Director of Programming James McNally is attending this year’s Sundance Film Festival from January 22nd to February 3rd.
Festival Day 7
Slept in today, as might be expected, and didn’t get into the office until just before noon. Nothing really happening, but today was “Puppy Day” so Bobby and I piled into a car with Artist Relations Manager Tony, along with jury liaison Alyssa and her volunteer Megan (who works year-round in the advancement department at TIFF!) and we drove over to somewhere near the Library Theatre. A rescue organization had brought three adorable pups for festival staff and volunteers to cuddle. There was a lot of oohing and ahhing and passing the puppies around. Two of them seemed to just want to sleep but one was lively, and they all were remarkably tolerant of all the handling and attention. It was a great bit of therapy for all of our tired souls.
Other than that, things were pretty dead, so I left at 4:00pm for a bite at Burger King (used one more of my “grub stubs”) and then got a volunteer ticket to see State of the Union at the Park Avenue cinema. It’s a unique ten-part series (each episode is ten minutes long) that will eventually air on the Sundance Channel. Directed by Stephen Frears and written by Nick Hornby, it’s a smart and funny look at a couple meeting up each week ahead of their marriage counselling sessions. Chris O’Dowd is schlubby but likeable, while Rosamund Pike is the bored one who has a brief affair after her husband stops having sex with her. It’s quirky and poignant and for someone like me, it often hits pretty close to home. Sadly, there was no Q&A since none of the talent were here.
I was considering going to the Volunteer Appreciation party down on Main Street, but opted instead to come back to the condo and just relax. I need more rest and “alone time” to prepare me for a few days of film-watching. Plus we have the final Awards Ceremony on Saturday, so now is the best time to catch up on my sleep.