As the Hudson Valley Film Commission celebrates its 25TH Anniversary, we look back at some of the local productions that have world premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, which kicked off its 2024 edition on January 18.
Jason Schwartzman, Nathan Silver and Carol Kane
Nathan Silver's BETWEEN THE TEMPLES will world premiere on January 19. See details at Sundance. Filming took place in spring of 2023 in Red Hook, Woodstock and Kingston, at locations including Le Canard Enchainé, Congregation Emanuel, Early Terribe, Immaculate Conception Church, Red Hook Gold Club, River Radiology, Tubby’s and a day at Kingston Studios. The screwball comedy was inspired by Hudson Valley resident Cindy Silver (Nathan’s mom) who decided to plan for her bat mitzvah in her mid-60s. Carol Kane plays the elderly bat mitzvah student who forges an unlikely bond with a depressed cantor, portrayed by Jason Schwartzman. We’re sending our best wishes and are excited by the anticipation the film has been receiving. View an interview with main cast members on Vulture.
On location with producer Diana Irvine
Another 2023 film production that took place in the Mid Hudson Valley and world premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival is India Donaldson’s GOOD ONE, starring Lily Collias, James Le Gros, and Danny McCarthy. The narrative follows a weekend backpacking trip in the Catskills during which 17-year-old Sam (Collias) contends with the competing egos of her father and his oldest friend. Filming took place in June 2023 primarily in Kerhonkson, New Paltz, and Samsonville.
Le Gros has worked in the Hudson Valley quite a few times, specifically with Glass Eye Pix on productions including BLACKOUT, FOXHOLE, STRAY BULLETS, BITTER FEAST.
See indiewire review at www.tinyurl.com/goodoneindiewire
On location with PERSONAL VELOCITY
The SUNDANCE track record for films produced in the Hudson Valley region dates back to the inception of the Hudson Valley Film Commission. One of the first films the Film Commission worked with was Rebecca Miller’s PERSONAL VELOCITY: THREE PORTRAITS. Filming took place in 2001 in Rosendale, Pine Bush and other Hudson Valley locations. The film won the Grand Jury Prize and the Cinematography Award for Ellen Kuras. The InDigEnt Production, was the first “film” shot on a SONY PD-150 to win the prize.
Casting call for DOWN TO THE BONE
Two years later at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival, Debra Granik’s DOWN TO THE BONE won the Grand Jury Prize. The Directing Award also went to Granik and a special jury prize went to Vera Farmiga for her performance. Filming primarily took place in Saugerties.
At the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, Hilary Brougher’s STEPHANIE DALEY featuring Amber Tamblyn, Tilda Swinton, Timothy Hutton, Jim Gaffigan and Melissa Leo, was nominated for a Grand Jury Prize and walked away with the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award.
In 2008, James Marsh’s MAN ON WIRE won the World Cinema Jury Prize Documentary Award. The film based on Philippe Petit’s book, “To Reach the Clouds,” was partly filmed in the Mid Hudson Valley where Petit lives part time. In 2009, the film would go on to win the Best Documentary Oscar.
Also in 2008, FROZEN RIVER, starring local actor Melissa Leo and directed by Courtney Hunt, was awarded the Grand Jury Prize.
On location with HIGHER GROUND
In 2011, Vera Farmiga’s directorial debut HIGHER GROUND (from BCDF Pictures) world premiered in Sundance to rave reviews. The film which featured Farmiga, Joshua Leonard, John Hawkes, Donna Murphy, Norbert Leo Butz, and Bill Irwin was picked up for distribution by Sony Pictures Classics.
Also premiering at Sundance in 2011 was Sean Durkin’s American psychological thriller MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE, starring Elizabeth Olsen, John Hawkes, John Hawkes, Sarah Paulson, and Hugh Dancy.
In 2012, the American science fiction comedy-drama Jake Schreier's ROBOT & FRANK, starring Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, Liv Tyler and Peter Sarsgaard world premiered at Sundance. Filming primarily took place in Dutchess County.
