The Sundance Film Festival has an apparent record line-up of women directors competing for its top honour next month.
Half the entries - eight of the 16 films - in the festival's US dramatic competition were directed by women. The next instalment of Robert Redford's independent-cinema showcase runs from January 17 to 27 in Utah.
Going back to 1992, the best showing previously for women filmmakers was in 2000, when six of the 16 US dramatic contenders were directed by women.
Among the films from women filmmakers include: Francesca Gregorini's Emanuel and the Truth About Fishes, whose cast includes Jessica Biel and Frances O'Connor in the story of a troubled girl fixated on a mysterious neighbour, and Liz W Garcia's The Lifeguard, with Kristen Bell as a reporter who moves home to Connecticut and takes a job as a lifeguard.
The festival's line-up also features the first Sundance entry for the Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe, who stars as Allen Ginsberg in the director John Krokidas's Kill Your Darlings.
Male directors still dominate the big screen, but the low-budget indie world has been narrowing the gender gap. Sundance's director John Cooper said it's a sign that more and more women are breaking into filmmaking.
"I think that's absolutely it," Cooper said. "Also, what we've found is that through our short-film programmes, they've been coming close to 50-50 in certain years ... So it's more of a coming-up-through-the-ranks situation," said Cooper about female directors who graduate from short films to feature-length stories.
Opening the festival is the director Cherien Dabis's drama contender May in the Summer, in which she stars as a woman who is in conflict with her family after she returns home to Jordan as her wedding nears.
Other films in the US dramatic line-up include the Napoleon Dynamite writer Jerusha Hess's directing debut, Austenland, which stars Keri Russell and Jennifer Coolidge in a romance about a Pride and Prejudice-obsessed woman searching for love at a Jane Austen theme resort; In a World, the directing debut of the actress Lake Bell, who stars in the story of a woman trying to follow in her father's footsteps to become a voice-over star; and David Lowery's Ain't Them Bodies Saints, featuring Rooney Mara and Casey Affleck in a drama about an escaped prisoner reuniting with his family.
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
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Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Los Angeles, from Dh4,975 return, including taxes. The flight time is 16 hours. Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Aeromexico and Southwest all fly direct from Los Angeles to San Jose del Cabo from Dh1,243 return, including taxes. The flight time is two-and-a-half hours.
The trip
Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic’s eight-day Whales Wilderness itinerary costs from US$6,190 (Dh22,736) per person, twin share, including meals, accommodation and excursions, with departures in March and April 2018.
The Light of the Moon
Director: Jessica M Thompson
Starring: Stephanie Beatriz, Michael Stahl-David
Three stars
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 5 (Lenglet 2', Vidal 29', Messi 34', 75', Suarez 77')
Valladolid 1 (Kiko 15')
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200