A scene from '92 Skybox Alonzo Mourning Rookie Card
Digital media company Yahoo! is opening the doors to the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, giving fans of independent film free access to nine short films from this year’s event.
Film fans can go to sundance.yahoo.com, and, for the first time, they can vote for their favourite of those nine short films. Then on 28 January, at the festival’s awards ceremony, Yahoo! will present the winning filmmaker with the inaugural Yahoo! Audience Award and US$5,000.
From now until 27 January, Yahoo! Screen will host a selection of short films premiering at the Sundance Film Festival and chosen in close collaboration with the Festival and Yahoo! Movie editors. They will all be available on Yahoo! Screen for six additional weeks after the 28 January awards ceremony.
The short films now available to view on Yahoo! Screen include:
- ’92 Skybox Alonzo Mourning Rookie Card
Jim and Dave, two brothers who don’t like each other very much, are forced to come together when their dad dies in Kansas City. Dave is pretty sure he has an Alonzo Mourning Skybox Series rookie card, but Jim has other ideas. - Aquadettes
A meditation on life, death, and synchronised swimming. - The Arm
To keep up with social pressure in a technologically advanced world, Chance starts a texting relationship with Genevieve – a girl he meets at a yogurt shop. But tragedy forces Chance to realise that he was never in a relationship at all. - Debutante Hunters
In the low country of South Carolina, some true southern belles reveal their more rugged sides, providing a glimpse into what drives them to hunt in the wild. - Dol (First Birthday)
A gay Korean American man yearns for a family life that is just out of reach. - Henley
Meet nine-year-old Ted Henley, budding motel manager and roadkill entrepreneur. - Long Distance Information
Father always told us, “Never talk to strangers” … But surely we have to phone home sometimes? - Odysseus’ Gambit
During his lifetime, each man plays cosmic chess against the devil. - Una Hora por Favora
A woman hires a day labourer for an hour and gets more than she bargained for.
“Yahoo! is the home for major entertainment events online and this year, we’re bringing film buffs with us to one of the world’s most significant film festivals,” said Mickie Rosen, senior vice-president of Yahoo! Media Network.
“We look forward to providing film lovers a role in festival voting with our new Audience Award and keeping them connected with minute-by-minute reporting.
“Some of the best filmmakers started their careers developing short films and now our audience has the chance to pick what could be the next big name in the film industry,” Rosen added.
The 2012 Sundance Film Festival runs 19-29 January in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah.
