The Sundance Institute couldn't end the year without giving us a sneak peek at what to anticipate for the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. Screenings will be hosted in Park City, Salt Lake City and at Sundance Mountain Resort from January 24 to February 3, 2019.
Out of 4,018 feature-length submissions, 112 have been selected to premiere at the festival representing 33 countries. Out of the 112, we've identified the African talent who will be presenting new work next year.
Check out the synopses of the four films helmed by African directors from Sundance below, and check out the full list here.
Chinonye Chukwu | Clemency
Photo courtesy of Sundance Institute.
Years of carrying out death row executions have taken a toll on prison warden Bernadine Williams. As she prepares to execute another inmate, Bernadine must confront the psychological and emotional demons her job creates, ultimately connecting her to the man she is sanctioned to kill.
Cast: Alfre Woodard, Aldis Hodge, Richard Schiff, Wendell Pierce, Richard Gunn, Danielle Brooks.
World Premiere
Julius Onah | Luce
Photo courtesy of Sundance Institute.
A married couple is forced to reckon with their idealized image of their son, adopted from war-torn Eritrea, after an alarming discovery by a devoted high school teacher threatens his status as an all-star student.
Cast: Naomi Watts, Octavia Spencer, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Tim Roth, Norbert Leo Butz.
World Premiere
Shola Amoo | The Last Tree
Photo courtesy of Sundance Institute.
Femi is a British boy of Nigerian heritage who, after a happy childhood in rural Lincolnshire, moves to inner London to live with his mum. Struggling with the unfamiliar culture and values of his new environment, teenage Femi has to figure out which path to adulthood he wants to take.
Cast: Sam Adewunmi, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Tai Golding.
World Premiere
Chiwetel Ejiofor | The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Photo courtesy of Sundance Institute.
Against all the odds, a thirteen year old boy in Malawi invents an unconventional way to save his family and village from famine. Based on the true story of William Kamkwamba.
Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Maxwell Simba, Lily Banda, Noma Dumezweni, Aissa Maiga, Joseph Marcell.
World Premiere (Read more on the film here)
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For the complete rundown on black talent to keep an eye on at Sundance 2019, check out Shadow and Act's roundup here.
