Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton appear in “The Invite” by Olivia Wilde, an official selection of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. (Courtesy of Sundance Institute)
By Lucy Spicer
We might remember the 2026 Sundance Film Festival as if it were yesterday, but a glance at the calendar reveals that we’ve hit June — and soon enough we’ll be racing through the second half of the year toward the 2027 edition of the Festival. But while an exciting new crop of filmmakers prepares their stories to be seen for the first time, we’ll still make sure to celebrate every Sundance Institute–supported release that pops up in theaters and across streaming services in the meantime. This month, we’re looking forward to two new premieres from the 2026 Festival: an Australian horror film where conversion therapy takes a supernatural turn, as well as comedy about a dinner party where tensions bubble over to unpredictable levels.
And that’s not all we’ve got to report: The 2026 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Tour is now underway! Coming soon to a city near you, the tour’s program includes six short films that screened at the 2026 Festival, including three award winners.
Leviticus — Naim’s (Joe Bird) move to a small suburb in Australia is made more interesting by the presence of Ryan (Stacy Clausen), his charismatic classmate. The two quietly enjoy the thrills of a teenage crush, but the community’s conservative Christian parish soon intervenes in a fashion most sinister — and designed to “correct” their behavior. Naim and Ryan find themselves followed by a malevolent presence that takes the form of the one they desire most. Written and directed by Adrian Chiarella in his feature debut, Leviticus premiered in the Midnight section at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. Coming to select theaters June 19.
The Invite — Frustrated music teacher Joe (Seth Rogen) returns to his San Francisco apartment to find that his wife, Angela (Olivia Wilde), is busy preparing for company — she’s invited the couple upstairs, Piña (Penélope Cruz) and Hawk (Edward Norton), to come down for dinner tonight. Desperate to impress their cool — and sexually liberated — guests, Angela is particularly high-strung on this occasion, adding to the tension of an already fraying marriage. Antics ensue as the evening gets going, with the arrival of their guests triggering a truly unpredictable dinner party. Directed by Wilde with a screenplay by Will McCormack and Rashida Jones, The Invite premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. Coming to select theaters June 26.
The 2026 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Tour is underway! Traveling to all corners of the United States and beyond in the following months, the program features six short films selected from the 2026 Festival, including three Festival Award–winning titles. Check here for dates and venues; see below for dates in June.
- Mount Vernon, Iowa, June 11–14, Bijou Theater
- San Rafael, California, June 18–20, Smith Rafael Film Center
- Austin, Texas, June 19, Austin Film Society
- Cincinnati, Ohio, June 19–28, Cincinnati World Cinema
- Billings, Montana, June 28–29, Art House Cinema & Pub
