Omaha, Sorry, Baby, Ricky… From gripping dramas to bold debuts, these standout films from Sundance showcase the festival’s diverse and daring storytelling.
The 41st Sundance Film Festival premiered 88 feature films and six episodic projects, including Cooper Raiff’s independent series Hal & Harper. When it came down to the awards ceremony, the major festival winners included Twinless, which won the U.S. Dramatic Competition, and André is an Idiot, which took home the U.S. Documentary Competition. Here is an array of selected films I was delighted to discover at this year’s Sundance.
Didn’t Die
Director Meera Menon’s zombie apocalypse film Didn’t Die was selected for the Midnight program. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, Vinita (Kiran Deol) hosts the podcast Didn’t Die. Our story follows Vinita trying to keep her audience invested and entertained as her audience shrinks. In a world that can be scary, Vinita tries to find hope and humor in it all. Menon’s film presents creative ideas, though some do not exactly stick the landing. Menon and Paul Gleason co-wrote the script but forgot to make the film scary. Hugely inspired by George Romero’s classic horror Night of the Living Dead (1968), the film is told through a modern lens and set in a black-and-white, lifeless world. Zombies are called biters. The dark palette gives an eerie look as the characters try to find some kind of light at the end of the tunnel. All the characters are likable, and the supporting cast includes George Basil, Katie McCuen, Ali Lopez-Sohaili, and Samrat Chakrabarti. Menon’s film presents itself as a family drama. Didn’t Die is more of a character-driven story than a plot-driven one.
Omaha
My favorite film of the festival, which did not disappoint, was Cole Webley’s Omaha, which made a memorable directorial feature film debut. Webley’s film was part of the U.S. Dramatic Competition and will surely rip your heart out. Set in 2008, John Magaro stars as a single dad who takes his children, Ella (Molly Bellewright) and Charlie (Wyatt Solis), along with their golden retriever, Rex, on an adventurous cross-country road trip after a devastating event in their broken-down car. The family left behind a home that faced foreclosure as the children’s dad says the destination is set to be Nebraska, but no other information is given. Magaro delivers his best performance, both emotionally raw and real. His connection and chemistry with Solis and Bellewright are incredibly believable. The film explores grief and fatherhood in an unpredictable, deeply layered way, yet Webley can sprinkle in some kind of hope. Cinematographer Paul Myers captures the film beautifully on the characters’ journey, whether it may be intimate moments or childhood innocence. It’s a heartbreaking watch from writer Robert Machoian, who previously directed The Integrity of Joseph Chambers.
Sorry, Baby
Sorry, Baby, directed by Eva Victor, marks their directorial feature film debut with their dark comedy. Victor’s film is told in non-linear order in chapters. Set in a small New England town, Agnes (Victor) experiences sexual assault and follows her life after a traumatizing event. The film also stars Naomi Ackie, Lucas Hedges, John Carroll Lynch, Louis Cancelmi, and Kelly McCormack, and one of the film’s producers is Barry Jenkins. Victor’s performance is incredibly grounded. The film was part of the U.S. Dramatic Competition as Victor’s film explores trauma in a way that comes off as an honest look at victims and learning to heal. The script is sharply funny and very mature when dealing with difficult subject matter. Look out for Victor’s bold breakthrough film. A24 has acquired the rights to distribute the film.
Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake)
Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake) was Sierra Falconer’s master’s thesis film for UCLA. It is an anthology that follows four stories bound together and set in the small town of Green Lake, Michigan. The first story follows Lu (Maren Heary), who spends a few weeks at her grandparent’s house, where she learns to sail on her grandfather’s boat, Sunfish. The second story follows Jun (Jim Kaplan), who spent his summer at an intense and gifted student’s music camp. The third story follows a single mother, Annie (Karsen Liotta), who helps a fisherman, Chip (Wayne Duvall), catch a fish while on the run from the law. The final and my favorite story follows two sisters, Blue (Tenley Kellogg) and Robin (Emily Hall), as they run a bed-and-breakfast while making the best of the few days of summer before Robin leaves for culinary school. The film premiered in the U.S. Dramatic Competition and marks Falconer’s directorial feature film debut. Anthology stories can be risky to tell, and I don’t always seek anthology stories. However, Falconer’s film is a slice-of-life narrative focus feature and was a comforting watch. Falconer makes this a personal watch as the film was shot on location and inspired by her childhood summers at Green Lake. The cinematography is gorgeous, and the film does a stellar job of capturing the beauty of Green Lake. The film is a love letter to the town and a lighthearted coming-of-age story. Each story is simple, with a strong focus on nature, and none overstay their welcome, even if some feel underdeveloped. Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake) is a cute little indie gem that will surely find the hearts of some audiences.
