The Sundance Film Festival is currently experiencing a surge of excitement and anticipation as three highly anticipated films featuring major Hollywood stars premiered consecutively at the prestigious Eccles Theatre in Park City, Utah. The Friday evening schedule presented a compelling lineup, with projects starring Channing Tatum, Olivia Wilde, and featuring pop sensation Charli XCX drawing significant crowds and generating considerable buzz among festival attendees.
Consecutive Premieres Generate Festival Excitement
Considered among the most sought-after tickets at this year's festival, the back-to-back premieres created long waitlists and even longer queues outside the historic Eccles Theatre. The evening offered a diverse range of cinematic experiences, from raw emotional drama to provocative explorations of modern sexuality, showcasing the festival's commitment to bold storytelling.
"Josephine": A Personal Drama of Childhood Trauma
The evening commenced with "Josephine," a raw and emotionally charged drama from writer-director Beth De Araújo. The film, which forms part of the U.S. Dramatic Competition, tells the story of an eight-year-old girl, portrayed by Mason Reeves, whose life and sense of security are profoundly disrupted after she witnesses a crime in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.
Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan deliver powerful performances as the child's parents, who struggle to help their daughter navigate complex new emotions and fears in the aftermath of the traumatic event. The film draws directly from De Araújo's own childhood experience of witnessing something scarring at a similar age, lending the narrative an authentic and deeply personal quality.
"I Want Your Sex": A Provocative Exploration of Modern Relationships
Following this emotional drama, the festival atmosphere shifted dramatically with the premiere of Gregg Araki's "I Want Your Sex." This film presents the story of a recent college graduate in his early twenties, played by Cooper Hoffman, who secures his first job as an intern and assistant to a renowned and controversial art world provocateur named Erika Tracy, portrayed by Olivia Wilde.
Araki, who has been developing this project for over a decade, described Wilde's character as "bold, daring and very controversial," drawing comparisons to both Robert Mapplethorpe and Madonna. The director explained to The Associated Press that the film explores "their affairs and the impact it has on this kid's life and how it kind of turns his whole world upside down," characterising it as "fun, colorful, sexy" and "a ride."
The filmmaker revealed that the project underwent significant transformation following the #MeToo movement and revelations about Harvey Weinstein. Araki stated he no longer wanted to depict "a woman getting dragged around by the hair" or portray "that kind of patriarchal dynamic, even if it's consensual." This led to a deliberate gender role reversal, with the young intern becoming male, which Araki found more interesting given his background in feminist film theory.
Simultaneously, Araki incorporated observations about Generation Z's changing attitudes toward sex and relationships, exploring how traditional concepts of "socialization, dating, sex" appear to be "kind of falling away" for younger generations. Despite its provocative title, Araki emphasised the film's sex-positive message, contrasting it with what he perceived as the sex-negative approach of other recent films.
Charli XCX's Unexpected Acting Role
"I Want Your Sex" also features a supporting performance from pop star Charli XCX, who approached Araki about appearing in the film after learning about the project. The director, a fan of her work whose "Smiley Face" title credits partially inspired her "Brat" album cover, agreed but insisted she audition "like everyone else" for the role of Hoffman's girlfriend.
Araki noted the fun in casting the musician against type, describing her character as "American, super uptight and kind of pill" rather than an extension of her public persona. Charli XCX filmed her scenes in just one day during a two-day break from her Brat tour, with Araki particularly praising a scene depicting "kind of bad sex" between her and Hoffman's characters as one of his favourites in the entire film.
Additional Festival Highlights
Audiences who remained at the Eccles Theatre after "I Want Your Sex" were treated to a Charli XCX double feature, with the world premiere of her self-referential mockumentary "The Moment." This film, about a rising pop star, will receive a theatrical release on January 30th.
Earlier on Friday, the festival presented the world premiere of William David Caballero's mixed-media film "TheyDream," which immerses viewers in the intimate story of a Puerto Rican family learning to process grief through artistic expression. Caballero and co-writer Elaine Del Valle, who have previously screened short films at Sundance, expressed honour at bringing their first full-length feature to the festival.
Del Valle, who also produced the film, told The Associated Press that "Sundance has always been about possibility for me — about artists being given space to take creative risks and tell personal stories." She added that bringing their feature debut to the festival, particularly during Sundance's final year in Utah, "carries a different weight" for the creative team.
The consecutive premieres demonstrate Sundance's ongoing commitment to showcasing diverse voices and innovative storytelling, with established stars and emerging filmmakers alike contributing to the festival's vibrant atmosphere and cultural significance.
