#sometimes an adaptation can fall short on delivering the major themes of a story but some good things just come with the territory like

[headphonemouse]

Orv adaptations mean official soundtracks and theme songs. Omg. I'm so excited omg there's gonna be so many other storytelling elements that are only possible through movie/show format.

[ralphlayton]

Manufacturing Runs: 9 Summer Content Marketing Tips Drawn from the Diamond

Baseball and content marketing are two of my greatest passions. When I think about it, there are some intrinsic similarities between the two that aren't hard to see. Much like content marketing, baseball is rhythmic and methodical by design. Sure, there are the flashy home runs (and it helps when your favorite team *ahem* set the all-time record a year ago), but at its core, baseball is about strategy, patience, and sequencing: Accept the inevitability of failure and learn from it. Take good at-bats, call the right plays, string together base runners, manufacture runs.

via GIPHY Sadly there is no baseball season right now, but if there was, it'd be inching toward "the dog days of summer" – a term given to those stretches in July and August where the relentless heat and daily grind start to wear on ball players as they battle their way through a marathon 162-game schedule. In content marketing, we don't typically face such seasonal stresses in the summer months, but this year is a different story. Never before in my career has the state of the world been such a significant factor in every day's conversations and decision-making. Entire business plans are shifting on a dime. Rightfully so. All the while, external distractions tug at each of us human beings in different ways. The coronavirus pandemic isn't going away. Personally, I feel deeply affected by the pattern of systemic racial injustice exemplified by George Floyd's murder, about a mile from where I grew up and 20 minutes from the TopRank Marketing office. My mind drifts constantly. I know I'm far from alone. These are hard times. But the work goes on. Dog days of summer, indeed.

via GIPHY To help my fellow marketers bring their A-game, and power through to better days ahead, I present my playbook for content marketing in the summer of 2020, aided by expert insights. And in honor of my beloved baseball – in its continuing absence – I'll correlate these tips with the intricate art of manufacturing a win over the course of nine innings.

9 Tips for B2B Content Marketing in the Summer of 2020

#1: Keep knocking out those blog posts Fun fact: On July 30th, 2010, the Colorado Rockies set a major-league record by stringing together 11 consecutive hits against the Chicago Cubs. One after another, batters came to the plate and got it done. Singles, doubles, homers, a triple ... each successive hit did its part in pushing across 12 runs in a single inning. Not each of your blog posts will be a home run, but even a base hit – a brisk and worthwhile read that sticks in the mind of your audience – will contribute to the ultimate goal. As your traffic and engagement numbers increase, it’s the equivalent of raising your batting average — eventually leading to more scoring, and bigger results when you hit the home run. #2: Aim to entertain (and inform) your audience Baseball isn’t the only cherished form of entertainment amiss this summer. Attending big concerts, or checking out the latest Hollywood blockbuster in a theater, are among customary staples of the season now absent. People still want enjoyable diversions, maybe now more than ever, and content marketers can help fill that need. “A lot of people are looking to fill in the time that they’re not spending commuting,” noted TopRank Marketing CEO Lee Odden in a recent episode of Live with Search Engine Land. “There might be ‘infotaining’ content that your brand could put out — it’s still contextually relevant to your business, but at the same time, it’s entertaining in some way.”

via GIPHY #3: Cover the emotional bases with your content When marketers talk about communicating with emotion in times like these, they’re often talking about striking empathetic tones at a time where many are feeling down. That certainly has its place as no one wants to appear tone-deaf. But don’t be averse to lightening the mood. Your audience could probably use a laugh, or a light-hearted read. As Syed Balkhi writes at AdAge in explaining why you should add humor to your content marketing, “The way to connect with your audience is to create an emotional spark when they view your content. And humor can act as the flint that fires up more engagement.” On that note: Why are baseball games often played at night? … Because bats sleep during the day. (Womp, womp.) #4: Team up with influencers One thing I love about baseball is its cooperative nature. Teamwork rules the day in a sport where nine players are in the lineup and on the field for each club. No one can do it alone. To exemplify, neither Barry Bonds nor Mike Trout — the two greatest players of the past 50 years if not ever, have won a World Series. In content marketing, teamwork also pays major dividends — both internally and externally. We talk often on this blog about the value of influencer partnerships, and it’s only magnified right now. At a time where misinformation runs rampant and people are gravitating toward sources they know, trust, and like, credible influencers are powerful allies. “In the current environment, a B2B brand with strong connections to influencers with a known voice for equality have an opportunity to co-create content for customers in search of answers,” Lee wrote in a blog post about always-on influence. “Of course, companies looking at their influencers and not finding many or any people of color should seriously think about diversity and their influencer program.” #5: Bring diversity to your content marketing lineup Lee’s final point in the quote above broaches another essential focus: highlighting and elevating diversity in your brand’s content mix. Activism taking place in our country, and world, underscores more than ever the vital need for more voices be heard and understood. It’s an uncomfortable truth for those of us who fall into the demographic, but also an undeniable one: As I look around today’s digital marketing landscape, I see a disproportionate number of white men. I think every marketing department, agency, and brand can use this moment as an impetus for diversifying the collection of people speaking for them, or collaborating with them. This has also been an ongoing emphasis for the game of baseball, which was criticized by the New York Times not so long ago for its “unbearable whiteness,” illustrating that there is still work to be done nearly 75 years after Jackie Robinson broke MLB’s color barrier.

