The 2025 Sundance Film Festival is shining a spotlight on fresh perspectives and groundbreaking independent storytelling, with Black filmmakers, stories, and artists taking center stage in this year's lineup. Announced today, the festival will showcase 87 feature films and six episodic projects from January 23 to February 2, 2025, in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah.
Notable among this year's features is SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius), a deep dive into the life and legacy of Sly Stone, led by Oscar-winning filmmaker Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson. The documentary captures the rise and fade of Sly & The Family Stone, shedding light on the weight of success for Black artists.
Kahlil Joseph's BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions takes audiences on a thought-provoking journey into consciousness and time through the lens of West African curator Funmilayo Akechukwu's magnum opus. The film stars Shaunette Renée Wilson and Hope Giselle, among others. Move Ya Body: The Birth of House, directed by Elegance Bratton, celebrates Chicago's underground dance culture and its transformation into a global phenomenon, while Brittany Shyne's Seeds explores Black generational farmers in the American South, highlighting the fragility and importance of legacy.
Other standouts include Khartoum, a powerful portrait of survival and resistance from Sudanese citizens turned storytellers, directed by Anas Saeed, Ibrahim Snoopy Ahmad, and Rawia Alhag, and Love, Brooklyn, which follows three Brooklynites navigating life in their ever-changing borough, featuring a star-studded cast of André Holland, Nicole Beharie, and DeWanda Wise.
This year's lineup is a testament to the festival's commitment to uplifting Black voices and diverse storytelling on a global scale. Sundance's expanded online platform ensures access to these stories for audiences nationwide, allowing viewers to experience the buzz of indie cinema from home.
For more information on tickets, passes, and the full lineup, visit festival.sundance.org. Single film tickets go on sale January 16, with early access for members.