In 2014, Mike Cahill's science fiction romantic drama I ORIGINS, which was filmed in part in the Hudson Valley, received the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize.
2014 also featured to world premiere of Jim Mickle’s COLD IN JULY starring Michael C Hall, Sam Shepard and Don Johnson. This was the 3rd production undertaken in the Hudson Valley by Jim Mickle and producer partner Linda Moran. Filming took place throughout the region including at the historic Col. Oliver Hazard Payne Estate.
Also premiering in 2014 was David Cross’s American comedy drama, HITS.
In 2015, Liz Garbus's documentary WHAT HAPPENED, MISS SIMONE?, opened the festival. Several flashback scenes were produced in Lake Hill. In 2016, the biographical film about American singer Nina Simone would go on to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary.
In 2016, part time Hudson Valley director & producer Roger Ross Williams won the Documentary Directing Award for LIFE, ANIMATED.
Publicity shot from THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST
In 2018, the Grand Jury Prize was once again awarded to a Hudson Valley Film when Desiree Akhavan’s THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST won the top Sundance prize. That same year, Christina Choe’s NANCY was honored with the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award.
In 2020, 5 films that were produced in the Hudson Valley including:
On location at Vassar College with SHIRLEY
BLACK BEAR, directed by Lawrence Michael Levine, filmed briefly at what is now Kingston Studios during the summer of 2019. The film features Aubrey Plaza, Christopher Abbott, and Sarah Gadon.
THE CLIMB, directed by Michael Covino filmed primarily in Columbia County during the summer of 2018. The cast features Kyle Marvin, Michael Covino, Gayle Rankin, Talia Balsam, George Wendt, and Judith Godrèche.
SAVE YOURSELVES, written and directed by Eleanor Wilson and Alex Fischer, filmed in and around Olive Bridge during the summer of 2019.
SCARE ME, directed by Ulster County native Josh Ruben, was produced in January and February of 2019. Ruben followed up in 2020 with production on WEREWOLVES WITHIN.
SHIRLEY, directed by Josephine Decker and starring Elisabeth Moss, Michael Stuhlbarg, Odessa Young, and Logan Lerman was filmed during the summer of 2018 in Greene and Ulster Counties and at Vassar College in Dutchess County.
Publicity shot from MASTER, at Vassar College
The 2022 Sundance Film Festival featured the world premiere of Mariama Diallo’s MASTER, which started filming in 2020 in Poughkeepsie. Production shut down due to Covid then restarted in 2021, primarily at Vassar College in Dutchess County. The film featured Regina Hall and Zoe Renee.
On location with THEATER CAMP
THEATER CAMP premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. The film was directed by Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman to celebrate the brilliant and slightly unhinged educators and magical spaces that allow kids to be themselves and find their confidence, nailing the details after experiencing decades of camp life. The film features a winning comedic ensemble cast and boundless creativity.
The film features Amy Sedaris, Jimmy Tatro, Ben Platt and Molly Gordon. Filming took place in June of 2022 in Warwick and at the Newburgh Unity Armory. HBG Casting handled background, and many regional crew members participated.
On location with Alison O’Daniel and Laurent Rejto
THE TUBA THIEVES also premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Directed by Alison O’Daniel, the film fictionalizes real events and lived experiences through a cinematic language that mirrors the experience of being hard of hearing: overlapping narratives, obscured visual framing, and captions that present a third narrative equal to image and sound.
The reenactment of the 1952 premiere of 4’33” was filmed where the premiere actually took place: Maverick Concerts: the oldest continuous summer chamber music festival in America. The Hudson Valley FIlm Commission helped with crew and cast recommendations.
"Hudson Valley film productions boast an impressive history at the Sundance Film Festival," notes Laurent Rejto, Executive Director and Founder of the Hudson Valley Film Commission. "This underscores the creativity inherent in independent films produced within the region and we strongly encourage film productions to leverage the distinctive creative aesthetic embedded in the cultural history of the Hudson Valley."