via GIPHY In marketing, increasing diversity isn’t solely about race; aim to represent different ethnicities, genders, sexualities, and worldviews. #6: Invest in SEO with an eye on the end game This is a perfect time to invest budget and effort into bolstering your SEO strategy, through optimizing existing content and creating new content informed by thoughtful keyword research. It’s a cost-efficient activity with short-term and long-term benefits. As Conductor CEO Seth Besmertnik puts it in a recent article on LinkedIn Pulse: “If you invest today, you’ll immediately start getting value. You’ll also be in the best position to capture buying activity when we emerge from this crisis.” [bctt tweet="“This is a perfect time to invest budget and effort into bolstering your SEO strategy, through optimizing existing content and creating new content informed by thoughtful keyword research.” @NickNelsonMN" username="toprank"] #7: Ungate your best assets The sacrifice bunt is often viewed as one of baseball’s most pure and charming plays. The selflessness of a batter giving himself up to advance a base runner and give them a better chance to score is the essence of team play. Ungating your content assets, which may have previously sat behind a form-fill, is a good way to replicate this dynamic in your own strategy. Sure, that eBook or whitepaper might lose its opportunity to convert someone single-handedly, but it can contribute to building relationships and developing brand affinity that will pay dividends down the line. At a time where purchase activity is down but content consumption is up, this pivot simply makes sense. #8: Stay flexible and adaptive Late in a baseball game, a manager will sometimes call upon a pinch-hitter to substitute for someone in their lineup. That’s because the replacement is viewed as a more suitable option based on the situation. Content marketers, too, must be ready to react and change direction quickly at a time where the circumstances around us are constantly in flux. Consider holding daily (virtual) stand-ups with your team to reassess the plan, and to ensure everything you’re doing still makes sense and aligns with your audience’s mindset and needs. Always be prepared for a curveball.

via GIPHY #9: Swing for the fences with experiential content I wrote here last month (in another baseball-themed post, naturally) that experiential content represents a home run for marketers. When you deliver a virtual experience that is infotaining, interactive, collaborative, and impactful for your business, you can really score a win-win for your company and your audience, at a time when many beloved real-life experiences of the summer aren’t available to folks. [bctt tweet="“When you deliver a virtual experience that is infotaining, interactive, collaborative, and impactful for your business, you can really score a win-win for your company and your audience.” @NickNelsonMN" username="toprank"]

Every Hit Counts

Singles and walks in baseball aren’t flashy, but if you compile enough of them you’re going to fill up the bases and eventually put plenty of runs on the board. Content marketing follows this same principle. It’s not about instant gratification — a single quality blog post won’t usually convert a customer on its own — but it all adds up, and now’s an ideal time to recenter on those fundamentals that contribute to a sustainably successful marketing strategy. This summer, content marketers should be playing the long game. For more guidance on how marketers can rise to this challenging occasion, I encourage you to read Lee’s inspiring post on how we can do better than words with action during turbulent times for society.

The post Manufacturing Runs: 9 Summer Content Marketing Tips Drawn from the Diamond appeared first on Online Marketing Blog - TopRank®.

Manufacturing Runs: 9 Summer Content Marketing Tips Drawn from the Diamond published first on yhttps://improfitninja.blogspot.com/

[samuelpboswell]

Manufacturing Runs: 9 Summer Content Marketing Tips Drawn from the Diamond

Baseball and content marketing are two of my greatest passions. When I think about it, there are some intrinsic similarities between the two that aren't hard to see. Much like content marketing, baseball is rhythmic and methodical by design. Sure, there are the flashy home runs (and it helps when your favorite team *ahem* set the all-time record a year ago), but at its core, baseball is about strategy, patience, and sequencing: Accept the inevitability of failure and learn from it. Take good at-bats, call the right plays, string together base runners, manufacture runs.