Ricky
Based on Rashad Frett’s short film of the same name, Ricky was selected for the U.S. Dramatic Competition. Stephan James stars as 30-year-old Ricky, who is released from prison. While newly released, he learns to navigate the world and face obstacles while trying to gain independence. Our character’s journey shows he gets a second chance at life, as it’s told through the eyes of life post-incarceration. James’ performance is the heart of the film, and he delivers an outstanding performance. He learns to survive while struggling to leave the past behind. He tries to find employment, becomes a barber, learns to drive, and uses a smartphone. The film also features a powerful performance by Sheryl Lee Ralph, who stars as Joanne, Ricky’s parole officer. It’s a slow-moving film with many subplots, which Frett and his co-writer, Lin Que Ayoung, squeeze in. The story picks up after the first hour, even if the film’s messaging isn’t strongly delivered.
Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore
Marlee Matlin is an unbelievable performer who opens up and gets personal with audiences in Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, directed by Shoshannah Stern. Stern, a deaf woman, pursued a career in acting after seeing Matlin win her Oscar in 1987 for her performance in Children of a Lesser God. Matlin was the first deaf actress to win an Oscar. The moving film was part of the U.S. Documentary Competition, marking her directorial debut. The film covers sensitive topics, including how she was in an abusive relationship with her co-star William Hurt, her drug addiction, and the uneasy challenges she faced that never set her up for greatness. Stern also explores her work and activism, and it is fascinating to see her achievements. The film includes interviews with Randa Haines, the director of Children of a Lesser God, Sian Heder, the director of CODA, and her co-star Troy Kotsur, who won his Oscar in 2022. Aaron Sorkin is featured in the documentary discussing her work in The West Wing as Joey Lucas. Jack Jason, Marlee’s longtime interpreter and friend, also has a sweet friendship with Henry Winkler, which is one of the film’s highlights. The film is an intimate look and celebration for Matlin, and Stern shows how much of a trailblazer she is.
By Design
Director and writer Amanda Kramer packs a stellar cast as she tells the non-traditional body swap story. Kramer’s story is rather simple and intrigued me as it tells the story of Camille (Juliette Lewis), who switches bodies with a basic wooden chair after seeing an item while shopping at a furniture store. The film was selected for the Next selection and includes an incredible supporting cast featuring Cricket Arrison, Mamoudou Athie, Betty Buckley, Clifton Collins Jr., Keir Gilchrist, Melanie Griffith, and Udo Kier. All the performances in the film are unlikable and difficult to watch. It’s a shame that this film is too absurd and silly to take seriously. The film is bizarre, has unrealistic dialogue, and has some inspiration from David Lynch while incorporating feminist themes. Kramer explores what it means to be someone’s favorite thing. Was this my favorite Sundance watch? No.
Predators
Chris Hansen is known for being the host of the NBC series To Catch a Predator (2004–2007), which caught child predators in sting operations, leading to arrests before the series was eventually canceled. Selected as part of the U.S. Documentary Competition, director David Osit explores the controversies and ethics of the series as the film is told in three chapters. Osit is a survivor of sexual assault when he was a child, and I commend his bravery in telling something personal and exploring why predators commit these crimes. Osit compiles fascinating interviews with former members of the show’s team, including decoys Dani Jayden, Casey Mauro, and Dan Schrank. He also interviews copycats now on YouTube, one of them being Skeet Hansen. The film unfolds with unexpected twists I didn’t see coming. Osit engrosses with very few scenes and interviews, though audiences might be frustrated that it doesn’t provide exact answers as to why predators commit these crimes. Instead, it’s a study of people, and Osit crafts a chilling and complex film. It might be the greatest true crime documentary in recent years and will surely leave audiences unsettled.
The Film Fest Report team was an accredited media at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
