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A 14-year-old is obliged to stay at her grandparents’ lake home after her impulsive mom elopes and prioritizes her new husband. At the competitive music camp across the water, a determined young violinist pushes himself to be named first chair, sacrificing the personal connections he covets more. Meanwhile, at the local bar, a fisherman finds an unlikely ally in catching the whopper that’ll change his life. And finally, at a family-run bed-and-breakfast, two sisters make the most of their summer before the older one heads off to college.

The location, rather than the characters or their independent narrative strands, serves to unify the four sketches that comprise “Sunfish and Other Stories on Green Lake.” Set in writer-director Sierra Falconer’s old stomping grounds — among the cozy, neighborly community that surrounds a scenic lake in northern Michigan — the pleasantly laconic anthology film debuted in U.S. dramatic competition at Sundance.

The great frustration with anthology films — and the reason I sink a little deeper into my seat every time I sit down to watch a new one — is that even the best of them tend to be wildly uneven, the whole seldom greater than the sum of a few select parts. Enter: Sierra Falconer’s light and languid “Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake),” a collection of wistfully effervescent vignettes that resists the usual highs and lows of its format by drawing a gentle power from the stillness of the water that runs through it.

Indeed, the four short episodes that form this affecting debut flow together so fluidly, the camera passing its focus between them like a baton, that it might have been hard to know where one ends and the next begins if not for the title cards that “Sunfish” includes for context. Where most anthologies spotlight each...

The opening moments of Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake) are pictures of idyll. Ducks bob in a row across the water. A basketball hoop stands surrounded by trees, waiting for someone to come out and play. A girl swings lazily in a hammock. Especially at a time when it so often feels like the world is burning down (maybe literally, depending on where you are), the scenes feel like a much-needed break.

But if Sunfish is a vacation, it’s the kind that’s less about escaping into a fantasy than about trying on a different reality: learning your way around the terrain, getting to know the locals, falling into their everyday rhythms. Once it’s over, you’ll resume your normal life to find not much has changed. For those 87 minutes, though, it’s just nice to get to drop in on its world.

Overly precious punctuation notwithstanding,...

Filmmaker Sierra Falconer’s Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake) captures a bittersweet feeling. That feeling of endings and beginnings, happening at the same time. For eighty minutes, we watch four short stories unfold in and around Green Lake. One involves a young girl (Maren Heary) learning how to sail after being dumped at the doorstep of her grandparents’ lake house by her neglectful mother. Another concerns a young boy (Jim Kaplan) at the fancy summer camp on the other side of the lake. He’s facing intense pressure from his mother to make first chair violin in the camp orchestra. An extended sequence of him practicing is particularly tense. The third story features an overworked young mother (Karsten Liotta) seduced by adventure in the form of a charming, wayward bar patron (Dominic Bogart) and a once-in-a-lifetime fish to be caught. Finally, there’s the lovely tale of two sisters...

Director Sierra Falconer, whose debut feature will premiere next week at the Sundance Film Festival, has signed for representation at WME.

The UCLA grad’s “Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake)” was selected for the U.S. dramatic competition at the 41st edition of the Utah cinema confab founded by Robert Redford. The film weaves together four interconnected tales unfolding over one summer around an idyllic lake in Northern Michigan.

“I grew up spending summers on Green Lake in rural, northern Michigan, and from the start, I knew my first film had to be a portrait of this special place,” Falconer tells Variety, adding that her film “captures small but significant moments of connection, framed by a shared sense of belonging.”

Narrative threads in “Sunfish” include a young girl bonding with her grandparents through sailing and two sisters savoring their last days running a bed-and-breakfast together. The festival bills the...

Top L–R: The Legend of Ochi, Rabbit Trap, East of Wall, Seeds Center Row L–R: Rebuilding, Together, Love, Brooklyn, Jimpa Bottom L–R: Hal & Harper, Selena y Los Dinos, The Dating Game, Brides screen at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival

The 2025 Sundance Film Festival‘s lineup will include 87 feature films and six episodic projects. Sundance received 15,775 submissions from 156 countries, including 4,138 feature-length film submissions. The 87 films selected represent 33 countries and territories, with 36 of the chosen films coming from first-time feature filmmakers.

“The Sundance Film Festival remains steadfast in its commitment to elevating unique and urgent voices in independent storytelling. Audiences can expect a 2025 program that showcases varied and vibrant filmmaking globally,” stated Robert Redford, Sundance Institute Founder and President.

