park City and SLC. Don’t miss award-winning features like “CODA,” “Jockey” and “Summer of Soul” from the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, plus a curation of visionary New Frontier projects and shorts.

After a year of pause due to the pandemic, the summer film series is back with an all-new outdoor screening series*. Join in this week at the Utah Olympic Park for a lineup of must-see picks from the 2021 Festival. Oh, and did we mention admission is FREE? See the lineup below as well as event details and how to save your seat!

July 14: Jockey

• About: Horse lovers will love this vivid portrayal of jockey life. Shot at a live racetrack, “Jockey” is at once high energy and deeply personal, bolstered by a 2021 Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Prize-winning performance by lead Clifton Collins Jr.
• Where/When: Utah Olympic Park; doors open 6 p.m., screening at 6:30 p.m.
• Meet the Artist: Meet Clint Bentley, co-writer and director of “Jockey,” which was part of the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.
• Stay after the film for a live post-screening Q&A with director Clint Bentley!
• RESERVE YOUR SPACE

July 14: Summer Of Soul (…Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised)

• About: Questlove’s dazzling directorial debut erupted at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award, the Directors Award and a Grand Jury Prize. In 1969, during the same summer as Woodstock, a different music festival took place 100 miles away as more than 300,000 people attended the summer concert series known as the Harlem Cultural Festival. It was filmed, but the footage has never been seen. Until now.
• Where/When: Utah Olympic Park; doors open 8:30 p.m., screening at 9 p.m.
• Meet the Artist: Meet Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, director of “Summer Of Soul (…Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised),” which played in the U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.
• RESERVE YOUR SPACE

July 15: One for the Road

• About: This sweeping romance – perfect for summer! – is full of nostalgia, surprise and fabulous music as best friends on a road trip travel down memory lane throughout Thailand. But as they try and tie up loose ends, more and more of their intertwined stories come loose. “One for the Road” was recognized with a Special Jury Prize for Creative Vision at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.
• Where/When: Utah Olympic Park; doors open 6 p.m., screening at 6:30 p.m.
• Meet the Artist: Meet Baz Poonpiriya, writer and director of “One for the Road,” which played in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.
• RESERVE YOUR SPACE

July 15: Flee

• About: This story of one Afghan man’s journey to escape persecution is brought to life through animation, making for an utterly singular documentary-watching experience.
• Where/When: Utah Olympic Park; doors open 9 p.m., screening at 9:30 p.m.
• Meet the artist: Learn more about Jonas Poher Rasmussen and the film, which was awarded the World Cinema Documentary Grand Jury Prize at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.
• RESERVE YOUR SPACE

July 16: CODA

• About: An incredible ensemble cast brings to life the story of Ruby, the only hearing member of a deaf fishing family in Gloucester, Mass. As Ruby struggles to find her place in her family and her world, her gorgeous singing voice brings her into her own. “CODA” earned a staggering four awards – an Audience Award, a Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast, a Directing Award and the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize at the 2021 festival.
• Where/When: Utah Olympic Park; Doors open 7:30 p.m., screening at 8:30 p.m.
• Meet the Artist: Meet Sian Heder, director of CODA, which played in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.
• RESERVE YOUR SPACE

The “For the Locals” series is brought to Park City in partnership with Park City Film and Dragonfli Media.

PLAN AHEAD! New Frontier Projects at Craft Lake City DIY Festival, Aug. 13-15

New Frontier identifies and celebrates creators who explore opportunities within the newest technologies to push the edges of story conception and craft, and also to invite the audience to experience stories as never before. VR projects that have been a part of the SFF’s New Frontier lineup can be found in the STEM Building and are available to experience throughout the DIY Festival.

Where/When: Utah State Fairpark, Aug. 13, 5-10 p.m.; Aug. 14, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Aug. 15, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Projects include:

• ANIMALIA SUM / Germany, Brazil, Iceland (Directors: Bianca Kennedy & The Swan Collective)
• The Summation of Force / Australia (Directors: Narelle Autio, Trent Parke, Matthew Bate)

The Sundance Institute encourages in-person attendees and artists to be fully vaccinated before attending all Institute-supported events. Any attendee who is not feeling well or who has had a COVID-19 exposure within the last 14 days is asked to please not attend until you test negative. TSI recommends that anyone who is high risk wear a mask during the event.

At the “For the Locals” outdoor screening series, social distancing is encouraged where possible. When moving around during the event to any interior space, such as restrooms, TSI asks that attendees please wear a mask.

*Screenings are subject to change.

Additional questions? Check out the Twilight Drive-In FAQ page for all the details: https://parkcityfilm.org/twiightdriveinfaq/

If you have a disability and require accommodation in order to fully participate in programs, please contact The Sundance Institute at 435-658-3456 or accessibility@sundance.org to discuss your specific needs.