By Sylvy Fernandez
The 2024 Sundance Film Festival is hosting hundreds of members of the press attending in-person and online to watch conversation-starting, challenging, and entertaining stories in Utah and beyond from January 18–28. Within that broader media community, there is a select group of press who are participating in the Press Inclusion Initiative (PII), a program designed to elevate diverse voices in journalism and cultural criticism.
Now in its sixth year, the Press Inclusion Initiative exists to break systemic barriers faced by critics from underrepresented groups who have not seen themselves represented in cultural criticism in large numbers by providing them with financial support, networking opportunities, guidance on how to navigate the Festival, and amplification of their work.
Film criticism and conversations in mainstream outlets are primarily being written from a perspective dominated by cis, white, male, non-disabled, heteronormative voices, and Sundance Institute’s Press Inclusion program was created to address an imbalance in the critical landscape, leading to a more culturally abundant press corps at the Sundance Film Festival and creating inroads for their career progression. The program is highly selected and over the last five years it has supported upwards of 200 journalists from BIPOC, queer, and disabled communities.
The 2024 Press Inclusion Initiative cohort is made up of 31 members of the press covering the Sundance Film Festival — both in-person and online — and you can read some of their selected pieces here:
“Scoping Out Sundance 2024: the debut delights and sophomore surprises we’re excited for” by Adesola Thomas on Letterboxd
“Queer cinema is shining bright at Sundance 2024—and festival leadership is excited” by Mey Rude on Out
“The 7 Latino films at Sundance 2024 to keep an eye out for” by Carlos Aguilar on De Los / LA Times
“TransLash Guide to Sundance Film Festival 2024” by Daniela Capistrano on TransLash
“The Asian and Asian-Diaspora titles at Sundance 2024” by Grace Han on Asian Movie Pulse
“Sundance 2024: Events, panels and more” by Jared Alexander on TheGrio
“‘Love Me’ Review: Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun’s Sweet, Sweeping Romance Isn’t Afraid to Go Deep” by Alejandra Martinez on The Wrap
“‘Freaky Tales’ Review: Pedro Pascal Anchors a Campy, Bloody Love Letter to the ’80s” by Alejandra Martinez on The Wrap
“The Outrun: Die Insel und die Frau” by Bahareh Ebrahimi on nd
“‘In the Summers’ Review: Moving Debut Spans the Foundational Years of a Parent-Child Relationship” by Carlos Aguilar on Variety
‘Sujo’ Review: A Darkly Lyrical Portrait of the Systems That “Force Mexican Men Into the Drug Wars” by Carlos Aguilar on IndieWire
“‘I Saw The TV Glow’ Review: Jane Schoenbrun Has Rendered An Entrancing, Richly Stylized Trans Masterpiece [Sundance]” by Carlos Aguilar on The Playlist
“‘Seeking Mavis Beacon’: a Black queer and trans film about healing tech and chosen family” by Daniela Capistrano on TransLash
“‘The American Society of Magical Negroes’ Isn’t As Bad As The Internet Thinks. But Its Magic Is Missing” by Gloria Alamrew on Refinery29
“Luther Vandross gets his flowers at Sundance” by Jared Alexander on TheGrio
“‘American Society of Magical Negroes’ director, cast on Sundance premiere and ‘the false promise’ of assimilation” by Jared Alexander on TheGrio
“Sundance Short Film lineup includes Malia Obama debut” by Jared Alexander on TheGrio
“‘Exhibiting Forgiveness’ Review: André Holland Grapples with Breaking the Cycle in Delicate Debut Feature” by Jourdain Searles on IndieWire
Assorted SFF2024 Film Reviews by Jourdain Searles on The Hollywood Reporter
“‘I Saw the TV’ Glow Review” by Katie Rife on IGN
“‘Suncoast’ Review: Laura Linney-Led Semi-Autobiographical Dramedy Is Best at Its Most Specific” by Katie Rife on The Wrap
Assorted SFF2024 Film Reviews by Katie Rife on IndieWire
“Freaky Tales Is a Wildly Stylish Ode to Hometown Heroes” by Lyvie Scott on Inverse
Assorted SFF2024 Film Reviews by Martin Tsai on Critic’s Notebook
Assorted SFF2024 Film Reviews by Matthew Creith on The Wrap
Assorted SFF2024 Film Reviews by Mey Rude on Out
Assorted SFF2024 Film Reviews by Naz Perez on Instagram and TikTok
“Protagonismo latino en el inicio del Festival de Sundance con Pedro Pascal en “Freaky Tales” y Melissa Barrera en ‘Your Monster’” by Rafael Cores on La Opinión
“El clima extremo continúa azotando a EE.UU. ‘Frida’ se presenta en el Festival de Sundance” by Rafael Cores on La Opinión Hoy
“Igualada: Documental sobre la vicepresidenta de Colombia | La Opinión” by Rafael Cores on La Opinión YouTube
Assorted SFF2024 Film Reviews by Robert Kojder on Flickering Myth
Assorted SFF2024 Film Reviews by Ronda Racha Penrice on The Wrap
“Malia Obama Shines in Directorial Debut at 40th Sundance Film Festival” by Shahamat Uddin on Teen Vogue
“Muddled Messages and Magical Negroes” by Shelli Nicole on Hi Shelli
“Teen Trauma, Friendships, and Sexual Autonomy in ‘How To Have Sex’” by Shelli Nicole on Hi Shelli
“‘Presence’ Review” by Siddhant Adlakha on IGN
Assorted SFF2024 Film Reviews by Siddhant Adlakha on Variety
Assorted SFF2024 Film Reviews by Siddhant Adlakha on IndieWire
“’EXHIBITING FORGIVENESS’ STARRING ANDRÉ HOLLAND AND AUNJANUE ELLIS-TAYLOR SHOULD BE 2024’S FIRST AWARDS CONTENDER AFTER SUNDANCE STANDING OVATION” by Trey Mangum on Blavity
“’FREAKY TALES’: JAY ELLIS, NORMANI AND PEDRO PASCAL IN GORY, BIZARRE AND ENDEARING GENRE-BENDER KICKS OFF SUNDANCE WITH A BANG” by Trey Mangum on Blavity