via GIPHY Sadly there is no baseball season right now, but if there was, it'd be inching toward "the dog days of summer" – a term given to those stretches in July and August where the relentless heat and daily grind start to wear on ball players as they battle their way through a marathon 162-game schedule. In content marketing, we don't typically face such seasonal stresses in the summer months, but this year is a different story. Never before in my career has the state of the world been such a significant factor in every day's conversations and decision-making. Entire business plans are shifting on a dime. Rightfully so. All the while, external distractions tug at each of us human beings in different ways. The coronavirus pandemic isn't going away. Personally, I feel deeply affected by the pattern of systemic racial injustice exemplified by George Floyd's murder, about a mile from where I grew up and 20 minutes from the TopRank Marketing office. My mind drifts constantly. I know I'm far from alone. These are hard times. But the work goes on. Dog days of summer, indeed.

via GIPHY To help my fellow marketers bring their A-game, and power through to better days ahead, I present my playbook for content marketing in the summer of 2020, aided by expert insights. And in honor of my beloved baseball – in its continuing absence – I'll correlate these tips with the intricate art of manufacturing a win over the course of nine innings.

9 Tips for B2B Content Marketing in the Summer of 2020

#1: Keep knocking out those blog posts Fun fact: On July 30th, 2010, the Colorado Rockies set a major-league record by stringing together 11 consecutive hits against the Chicago Cubs. One after another, batters came to the plate and got it done. Singles, doubles, homers, a triple ... each successive hit did its part in pushing across 12 runs in a single inning. Not each of your blog posts will be a home run, but even a base hit – a brisk and worthwhile read that sticks in the mind of your audience – will contribute to the ultimate goal. As your traffic and engagement numbers increase, it’s the equivalent of raising your batting average — eventually leading to more scoring, and bigger results when you hit the home run. #2: Aim to entertain (and inform) your audience Baseball isn’t the only cherished form of entertainment amiss this summer. Attending big concerts, or checking out the latest Hollywood blockbuster in a theater, are among customary staples of the season now absent. People still want enjoyable diversions, maybe now more than ever, and content marketers can help fill that need. “A lot of people are looking to fill in the time that they’re not spending commuting,” noted TopRank Marketing CEO Lee Odden in a recent episode of Live with Search Engine Land. “There might be ‘infotaining’ content that your brand could put out — it’s still contextually relevant to your business, but at the same time, it’s entertaining in some way.”

via GIPHY #3: Cover the emotional bases with your content When marketers talk about communicating with emotion in times like these, they’re often talking about striking empathetic tones at a time where many are feeling down. That certainly has its place as no one wants to appear tone-deaf. But don’t be averse to lightening the mood. Your audience could probably use a laugh, or a light-hearted read. As Syed Balkhi writes at AdAge in explaining why you should add humor to your content marketing, “The way to connect with your audience is to create an emotional spark when they view your content. And humor can act as the flint that fires up more engagement.” On that note: Why are baseball games often played at night? … Because bats sleep during the day. (Womp, womp.) #4: Team up with influencers One thing I love about baseball is its cooperative nature. Teamwork rules the day in a sport where nine players are in the lineup and on the field for each club. No one can do it alone. To exemplify, neither Barry Bonds nor Mike Trout — the two greatest players of the past 50 years if not ever, have won a World Series. In content marketing, teamwork also pays major dividends — both internally and externally. We talk often on this blog about the value of influencer partnerships, and it’s only magnified right now. At a time where misinformation runs rampant and people are gravitating toward sources they know, trust, and like, credible influencers are powerful allies. “In the current environment, a B2B brand with strong connections to influencers with a known voice for equality have an opportunity to co-create content for customers in search of answers,” Lee wrote in a blog post about always-on influence. “Of course, companies looking at their influencers and not finding many or any people of color should seriously think about diversity and their influencer program.” #5: Bring diversity to your content marketing lineup Lee’s final point in the quote above broaches another essential focus: highlighting and elevating diversity in your brand’s content mix. Activism taking place in our country, and world, underscores more than ever the vital need for more voices be heard and understood. It’s an uncomfortable truth for those of us who fall into the demographic, but also an undeniable one: As I look around today’s digital marketing landscape, I see a disproportionate number of white men. I think every marketing department, agency, and brand can use this moment as an impetus for diversifying the collection of people speaking for them, or collaborating with them. This has also been an ongoing emphasis for the game of baseball, which was criticized by the New York Times not so long ago for its “unbearable whiteness,” illustrating that there is still work to be done nearly 75 years after Jackie Robinson broke MLB’s color barrier.

