As the popularity of the Sundance Film Festival grows, it’s no wonder that founder Robert Redford is looking into ways to expand the experience to those that can’t attend the January event. The Sundance Institute launched “Sundance London” last year, with a music and film festival taking after the Park City, Utah original. This year, the Institute is launching a new event, “Next Weekend” to bring quirky films to Los Angeles, and will be opening with an outdoor movie screening.
According to the New York Times, the festival will be held from August 8 – 11, with screenings, parties and other events being held throughout the weekend. The festival is an extension of Sundance’s “Next” section, which features boundary-pushing, risqué films.
“The best part of independent filmmaking is the freedom to tell your stories your own way, to take risks and not be beholden to convention of any kind,” Redford said. “At the core of Next Weekend are artists that are taking risks and pushing boundaries. As such, it’s fitting that Sundance Cinemas will be the home for this festival and these films.”
Though the lineup won’t be announced until this summer, organizers have said that the opening films will be screened at Hollywood Forever Cemetery on an outdoor movie screen, since Next Weekend will have the warmer weather that is not available during the Sundance Film Festival. Currently, the Hollywood Forever Cemetery hosts popular outdoor movie screenings aside from the Sundance event.
Next Weekend is one of many film festivals held in Los Angeles, but is the only one with a tie to Sundance. As other festivals compete, some too may be turning to outdoor movie screens to offer a unique approach for audience members.