Collider’s Studio Returns to Sundance for the Final Utah Edition
From January 22 to February 1, 2026, filmmakers, actors, and TV creators converged on Salt Lake City for what will be Sundance Film Festival’s last run in Utah before the festival relocates to Boulder, Colorado in 2027. Collider once again brought its on-site Media Studio to the festival’s Cinema Center — Roxstar Entertainment’s hospitality hub — conducting dozens of interviews and conversations with talent promoting their latest projects.
The Collider Studio served as a nexus for festival coverage: intimate interviews, early reactions, and promotional stops by both established names and emerging voices. The lineup reflected Sundance’s wide range this year, from genre horror and provocative comedies to prestige dramas and high-profile TV debuts.
Partners, Perks, and the Atmosphere at the Cinema Center
Collider’s Studio returned thanks to a slate of partners and sponsors who helped make the space possible. Presenting sponsor Arby’s provided on-site hospitality, including tastes of their limited-time Italian Beef Dip, while Hendrick’s Gin, Sommsation — The Wine Company, Peroni USA, Neau Water, Bernier, and producing partner Twenty35 Agency supported the studio’s operations. The combination of interviews, screenings, and networking made the Arby’s Cinema Center a central stop for talent moving through the festival.
Below are the festival projects and the talent who visited Collider’s Sundance Studio, with concise context about each film or series and the reception they received.
The Shitheads — Macon Blair’s Dark Comedy Road Trip
Macon Blair wrote, produced, and directed The Shitheads, a darkly comic road movie that became one of Sundance’s buzziest titles. The ensemble includes Dave Franco, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Mason Thames, Kiernan Shipka, Nicholas Braun, and Peter Dinklage. The story follows two men at rock bottom who are tasked with taking a troubled rich kid to rehab. Early notices were positive; Collider praised the cast’s performances and Blair’s handling of the material.
Saccharine — Australian Horror With a Disturbing Premise
Directed by Natalie Erika James, Saccharine stars Midori Francis as Hana, a lovelorn medical student who turns to a sinister weight-loss method involving consuming a dead person’s ashes and then becomes haunted by that person’s ghost. Madeleine Madden and Danielle Macdonald also appear. Reviews ranged from mixed to positive, with Collider noting the film’s striking premise and Francis’ committed lead performance.
If I Go Will They Miss Me — A Coming-of-Age Blend of Realism and Surrealism
Walter Thompson-Hernandez expanded his 2022 short into the feature If I Go Will They Miss Me, which follows Lil Ant as he struggles to reconnect with his estranged father while contending with visions of young boys drifting through his neighborhood. The film stars J. Alphonse Nicholson, Danielle Brooks, and newcomer Bodhi Dell. Collider’s review praised the three leads and commended Thompson-Hernandez’s balance of grounded drama with elements of fantasy.
Frank & Louis — Petra Volpe’s English-Language Debut
Swiss filmmaker Petra Volpe, known for The Divine Order, made her English-language feature debut with Frank & Louis. The drama stars Kingsley Ben-Adir, Rob Morgan, Indira Varma, and Rosalind Eleazar. The story centers on Frank, a prisoner who finds purpose and redemption by addressing fellow inmates’ health issues. Critical response was favorable, with Variety describing the film as a “stoically moving story of prison care.”
Chasing Summer — Iliza Shlesinger’s Texas Dramedy
Chasing Summer marks a collaboration between director Josephine Decker and writer/star Iliza Shlesinger. Shlesinger plays Jamie, an overachiever who returns to her hometown after a breakup and job loss, reconnecting with people who upend her life. The cast includes Tom Welling, Lola Tung, Garrett Wareing, Cassidy Freeman, and Megan Mullally. Reactions were polarized: some outlets praised its heartfelt tone, while others found it uneven, making the film one of Sundance’s more divisive entries.
Bait — Riz Ahmed’s Amazon Prime Series Debut
Riz Ahmed brought his new Amazon Prime Video series Bait to Sundance. Ahmed wrote all six episodes and stars as Shah Latif, an actor in London facing an existential crisis just as he’s on the verge of landing a dream role. Comedian-actor Guz Khan co-stars. Collider covered the show’s presence at the festival, and the series is scheduled to debut all six episodes on Amazon Prime Video on March 26.
I Want Your Sex — Gregg Araki’s Provocative Return
Gregg Araki’s I Want Your Sex was among the most talked-about titles, an erotic comedy-thriller that pairs Cooper Hoffman and Olivia Wilde. Hoffman plays Elliot, who becomes assistant to the provocative artist Erika Tracy (Wilde), who expects him to become her sexual muse. The cast also includes Mason Gooding, Daveed Diggs, Charli XCX, and Margaret Cho. Early reviews were positive in several outlets; Collider described the film as the kind of provocative, sexually frank story that resonates with younger audiences.
Leviticus — A Haunting Take on Teenage Desire
Leviticus is the feature debut of writer-director Adrian Chiarella. The Australian-set horror follows teenage boys Naim (Joe Bird) and Ryan (Stacy Clausen) as they grapple with attraction in an isolated town — a journey that takes a darker turn when they become haunted by an entity assuming the form of whoever they desire most. Mia Wasikowska co-stars, marking her first film appearance since 2023. The film’s premise invited comparisons to other recent genre hits and generated considerable attention at the festival.
The Audacity — Tech Scandal Meets Vanity and Data Ethics
Jonathan Glatzer’s eight-episode drama The Audacity centers on a self-styled tech visionary and his “performance psychologist” as they become embroiled in a scandal concerning the exploitation of personal data. The series stars Billy Magnussen, with Sarah Goldberg and Simon Helberg among the supporting cast. The series is scheduled to premiere on AMC on April 12.
The Weight — Ethan Hawke in a Depression-Era Smuggling Drama
Ethan Hawke, fresh off an Oscar nomination for Blue Moon, was at Sundance to support The Weight, directed by Padraic McKinley. Set in 1930s Oregon, the historical drama follows Samuel Murphy (Hawke), newly incarcerated, who is offered a dangerous path to freedom by Warden Clancy (Russell Crowe): participation in a risky gold-smuggling operation. Julia Jones and Austin Amelio also appear in the cast.
What These Visits Reveal About Sundance 2026
Collider’s studio lineup highlighted several durable festival trends:
- A strong mix of genres: horror, dark comedy, prestige drama, and edgy indie fare all found space on the schedule.
- High-profile TV premieres alongside feature films, signaling Sundance’s growing role as a launchpad for both formats.
- A balance of established creatives and emerging directors using the festival to introduce bold, personal projects.
Collider’s on-site interviews helped amplify the conversation around these projects, offering festival audiences a closer look at the people behind the work.
Where to Find More Coverage and Photos
Collider documented the studio’s interviews and photo moments throughout the festival. For galleries, in-depth reviews, and full interviews from Sundance 2026, check Collider’s festival coverage and individual film and series write-ups for expanded commentary and critical reaction.