via GIPHY In marketing, increasing diversity isn’t solely about race; aim to represent different ethnicities, genders, sexualities, and worldviews. #6: Invest in SEO with an eye on the end game This is a perfect time to invest budget and effort into bolstering your SEO strategy, through optimizing existing content and creating new content informed by thoughtful keyword research. It’s a cost-efficient activity with short-term and long-term benefits. As Conductor CEO Seth Besmertnik puts it in a recent article on LinkedIn Pulse: “If you invest today, you’ll immediately start getting value. You’ll also be in the best position to capture buying activity when we emerge from this crisis.” [bctt tweet="“This is a perfect time to invest budget and effort into bolstering your SEO strategy, through optimizing existing content and creating new content informed by thoughtful keyword research.” @NickNelsonMN" username="toprank"] #7: Ungate your best assets The sacrifice bunt is often viewed as one of baseball’s most pure and charming plays. The selflessness of a batter giving himself up to advance a base runner and give them a better chance to score is the essence of team play. Ungating your content assets, which may have previously sat behind a form-fill, is a good way to replicate this dynamic in your own strategy. Sure, that eBook or whitepaper might lose its opportunity to convert someone single-handedly, but it can contribute to building relationships and developing brand affinity that will pay dividends down the line. At a time where purchase activity is down but content consumption is up, this pivot simply makes sense. #8: Stay flexible and adaptive Late in a baseball game, a manager will sometimes call upon a pinch-hitter to substitute for someone in their lineup. That’s because the replacement is viewed as a more suitable option based on the situation. Content marketers, too, must be ready to react and change direction quickly at a time where the circumstances around us are constantly in flux. Consider holding daily (virtual) stand-ups with your team to reassess the plan, and to ensure everything you’re doing still makes sense and aligns with your audience’s mindset and needs. Always be prepared for a curveball.

via GIPHY #9: Swing for the fences with experiential content I wrote here last month (in another baseball-themed post, naturally) that experiential content represents a home run for marketers. When you deliver a virtual experience that is infotaining, interactive, collaborative, and impactful for your business, you can really score a win-win for your company and your audience, at a time when many beloved real-life experiences of the summer aren’t available to folks. [bctt tweet="“When you deliver a virtual experience that is infotaining, interactive, collaborative, and impactful for your business, you can really score a win-win for your company and your audience.” @NickNelsonMN" username="toprank"]

Every Hit Counts

Singles and walks in baseball aren’t flashy, but if you compile enough of them you’re going to fill up the bases and eventually put plenty of runs on the board. Content marketing follows this same principle. It’s not about instant gratification — a single quality blog post won’t usually convert a customer on its own — but it all adds up, and now’s an ideal time to recenter on those fundamentals that contribute to a sustainably successful marketing strategy. This summer, content marketers should be playing the long game. For more guidance on how marketers can rise to this challenging occasion, I encourage you to read Lee’s inspiring post on how we can do better than words with action during turbulent times for society.

The post Manufacturing Runs: 9 Summer Content Marketing Tips Drawn from the Diamond appeared first on Online Marketing Blog - TopRank®.

from The SEO Advantages https://www.toprankblog.com/2020/06/9-b2b-content-marketing-tips-for-summer-2020/

[wiremagazine]

FOCUS ON FILM: 2017 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL

By Michael W. Sasser | Photos provided by Sundance Institute

Around the world, movies made in the United States dominate the marketplace. In fact, a movie that scores only modest success domestically can go on to be considered a smash blockbuster if it scores well in a market like China. Watch aspiring blockbusters, in fact, and you can often see nods to audiences in these markets clearly intended to rake in ticket money.

It is the big blockbuster action movie that acts as ambassador of the American movie industry around the world. It was the latest iteration of Star Wars that was pulling in massive audiences in Asia the past month or so, not Collateral Beauty – and certainly not a "small" film made without the financial backing of a major studio.

However, is it really the latest comic book adaptation that accurately represents what the American film community can create? Is the latest Will Ferrell vehicle the apex of the art of making movies? Even many Americans, blessed with access to virtually everything the industry produces, may often think so, given the influence of mega-mall theaters and multi-million dollar tie-in marketing (complete with collectible cups!).

There is, of course, another side to the industry. While some in the industry rack up fortunes with re-hashed car chase movies and gags about bull semen and excrement, many others toil away outside the limelight of Entertainment Weekly covers. These writers, directors, producers and actors focus on the art of storytelling, of exploring character, themes and the full range of human emotion and experience. Smaller in scale than a space opera, sometimes just the scale of a single experience in a single person's unremarkable life, smaller films outside the Hollywood mainstream nevertheless attract and foster talent, find audiences and provide the flip-side to the blockbuster: the art.

That's really where the Sundance Film Festival comes into play.

The festival launched in 1978 as the Utah/US Film Festival and was implemented to accentuate American film outside of the studio system and also to heighten film availability and culture in Utah, which hosts the annual festival each winter. Sundance Institute is a nonprofit organization that provides and preserves the space for artists in film, theater and new media to create and thrive. The Institute's signature Labs, granting, and mentorship programs, dedicated to developing new work, take place throughout the year in the U.S. and internationally. The Sundance Film Festival and other public programs connect audiences to artists by igniting new ideas, discovering original voices, and building a community dedicated to independent storytelling.

