Sundance Films Now Available on YouTube

The 30th annual Sundance Film Festival is in full swing in Park City as of last night, so I've been deluged with emails all week about upcoming films, press lines, happy hours, and luncheons with Barbara Boxer and Wilmer Valderrama.  (I wish the latter wasn't true.)  I'm heading out to the fest on Sunday, so check in here all next week for my Sundance recaps.

As part of this year's festival, Sundance has teamed up with YouTube to allow the dissemination of movies via YouTube's new film rental service.  During the fest itself (now through the 31st), you may rent three films (at $3.99 apiece) appearing as part of this year's Sundance--in the fest's new Next series, spotlighting low-budget films--as well as two favorites from last year.  The highlights include local filmmaker Linas Phillips' road trip comedy of errors Bass Ackwards and Louie Psihoyos' dolphin fishing doc The Cove, which I would call 2009's best documentary, as well as 2009's best horror film. 

Full press release after the jump.

As further commitment to expanding audiences for independent films, Sundance Institute today announced a collaboration with YouTube to make available for rent three world-premiere films from the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.  Beginning today, films will be spotlighted on the YouTube homepage, after which they will also be available until January 31 at YouTube Movies.  Two audience favorites from the 2009 Festival will also be made available for rental.

John Cooper, Director of the Sundance Film Festival said, "It has been our goal this year to find opportunities for our filmmakers by linking them to our technology partners and YouTube has been a great sponsor and partner. The You Tube commitment to independent film is aligned with ours at Sundance. This begins a new age of connecting our artists directly to audiences."

From 2010, three world-premiere films from the Festival’s new NEXT section— highlighting innovative and original work in low- and no-budget filmmaking— will be available:

BASS ACKWARDS (Director and screenwriter: Linas Phillips)—After ending a disastrous affair with a married woman, a man embarks on a lyrical, strange and comedic cross-country journey in a modified VW bus. Cast: Linas Phillips, Davie-Blue, Jim Fletcher, Paul Lazar. World Premiere

HOMEWRECKER (Director: Todd Barnes and Brad Barnes; Screenwriters: Todd Barnes, Brad Barnes, Sophie Goodhart)—The last romantic in New York City is an ex-con locksmith on work release. Cast: Ana Reeder, Anslem Richardson, Stephen Rannazzisi. World Premiere

ONE TOO MANY MORNINGS (Director: Michael Mohan; Screenwriters: Anthony Deptula, Michael Mohan, Stephen Hale)—Two damaged young men recover their high school friendship by awkwardly revealing to each other just how messed up they've become. Cast: Anthony Deptula, Stephen Hale, Tina Kapousis. World Premiere

From 2009, two highly acclaimed films:

THE COVE (Director: Louie Psihoyos)—The horrors of a secret cove nestled off a small, coastal village in Japan are revealed by a group of activists. 2009 Sundance Film Festival Audience Award Winner. Available for one 24-hour period only.

CHILDREN OF INVENTION (Director and screenwriter: Tze Chun)—Two young children living outside Boston are left to fend for themselves when their mother gets embroiled in a pyramid scheme and disappears. Chun was selected as one of Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of Independent Film.

The films will be available for rental from January 22nd to 31st.  The price for rental will be $3.99, and includes an unlimited number of views during a 48-hour period (with the exception of The Cove which will be a 24-hour window).  Filmmakers receive the majority of the revenue share, and none of the participating filmmakers opted to have a cap on streams—meaning there will be no limit to how many rentals can be purchased during the 10-day period.  As of January 31, the films will no longer be available under their current deal with YouTube, however the filmmakers will be able to negotiate new deals with YouTube.