Once again, the Sundance Film Festival stormed into Park City, Utah with an engaging lineup of movies that captivated audiences. Coupled with the thoughts of Quinnipiac students who were able to attend the festival, here are some takeaways from films screened at Sundance 2025.

Together 

Written and directed by Michael Shanks, this dark comedy horror-thriller centered around a couple’s move to the countryside causing a supernatural incident, stars Hollywood power couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie. “Together” uses the subgenre of body horror to display the bounds of love. 

Franco and Brie truly complete each other, acting as a couple in every sense of the word. Their innate chemistry makes the film feel so authentic and special. They’re also two actors who don’t typically play these types of roles, yet are perfect for this movie. 

Films that analyze marriage and relationships are some of the most compelling in cinema. And even in a subgenre like body horror that can be off-putting to many audiences, “Together” is very accessible with a lot to say and some fascinating symbolism. 

Kiss of The Spider Woman

Directed by Bill Condon, this political thriller/musical surrounds an unlikely bond between Argentine political prisoner cellmates as one of them recounts a Hollywood musical plot, stars Diego Luna and Jennifer Lopez. The way the story weaves between storylines is so immersive while contrasting Luna and Lopez both narratively and visually. The glossy technicolor of old Hollywood beautifully contrasts with the dread and darkness of prison. The production and grace of the dancing and singing alone would make this an incredible musical, but it stands alone as a drama just as well. 

Luna excels as a rebel battling a regime, best known for his role as Cassian Andor in multiple “Star Wars” projects. Tonatiuh, who plays Luna’s cellmate in the role, completes the odd couple pairing of the two different yet similar human beings. Lopez embodies the glamour of a classic Hollywood star while bringing it in every musical scene. 

It’s fascinating to find a film about revolution and loving movies, perhaps they go hand-in-hand. 

The Thing With Feathers

Based on the novel by Max Porter and directed by Dylan Southern, it surrounds a father and his two young sons dealing with the sudden death of their wife and mother, starring Benedict Cumberbatch. This film delivers a raw portrayal of grief with fascinating imagery and symbolism, making it easy to get swept away in its heavy emotions and relatability of this film. A tour-de-force performance from Cumberbatch brings everything home in a heartbreaking, award-caliber way. 

Sorry, Baby

Writing, acting and making her directorial debut, Eva Victor’s film surrounds something bad happening to Agnes and the reactions of herself and everyone around her. This film stars Victor and Naomi Ackie. A somber and meditative piece, it feels in conversation with “Manchester by the Sea.” Actor Lucas Hedges’ presence in both films adds connective tissue, but both films’ ability to center their stories around empathy supported by a dry sense of humor creates a thought-provoking experience. While also showing the lengths of human love and tenderness. 

Sundance, like the art of cinema itself, is a personalized experience. Here’s how some Quinnipiac students who went to the festival felt. 

Shannan Harrison, ‘25, a media studies student on the trip said:

“Getting the chance to go to Sundance was an amazing experience that I will never forget. During my time there I was able to see 5 films and a couple of short films, with my favorite film being It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley. Going into the premiere, I did not know much about who Jeff Buckley was. The film opened my eyes to how much of an icon he was for his time, especially being so young. The film follows his life, revealing the struggles that he faced, and showing how his passion and love for music developed. By the end of the premiere both people sitting next to me were choked up, myself included. The audience was touched deeply, especially the man sitting next to me. I learned that some of his friends had been in the documentary and had known Jeff before he had passed. During my time at Sundance, I also got to meet James Sweeney, (writer and director of Twinless), the cast of Cobra Kai (Xolo Maridueña, Peyton List, Jacob Bertrand), enjoy the beautiful scenery in Park City, and bond with my classmates.”

Oliver Lee, ‘27, a business student on the trip said: 

“All That’s Left of You left a special feeling in me as soon as the title appeared in the final shot. It was the feeling that I was in the first audience of the next Schindler’s List or Pulp Fiction. Each act of the film does something to a profound level. The first act has some of the best shots I’ve ever seen. The second act has some of the best child acting I’ve ever seen. And it has maybe the best third act of a movie. This movie has the perfect narrative to clean up at the next Oscars, especially in the directing/foreign language feature conversation.” 

The 2025 Sundance Film Festival brought so many unique experiences both in and out of the theater. And was one to remember for so many people.