The 2025 Sundance Film Festival will run January 23rd through February 2nd. For ticket information, visit festival.sundance.org.

“The Festival is our most significant public program as an Institute and builds...

The Sundance Film Festival is once again upon us! Set to happen from January 23rd to February 2nd in Park City, Utah (with an online component from January 30th to Feb 2nd), the official schedule was unveiled today, and once again it’s an eclectic mix of indie fare, award hopefuls, and horror flicks. Once again, I’ll be there for JoBlo, filing a ton of reviews. To note, in recent years, Sundance has become especially well known for genre fare, with Hereditary, Talk to Me, and I Saw the TV Glow all premiering in the midnight section of the fest. This year’s Midnight selection includes some very buzzy titles:

Dead Lover / Canada –– A lonely gravedigger who stinks of corpses finally meets her dream man, but their whirlwind affair is cut short when he tragically drowns at sea. Grief-stricken, she goes to morbid lengths to resurrect him through madcap scientific experiments,...

Sundance Film Festival’s 2025 line-up comprises 87 features, nearly half of which are directed by women, and is crammed with new work by returning stars and indie stalwarts including Olivia Colman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jennifer Lopez, Isabelle Huppert, Mark Ruffalo, and Dev Patel.

Among anticipated highlights are the feature directorial debut of UK playwright and incoming Young Vic artistic director Nadia Fall with her Bankside Films sales title Brides inWorld Cinema Dramatic Competition,about teenage friends who plan to travel to Syria.

Scroll down for the full line-up

Peter Hujar’s Day, a drama in Premieres about the New York portrait photographer...

The 2025 Sundance Film Festival revealed the 87 feature films and six episodic projects selected for the festival on Wednesday, announcing that new films starring Jennifer Lopez, Dylan O’Brien, Chloe Sevigny, André Holland, Conan O’Brien and Olivia Colman will debut in Park City in January.

Ahead of the festival, which runs from from Jan. 23 to Feb. 2, TheWrap spoke to Eugene Hernandez, Director, Sundance Film Festival and Public Programming and Kim Yutani, Sundance Film Festival Director of Programming, about this year’s festival – what people should look out for and if they’re ready for the Sundance arrival of Lopez, whose new version of “Kiss of the Spider Woman” from director Bill Condon is one of the buzzier titles at the festival.

Considering this is awards season, Hernandez said that Sundance is “the crystal ball.” “This is the chance to look into the future,” Hernandez said. And he’s right – current Oscar contenders...

The Sundance Film Festival is considering a big move for 2027, but the 2025 feature film and episodic programs find the Robert Redford founded gathering very much in its traditional wheelhouse with a mix of big-name projects, politics, and what might just be the next big thing.

See the full list of Sundance 2025 feature films (including world premieres) and episodic projects below.

“The Sundance Film Festival remains steadfast in its commitment to elevating unique and urgent voices in independent storytelling,” the Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid star said today of the 41st iteration of the festival kicking off on January 23. “Audiences can expect a 2025 program that showcases varied and vibrant filmmaking globally,” Redford added of the 87 features and six episodic projects selected for screenings in Park City, Salt Lake City and online next month.

It wouldn’t be Sundance without stars in plushy hooded ski coats, and they’ll be aplenty...

Sundance, as ever, is coming, and fast. Today, the nonprofit Sundance Institute announced the 87 feature films and six episodic projects selected for the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, with more announcements expected in the coming weeks. While the festival may be moving in 2027, for 2025, it will be out in full force in its traditional home of Park City, Utah.

This year’s lineup includes a number of returning names, including Ira Sachs, Amy Berg, Andrew Ahn, Justin Lin, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Cooper Raiff, Kahlil Joseph, Heidi Ewing & Rachel Grady, David France, Jesse Short Bull, Ryan White, Sophie Hyde, Jesse Moss & Amanda McBaine, Meera Menon, and Clint Bentley. But there are also a hefty number of newbies joining these ranks, as the 2025 program is composed of 36 of 87 (41 percent) feature film directors who are first-time feature filmmakers. Mostly, new work will be on offer, as the film and episodic slate includes 89 (or 96 percent) world premieres.

The 2025 line-up for the Sundance Film Festival has been announced.

This year’s fest features the latest projects from Oscar winners, studio filmmakers, and indie stalwarts like Justin Lin, Ira Sachs, Barry Levinson, and Questlove while the U.S. Dramatic Competition section is made of selections from directors new to the Park City fest.