The involvement of Robert Redford (thus the "Sundance" reference) and strong early leadership propelled the Festival to unparalleled success. In 1979, the Institute infrastructure was created and over time, it has gone on to expand programming beyond the scope of the Festival proper. In 1984, the Institute took over management of the already-successful U.S. Film Festival and the process of rebranding resulted in the 1991 official renaming of the event. Driven by Redford's power in Hollywood, excellent organizational leadership and the move of the Festival from late summer/fall to January/February – when the skiing attraction of Utah brings in droves of guests from the West Coast – Sundance's growth accelerated. Today it is one of the most popular festivals of its type in the nation, attracting in the range of 50,000 guests in recent years and warranting the support of Hollywood studios.

The Sundance Film Festival has introduced global audiences to some of the most groundbreaking films of the past three decades, including Whiplash, Boyhood, Rich Hill, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Fruitvale Station, Little Miss Sunshine, sex, lies, and videotape, Reservoir Dogs, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, An Inconvenient Truth, Precious and Napoleon Dynamite, and through its New Frontier initiative has showcased groundbreaking media works by artists and creative technologists including Chris Milk, Doug Aitken, Palmer Luckey, Klip Collective and Nonny de la Peña.

The Sundance Festival had a greater impact throughout the industry, however, which its originators might or might not have had in mind. Prior to its popular advent, film festivals were seen by many as overtly highbrow occasions featuring esoteric content for an elite audience. Sundance's success helped change that perspective. Audiences began to recognize that festivals presented mature works of personal storytelling that were appealing in the way that popcorn-driven blockbusters were not. They were the vehicles for grown-up movies. The paradigm began to shift after Sundance. Films debuted in festivals around the country and subsequently made a splash as commercial releases, piquing interest in festival programs. International films, also often premiering in festivals, became more popular in a "smaller" wired nation and shifting demographics. Global superstars in acting and directing more often began to create or collaborate on "small" films, those more artistic than genre-specific commercial appeal. Culturally, many even casual film fans began to recognize the merit of narrative-driven film generally devoid or less dependent on formula.

Today, Sundance is much anticipated in both the industry and to even the casual movie fan looking for something mentally or emotionally nutritious – and it is that time of year again. The Festival hosts screenings in Park City, Salt Lake City and at Sundance Mountain Resort January 19-29. Once again, the Festival will present more than 100 films – features, shorts, documentaries and anthologies – from dozens of nations and covering a wide range of narrative themes.

John Cooper, director of the Sundance Film Festival, said, "Some of the most pressing themes that we can trace through the Festival lineup – the environment, political upheaval, social change – are distilled to their very human essences in both comic and dramatic stories. These stories, and the conversations they spark, start here and will extend well beyond the mountain and the Festival in the months ahead."

In addition to the screening lineup, additional programming includes off-screen panel discussions, workshops and the longstanding Power of Story series, among much more.

Wire Magazine presents a sampling of some of the numerous films making up the Festival in the pages to follow. Visit www.sundance.org for more details, complete information and schedule of events.

 Spotlight Films

Beatriz at Dinner 2016, U.S. Director: Miguel Arteta Starring: Salma Hayek, John Lithgow Sundance Summary Beatriz (Salma Hayek) is a miracle worker – highly sensitive with her touch, and passionately dedicated to curing pain through holistic therapy. After treating the mother of a young woman Beatriz helped recover from chemotherapy, her car breaks down, so she is invited to stay for a dinner celebrating a lucrative business deal.

An interloper inside this private enclave of the have-mores, Beatriz is politely acknowledged by the guests, with the exception of Doug, a mega brazen and successful business developer. Believing she knows him from somewhere, Beatriz becomes increasingly unsettled. Uninhibited, she questions whether Doug’s accomplishments have come at the expense of other people’s suffering – to the chagrin of the sycophantic hosts – pitting the guests into opposing forces.

Beatriz at Dinner is riveting, yet with an apprehensive tone. Half chamber drama, half dark dramedy of errors, director Miguel Arteta (The Good Girl, 2002 Sundance Film Festival) discerns his characters by showing their most telling reactions, such as the subliminal determination of Hayek’s face, while spinning an indelible wickedness onto this tale of a fateful encounter.

Before I Fall 2016, U.S. Director: Ry Russo-Young Starring: Zoey Deutch, Halston Sage, Logan Miller, Kian Lawley, Elena Kampouris, Diego Boneta

Sundance Summary Sam is one lucky teenager. She’s beautiful, rich, and popular, with the hottest boyfriend and the most loyal friends. But she and her posse can be cruel and heartless; since elementary school they’ve relentlessly bullied one of their classmates. On Friday, February 12, driving home from a party, Sam is in a dramatic car crash. She should be dead, but wakes the next morning to find the date hasn’t changed. In a Groundhog Day-like time loop, Sam must unravel the mystery of why the last day of her life keeps repeating again and again. Along the way she realizes that every little deed has a consequence, and every action can change another person’s future.

