While the temperatures in Park City, Utah are below freezing, the star power in town for the annual Sundance Film Festival is heating things up. The festival kicked off Thursday morning with a full slate of screenings, red carpets, a press conference and a star-studded gala.
Here are the top moments from the first day of the festival.
Robert Downey Jr. presented his “Oppenheimer” director Christopher Nolan with the first-ever “Trailblazer Award.”
Downey Jr., who starred in Nolan’s latest work, “Oppenheimer,” praised the director for his body of work and his “timber wolf” spirit. In his typical jokester style, Downey Jr. overshared about his friend, saying that praise is as desirable to Nolan “as being tarred, feathered and pilloried.” He then asked the audience to join him “in a thunderous and extra schmoozy welcome” as he brought Nolan on stage to accept his award.
Nolan, who made a name for himself at Sundance in 2001 when his film “Memento” screened, said he’s “never been an independent filmmaker.”
“I think painters are independent. I think poets can be independent. As filmmakers, we’re so dependent on other people,” he said.
The director, who’s poised to rack up Oscar nominations next week for “Oppenheimer,” said he “could not be more grateful” for the experience he had at the festival 23 years ago.
Jesse Eisenberg shared memories of working with Kristen Stewart as he presented her with the “Visionary Award.”
Before welcoming Stewart to the stage to accept the Sundance Institute’s Visionary Award, Eisenberg reflected on the movies he’s appeared in with Stewart, saying he was always “in awe” watching her work on set.
“Kristen is one of these rare performers where she is so committed, so authentic, so feeling, that you almost want to make sure she’s okay at the end of the day,” he added.
Once Stewart was honored with the award, which recognized “her work as an uncompromising artist and contributions to the field of independent film,” she took time to similarly praise Eisenberg.
“Jesse, I adore you and your work and your whole life,” Stewart said. “Just like endlessly and lifelong. I’ll do it for my whole life. I love you so much.”
Stewart, who first came to Sundance 20 years ago, described the festival as “a place full of ‘Yes’ in a world full of ‘No.’”
“To be accepted by the community I have admired so personally, it is so lovely and so enlivening, it is so well-timed – I need this,” Stewart said. “Sundance is the f***ing sh*t, I love being here, thank you so much.”
Eisenberg and Stewart each have two films playing at the festival; Eisenberg with “Sasquatch Sunset” and his sophomore directorial feature, “A Real Pain,” which he also stars in, and Stewart with “Love Me” and “Love Lies Bleeding.”
Pedro Pascal responded to Keiran Culkin’s awards season cracks against him.
Culkin and Pascal have shared competitive banter since the Golden Globes as Culkin swept through awards season for his role in “Succession,” beating out Pascal who was nominated for “The Last of Us.” Reeling from his Golden Globe win during his speech earlier in January, Culkin said “Suck it, Pedro,” which prompted a laugh from Pascal and started the long-running joke between the actors at January’s awards shows.
A week later at the Emmys, as Pascal presented an award — with his arm in a sling — he told the audience that Culkin “beat the sh*t out of him.”
Pascal, who stars in the Sundance selection, “Freaky Tales,” and Culkin, who plays opposite Eisenberg in “A Real Pain,” are both attending the festival for their respective premieres.
When asked what message he wanted to fire back at Culkin, Pascal said, “Just be nice to me,” before shrugging and looking directly into the camera with a sympathetic expression.
The Sundance Institute celebrated 40 years of the festival.
In a kickoff press conference on Thursday morning, Sundance Film Festival and Sundance Institute staff celebrated the 40th edition of the storied festival. In a conversation moderated by prolific horror filmmaker Jason Blum, the panel discussed how Sundance is what Blum described as a “vital part of the entertainment ecosystem,” and shared their excitement for the diverse lineup of stories and filmmakers.
“Sundance is always a place of renewal. It’s always a place of discovery,” said Sundance Institute CEO Joana Vicente. “The films are so compelling, and we are very hopeful that they will find a way to connect with audiences.”