“The combination of these new voices and some of these filmmakers who might be more household names, speaks to the the power of independent cinema and how, no matter where you are in your career, you are drawn to this community that Sundance has helped build over the years,” Sundance director of programming Kim Yutani told The Hollywood Reporter. Of the 87 feature films announced thus far, 36 titles (41 percent) are directed by first-time feature film directors.

Across the line-up, talents like Jennifer Lopez, Dev Patel, Bowen Yang, Chloë Sevigny, Olivia Colman, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Ayo Edebiri star in fest films,...

If there is one film that holiday movie buffs need to watch in 2024, it's The Holdovers, which is now available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. Following Thanksgiving Day (or Halloween for some), it's officially Christmastime, meaning that streaming services began adding festive flicks to their catalog, and some (like Netflix) even release original holiday films. As for one company in particular, The Holdovers is one of the various Christmas movies featured in Amazon Prime Video's library in 2024.

Aside from The Holdovers, some other holiday movies available to stream on Amazon Prime Video in 2024 are Love Actually, The Holiday, Scrooged, The Family Stone, and It's a Wonderful Life.

The Holdovers premiered in August 2023 at the 50th Telluride Film Festival in Colorado before having a limited theatrical release, beginning on October 27, 2023. It grossed a little over $45 million against a $13 million budget during its theatrical run. The Holdovers also received positive reviews...

Stars: Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Carrie Preston, Brady Hepner, Ian Dolley, Jim Kaplan, Michael Provost, Tate Donovan | Written by David Hemingson | Directed by Alexander Payne

Having not released a film since 2017’s Downsizing, director Alexander Payne follows up what is considered the weakest film of his career with an absolutely wonderful work. At the Barton boarding school, bad-tempered professor Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti) is forced to remain on campus during the Christmas break to look after a handful of students with nowhere to go – collectively known as The Holdovers. Across the break, he forms a bond with student Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa) and head cook Mary (Da’Vine Joy Randolph).

From the opening moments where the studio logos and ratings title card appear in retro styles, Payne recreates the feel of a ‘70s feature throughout his latest work. The combination of aesthetic and story brings to mind a Hal Ashby film,...

Campaign poster Paul Metzler You BET-zler!! in Alexander Payne’s Election, starring Reese Witherspoon and Matthew Broderick, designed by Nate Carlson

In the second instalment with Alexander Payne’s longtime 'secret weapon' graphic designer Nate Carlson, we discuss their latest multiple award-winning collaboration The Holdovers’ stained glass windows and memorial inscriptions in the school chapel, a running theme of pharmacies and prescription bottles, the mastery of punctuation humour from Election to Marcus Aurelius, the art of combining the pre-existing with the new, and the family polaroid.

Nate Carlson on Alexander Payne: “He always likes to put those little hidden gems in there and I am certainly open to accommodate.”

The Holdovers (screenplay by David Hemingson), stars Golden Globe winner Paul Giamatti, Oscar, Golden Globe, and BAFTA winner Da'Vine Joy Randolph and BAFTA Best Supporting Actor nominee Dominic Sessa and has a terrific supporting cast led by Carrie Preston with Brady Hepner,...

Spring has officially arrived, and plenty is blossoming at Prime Video this April! The streamer will kick off the month with dozens of film additions, from classics such as “To Catch a Thief,” “Rosemary's Baby,” and “Saturday Night Fever,” to recent Oscar Best Picture nominee “The Holdovers,” starring Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Dominic Sessa.

But mid-April will bring the premiere of the streamer’s long-awaited adaptation of “Fallout,” starring Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, and Walton Goggins. Other premieres this month include the debut of Rudy Mancuso’s “Música,” Season 2 of the Black horror anthology series “Them: The Scare,” and

Find out The Streamable’s top picks for Prime Video’s April additions, and find out everything coming to the platform this month!

30-Day Free Trial $8.99+ / month amazon.com What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Coming to Prime Video in April 2024? “Música” | Thursday, April 4

Real-life couple Rudy Mancuso and...

Stars: Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Carrie Preston, Brady Hepner, Ian Dolley, Jim Kaplan, Michael Provost, Tate Donovan | Written by David Hemingson | Directed by Alexander Payne

Having not released a film since 2017’s Downsizing, director Alexander Payne follows up what is considered the weakest film of his career with an absolutely wonderful work. At the Barton boarding school, bad-tempered professor Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti) is forced to remain on campus during the Christmas break to look after a handful of students with nowhere to go – collectively known as The Holdovers. Across the break, he forms a bond with student Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa) and head cook Mary (Da’Vine Joy Randolph).