Based on the bestselling young adult novel, Before I Fall features a fluid, riveting performance by Zoey Deutsch as Sam – a girl learning to disentangle her values from high school’s rigid social structures to discover her true self. Director Ry Russo-Young smartly and lushly layers high school drama with chilly noir and suspense genres to deliver a thrilling, profoundly moving ride.

Cries from Syria 2017, U.S./Syria/Czech Republic Director: Evgeny Afineevsky Sundance Summary A strikingly intense portrayal of a dire situation, Cries from Syria serves as a potent record of the events that have transpired there since 2011. Inspired by the Arab Spring, Syrians were hopeful they could end their country’s 40-year reign of brutal dictatorship. Instead, their efforts yielded horrific consequences as the government swiftly punished those in opposition, demonstrating their ruthlessness by targeting and torturing children. As peaceful protests were held, the government retaliated with extreme force, resulting in a full-blown civil war. From cutting off the food supply to the use of chemical weapons and targeted airstrikes on hospitals and schools, those fighting for freedom have endured a grave humanitarian crisis.

Incorporating gripping firsthand accounts from activists, child protesters, and a former army general who joined the uprising, director Evgeny Afineevsky has created a powerful and immediate depiction of the recent and current situation in Syria. This compelling documentary bears witness to the resiliency of the people in the wake of their exposure to unthinkable crimes against humanity

Fun Mom Dinner 2016, U.S. Director: Alethea Jones Starring: Katie Aselton, Toni Collette, Bridget Everett, Molly Shannon, Adam Scott, Adam Levine

Sundance Summary At some point, Emily stopped being "Emily" – high-powered lawyer, strong woman, sexual being – and became, simply, "Mom." It’s like, her kids and husband are great, but there’s got to be more to life than diapers, playdates, and fingerpaint, right? Right?!

When some of the other moms at school propose a Chardonnay-soaked night out, Emily is in. She even drags her reluctant friend Kate along for the ride. But what starts as gossip and tapas quickly turns into a night that these ladies will never forget (even though they’re all super duper high).

Deftly infusing zany hijinks with real feeling, director Alethea Jones and writer Julie Rudd deliver a riotous comedy that spares no rods and spoils no children. The titular moms (Katie Aselton, Toni Collette, Molly Shannon, and Bridget Everett) make a truly formidable ensemble, dispensing dick jokes and tearful revelations with equal aplomb. Together, they prove that "mom" is more than a dirty word – it’s a badge of honor.

Manifesto 2016, Germany Director: Julian Rosefeldt Starring: Cate Blanchett

Sundance Summary Tour-de-force: a term so overused that we need an undeniable acting performance to renew its meaning for cinema. Cate Blanchett has just given us one, going all-out in Manifesto. Already respected as one of the best actresses in film, Blanchett raises the bar even higher by playing 13 different roles in Manifesto, embodying some of the most influential and emotional artist manifestos in history.

The architect of this unique film idea is director Julian Rosefeldt, a veteran of intricate films and installations. In Manifesto, he uses the words from various twentieth century manifestos of artists, architects, and filmmakers for dialogue. With a gorgeous production and luscious cinematography that would make Baz Luhrmann proud, Rosefeldt puts Blanchett in the everyday world – as a housewife, a factory worker, or a TV anchor – declaring the words that have inspired whole art movements. Manifesto is entertaining while also asking us to question if these passionate statements still hold true and inspire us today.

Marjorie Prime 2016, U.S. Director: Michael Almereyda Starring: Jon Hamm, Geena Davis, Lois Smith, Tim Robbins Sundance Summary Eighty-six-year-old Marjorie spends her final, ailing days with a computerized version of her deceased husband. With the intent to recount their life together, Marjorie’s "Prime" relies on the information from her and her kin to develop a more complex understanding of his history. As their interactions deepen, the family begins to develop ever-diverging recounts of their lives, drawn into the chance to reconstruct the often-painful past.

Built around exceptional performances from a veteran cast and shot with the intimate rhythm of mortality, Marjorie Prime shines a light on an often-obscured corner in the world of artificial intelligence and its interactions with death. Bringing us robustly into the future, Michael Almereyda’s poetic film forces us to face the question – If we had the opportunity, how would we choose to rebuild the past, and what would we decide to forget?

