Spike Lee, Stephen Frears, Julie Delpy, Joe Berlinger and Stacy Peralta are among the directors whose new films will premiere at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, Sundance announced Monday.
The directors will all have films in the premiere and documentary premiere sections of the festival, which were unveiled on the heels of last week's announcement of the competition, spotlight and midnight sections.
Narrative features premiering at Sundance will include Spike Lee's "Red Hook Summer," about an Atlanta boy who spends a summer in Brooklyn with his grandfather; "2 Days in New York," actress-turned-director Julie Delpy's relationship drama starring Chris Rock; and "Lay the Favorite," British director Stephen Frears' film about sports gambling, starring Bruce Willis and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Documentary premieres will include the "Untitled Paul Simon Project," Joe Berlinger's chronicle of a return trip that the singer-songwriter made to South Africa; Stacy Peralta's "Bones Brigade: An Autobiography," about a skateboarding team in the 1980s; and "Ethel," a portrait of Ethel Kennedy by her youngest daughter, documentarian Rory Kennedy.
Also premiering is "West of Memphis," the new Peter Jackson-produced documentary about the West Memphis Three.
Amy Berg's film will find itself in the same lineup as the new film from Joe Berlinger, whose "Paradise Lost" series of three documentaries exhaustively chronicled the case and helped lead to the recent release of the three convicted killers.
The premieres, with descriptions from the Sundance press release:
PREMIERES
"2 Days in New York," France (Director: Julie Delpy, Screenwriters: Julie Delpy, Alexia Landeau) Marion has broken up with Jack and now lives in New York with their child. A visit from her family, the different cultural background of her new boyfriend, her sister’s ex-boyfriend, and her upcoming photo exhibition make for an explosive mix. Cast: Julie Delpy, Chris Rock, Albert Delpy, Alexia Landeau, Alex Nahon.
"Arbitrage," U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Nicholas Jarecki) A hedge-fund magnate is in over his head, desperately trying to complete the sale of his trading empire before the depths of his fraud are revealed. An unexpected, bloody error forces him to turn to the most unlikely corner for help. Cast: Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Tim Roth, Brit Marling, Laetitia Casta.
"Bachelorette," U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Leslye Headland) Unresolved issues between four high school friends come roaring back to life when the least popular of them gets engaged to one of the most eligible bachelors in New York City and asks the others to be bridesmaids in her wedding. Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Isla Fisher, Lizzy Caplan, James Marsden, Adam Scott, Kyle Bornheimer.
"California Solo," U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Marshall Lewy) A former Britpop rocker has long settled for an unfettered life working on a farm outside of L.A. When he’s caught driving drunk and faces deportation, he must confront past and current demons in his life to stay in the country.