From the opening moments where the studio logos and ratings title card appear in retro styles, Payne recreates the feel of a ‘70s feature throughout his latest work. The combination of aesthetic and story brings to mind a Hal Ashby film,...

The old saying goes that there’s no place like home for the holidays, but sometimes, spending time with loved ones just isn’t in the cards. That’s the case for three very different people at a New England prep school in 1970 in “The Holdovers,” premiering on Peacock on Friday, Dec. 29. Paul Giamatti plays a curmudgeonly history teacher forced to remain on campus over the Christmas vacation to keep an eye on the students who can’t return home for the holidays. Over the break, he forms a surprising family with a mischievous student and the school’s head cook, both of whom are looking for something they can’t get at home. You can watch with a subscription to Peacock.

How to Watch 'The Holdovers' When: Friday, December 29, 2023 Where: Peacock Stream: Watch with a subscription to Peacock. Sign Up$5.99+ / month peacocktv.com About 'The Holdovers'

Director Alexander Payne’s latest film,...

Alexander Payne’s Golden Globe-nominated The Holdovers, costumes by Wendy Chuck, stars Dominic Sessa, Paul Giamatti (Golden Globe nomination), and Da'Vine Joy Randolph (Golden Globe nomination)

In the first installment with Wendy Chuck, Alexander Payne’s longtime, brilliant costume designer, we discussed her most recent Payne film, the intricately layered The Holdovers (screenplay by David Hemingson), dressing the stars Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph and the terrific supporting cast of Carrie Preston, Brady Hepner, Ian Dolley, Jim Kaplan, Michael Provost, Naheem Garcia, Darby Lee-Stack, Andrew Garman, Stephen Thorne, and Gillian Vigman.

Wendy Chuck with Anne-Katrin Titze on Alexander Payne: “You know Alexander, he wants everything as authentic as it possibly can be.”

We started out with the costumes for Martin Scorsese’s Killers Of The Flower Moon (Jacqueline West), Yorgos Lanthimos’s Poor Things (Holly Waddington), and Bradley Cooper’s Maestro (Mark Bridges). We also touched upon.

Every Christmas movie has to have its scrooge. In Alexander Payne’s holiday-set dramedy The Holdovers, the curmudgeon is Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti), a long-time teacher at Barton Academy, an elite Massachusetts boarding school. Paul treats the affluent students in his ancient history class with contempt, gleefully terrorizing them with poor grades in order to trip up their otherwise smooth rides to fancy colleges. He’s the kind of teacher who flunks almost everyone on their end-of-semester exam and then assigns the class extra homework over the holidays as prep for yet another exam as soon as they get back. Bah humbug, indeed.

It’s not just the students at Barton who loathe Paul. So does the school’s administration. Hence Paul being saddled with holdover duty over the winter break—that is, to supervise any students who, for whatever reason, can’t go on lavish vacations like the rest of their peers,...

Exclusive: Karsen Liotta (Blackbird), daughter of the late Ray Liotta, is headlining an anthology indie pic that has been handed a SAG-AFTRA interim agreement.

Liotta is leading Sunfish (& Other Stories On Green Lake), the debut feature from short film writer-director Sierra Falconer, alongside Marceline Hugot (Julia & Julie) and Wayne Duvall.

The anthology follows the residents of a small town and the lake that binds them together. The four stories weave together themes of belonging, coming of age, and rural lake life, exploring a deeper commentary about community, the collateral damage that ensues from the changes in our lives, and how it can reverberate in relationships and the process of maturation.

Also featuring in Sunfish are Adam Lefevre (Ozark), Dominic Bogart (American Primeval), Emily Hall (Lumina), Maren Heary (She Said), Tenley Kellogg (Faith Under Fire) and Jim Kaplan (Marry Me) in leading roles. Supporting...

Andrew Lloyd Webber's smash hit musical School of Rock - The Musical will welcome seven new cast members to the class on Tuesday, January 30, 2018. Rocking their way to Broadway will be Montgomery Lamb as 'Katie' the bassist, Jim Kaplan as 'Lawrence' the keyboardist, Sarah Walsh as 'Marcy,' Iggy Rosado as 'Mason,'Madalen Yarbrough Mills as 'Sophie,' Madison Elizabeth Lagares as 'Shonelle,' and Katie Greendorfer as 'Madison.' Current cast member Gabrielle Greene will assume the role of 'Tomika.'...