Mudbound 2016, U.S. Director: Dee Rees Starring: Carey Mulligan, Jason Clarke, Mary J. Blige, Rob Morgan, Jason Mitchell, Garrett Hedlund

Sundance Summary Set in the post-WWII South, this epic pioneer story pits two families against a barbaric social hierarchy and an unrelenting landscape as they simultaneously fight the battle at home and the battle abroad. Newly transplanted from the quiet civility of Memphis, the McAllans are underprepared and overly hopeful for Henry's grandiose farming dreams while Laura strives to keep the faith in her husband's losing venture. For Hap and Florence Jackson, whose families have worked the land for generations, every day is a losing venture as they struggle bravely to build some small dream of their own. The war upends both families, as their returning loved ones, Jamie and Ronsel, forge a fast, uneasy friendship that challenges them all.

Mudbound boasts a screenplay by Virgil Williams and Dee Rees based on the acclaimed novel by Hillary Jordan. The stellar ensemble cast – Jonathan Banks, Mary J. Blige, Jason Clarke, Garrett Hedlund, Jason Mitchell, Rob Morgan and Carey Mulligan – fiercely commits to the grit demanded by extraordinary writer/director Rees (Pariah, 2011 Sundance Film Festival; HBO’s Bessie). Devastating in its power and authenticity, Mudbound is destined to become a classic.

Rebel in the Rye 2016, U.S. Director: Danny Strong Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Kevin Spacey, Sarah Paulson, Zoey Deutch, Hope Davis, Victor Garber

Sundance Summary This chronicle of one of the twentieth century’s greatest writers, J.D. Salinger, begins as he embarks on his writing career and enters into a tumultuous relationship with young starlet Oona O’Neill. Having tried to establish his career in New York’s literary circle in the late 1930s, but with numerous rejections and with no prospects for success, he enlists in the army to fight in WWII. It is on the beaches of Normandy and across the battlefields of Europe that Salinger begins writing the iconic novel, which would ultimately become The Catcher in the Rye.

A hugely successful actor and writer for television and film – who co-created Empire, among many other credits – Danny Strong makes his feature directing debut with an expertly realized film that truly does justice to the beloved subject. Bolstered by a keen attention to period detail and stellar performances from the entire cast, Rebel in The Rye will make you clap for all the right reasons.

The Big Sick 2016, U.S. Director: Michael Showalter Starring: Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, Ray Romano, Anupam Kher

Sundance Summary Based on the true story of the film’s writers (and real-life couple), Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani, this modern culture clash shows how Pakistan-born Kumail and his American girlfriend, Emily, have to overcome the expectations of his family and their 1,400-year-old traditions. As his parents relentlessly set him up with potential brides for an arranged marriage, Kumail navigates treacherous waters in the worlds of both dating and stand-up comedy.

Produced by Judd Apatow, The Big Sick features a sterling collection of comedy talent in front of and behind the camera. Having acted in numerous previous Sundance Film Festival selections, Michael Showalter returns this time as a director with a hilariously insightful film that shrewdly puts the spotlight on its writer/star Kumail Nanjiani (HBO’s Silicon Valley). A revered comedian, Nanjiani shines in the lead role, bringing his singular voice to center stage. Mining his personal stories for comedy gold, he shares his experiences that are uniquely Pakistani but will resonate for everyone who has ever fallen in love.

The Last Word 2015, U.S. Director: Mark Pellington Starring: Shirley MacLaine, Amanda Seyfried, Anne Heche, Thomas Sadoski, Philip Baker Hall

Sundance Summary Harriet Lauler (Shirley MacLaine), a once successful businesswoman, has always been in tight control of every aspect of her life. As she reflects upon her accomplishments, she's suddenly inspired to engage a young local writer, Anne Sherman (Amanda Seyfried), to pen her life's story. When the initial result doesn’t meet Harriet's high expectations, she sets out to reshape the way she is remembered, with Anne dragged along as an unwilling accomplice. As the journey unfolds, the two women develop a unique bond, which alters not only Harriet’s legacy, but also Anne’s future.

Director Mark Pellington returns to the Festival with a film as funny as it is moving. MacLaine shines, and it’s a rare pleasure to watch her front and center, telling a story with every line. Her character is a tough perfectionist, but through a fleeting smile or a look of quiet regret, she makes Harriet something richer and more complicated. Emboldened by three generations of indomitable female characters, The Last Word is a triumphant tale about living life to the fullest – at any age.

The Polka King 2017, U.S. Director: Maya Forbes Starring: Jack Black, Jenny Slate, Jason Schwartzman, Jacki Weaver, J.B. Smoove

Sundance Summary This exuberant tragicomedy recounts the remarkable but true story of the rise and fall of Polish émigré Jan Lewan (Jack Black), from striving tchotchke shop owner in the ’70s to the undisputed "King of Pennsylvania Polka" in the early ’90s. Lewan pursued the American Dream by any means necessary, fleecing investors and bribing officials to build a personal musical empire in what became the world’s only known Polka Ponzi scheme. Swept up by Lewan’s charismatic charm are his devoted wife, Marla (Jenny Slate), and his neurotic sidekick, Mickey (Jason Schwartzman).

Co-writers and directors Maya Forbes and Wallace Wolodarsky, who previously teamed up for Infinitely Polar Bear (2014 Sundance Film Festival), infuse The Polka King with an infectious energy and fill the frame with kitschy period detail, taking us through two accordion-fueled decades of grift and glory. Throughout, producer/star Black breathes life into the eccentric Lewan, finding pathos beneath his cockeyed optimism and showbiz hustle.

This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous 2017, U.S. Director: Barbara Kopple Sundance Summary In 2008, Gregory Lazzarato, a young, nationally ranked Canadian diver, walked away from the pool and began a YouTube channel focused on makeup tutorials. Unwilling to be intimidated by bullies either online or in high school, Lazzarato became the fierce, outspoken Gregory Gorgeous, amassing a loyal following who found strength and inspiration from his public coming out as a gay male.

Despite this success, the Internet personality harbored a secret – one that was revealed in a December 2013 video titled "I Am Transgender." Motivated by the death of her mother, the YouTube star took on the new name Gigi Gorgeous. Gigi, supported by her loving father and brothers, offers a candid look at her transition, sharing its hallmarks online with her legion of fans as she embraces a new world of possibilities.

In capturing Gigi's moving transformation, two-time Academy Award-winning director Barbara Kopple (Harlan County U.S.A., 1976; American Dream, 1990) puts a spotlight on her subject’s uplifting, empowering message of self-acceptance, as Gigi blossoms into a self-assured, happy – and, yes, gorgeous – young woman.

Where is Kyra 2016, U.S. Director: Andrew Dosunmu Starring: Michelle Pfeiffer, Kiefer Sutherland

Sundance Summary Mild-mannered, sheltered Kyra, played with intensity by Michelle Pfeiffer, begins to spiral after the death of her mother. Long out of work, the deep-in-debt Kyra struggles to support herself. As she becomes increasingly desperate and isolated, longing for her mother, she launches a cryptic, last-ditch scheme to keep from being evicted. She also finds solace in another lonely soul, Doug (Kiefer Sutherland), from whom she initially tries to hide her plight, but Kyra slowly ropes him into her deception.

Writer/director Andrew Dosunmu returns to the Festival with his evocative and stylish third feature. Using impeccably composed frames and guided by sharp art direction, Dosunmu and two-time Sundance Film Festival Cinematography Award winner Bradford Young situate the fragile Kyra in a dark, antagonistic NYC. The intensely warm glow of an illuminated palette married to the cold negative space reflects the stark tension with this enigmatic character, who feels out of place in this world.

Wilson 2016, U.S. Director: Craig Johnson Starring: Woody Harrelson, Laura Dern, Judy Greer

Sundance Summary Woody Harrelson stars as Wilson, a lonely, neurotic, and hilariously honest middle-aged, misanthropic dog lover who reunites with his estranged wife (Laura Dern) and gets a shot at happiness when he learns he has a teenage daughter he’s never met. In his uniquely outrageous and slightly twisted way, Wilson sets out to connect with her in what could be his last chance at having a family.

In Skeleton Twins, which won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, director Craig Johnson displayed a knack for finding humor and warmth in the darkest of places, which is why he was the perfect choice to bring to life this Daniel Clowes graphic novel of the same name. The writer of the Ghost World and Art School Confidential graphic novels, Clowes is a master of making the unlikable lovable. His Wilson is a bit of jerk, but a jerk who refreshes our empathy for people – in all of their imperfections.

Wind River 2016, U.S. Director: Taylor Sheridan Starring: Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen, Jon Bernthal

Sundance Summary U.S. Fish & Wildlife agent Cory Lambert discovers a body in the rugged wilderness of the Wind River Indian Reservation. The FBI sends in rookie agent Jane Banner, but she’s unprepared for the difficulties created by the oppressive weather and isolation of the Wyoming winter. When she employs Cory as a tracker, the two venture deep into a world ravaged by violence and the elements. Wind River is a stark look at life on the edge of an imposing wilderness, where the rule of law is eclipsed by the laws of nature.

Acclaimed screenwriter Taylor Sheridan makes his directorial debut with the final film in his trilogy of screenplays on the American frontier. He showed the power of his writing in Sicario and Hell or High Water, both of which reverberated with unforgettable characters and dialogue, while creating a level of texture and detail that felt more like a novel. Sheridan continues that here, with an excellent cast – including many Native American actors – that vibrantly brings to life this thrilling tale of forging morality in extreme nature.

This was originally published in Wire Magazine Issue 02.2017