It is a year of anniversaries for the alternative film festivals held out and about in Park City and Salt Lake City.

The Slamdance Film Festival is celebrating its 15th, while the Tromadance Film Festival is marking its 10th anniversary.

Here are the details on how to see plenty of films and shorts -- without braving the crowds at Sundance Film Festival screenings:

TROMADANCE

Now in its 10th year, the festival was created by Lloyd Kaufman of Troma Films, a film company that produces low-budget films that sometimes become cult hits.

Started because the creators felt Sundance had become too commercial, the festival will begin Jan. 20 and runs through Jan. 23. Filmmakers submitting films were charged no entry fees, and audience members can watch the films for free.

Screenings on Jan. 20 begin at 6:30 p.m. at Brewvies, 677 S. 200 West, Salt Lake City. Screenings on Jan. 21 and Jan. 22 are at the Salt Lake Main Library, 210 E. 400 South, and begin at 6 p.m on Jan. 21 and 10 a.m. on Jan. 22. On Jan. 23, the festival will move to Park City, and screenings begin at 11 a.m. at the Sidecar Bar, 333 Main St.

This year, Kaufman will appear at Dolly's Bookstore, 510 S. Main St., on Jan. 21 at 3 p.m. to sign his new book, Direct Your Own Damn Movie .

For more information, visit www.tromadance.com.

SLAMDANCE

The premier alt-film festival runs Jan. 15-23, once again at the Treasure Mountain Inn, 255 Main St., Park City.

Slamdance has turned into a pedigreed festival in its own right over time, with directors Christopher Nolan ("The Dark Knight) and Marc Forster ("Quantum of Solace") debuting their first films at Slamdance.

The festival will screen some 100 films in all genres, with 20 features in the narrative and documentary feature categories in the main competition, spotlighting films without domestic theatrical distribution and budgets under $1 million from first-time feature directors.

New this year is an online venture with INDIEROAD.NET, which will stream Slamdance movies for $9 each throughout the festival. One-third of the ticket price goes directly to the filmmakers.

The opening-night film this year is "I Sell the Dead," written and directed by Glenn McQuaid. This black comedy/horror film stars Dominic Monaghan ("Lord of the Rings," "Lost") and Ron Perlman ("Hellboy") and is set in the late 1800s, about a duo of graverobbers who begin to unearth peculiar corpses. It screens Jan. 16 at 9 p.m.

Other actors in Slamdance films this year include Matthew Lillard, Michael Madsen, Leelee Sobieski, Jamie Kennedy, Denise Richards, Paz Vega, Ralph Macchio, Simon Baker, Michael Clarke Duncan, Mark Harmon, Jon Cryer and John Schneider.

Tickets can be purchased at the Treasure Mountain Inn or online at www.slamdance.com.

X-DANCE

For the second straight year, X-Dance will be held in Salt Lake City, a perfect fit for the festival's showcase: action-sports films. More than 30 action-sports films are slated for screenings Jan. 16-20 at the Off Broadway Theater, 272 S. Main St.

This year's highlights include a Shaun White film and professional surfer Laird Hamilton's "Water Man"; both athletes are expected to attend the festival.

Tickets are $7 per film ($5 for students), with a four-day pass $40 ($25 for students). Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Off-Broadway box office, www.theobt.com or 801-355-4628. More information at www.x-dance.com.

PARK CITY (UNDERGROUND) FILM MUSIC FESTIVAL

Running Jan. 15-19, the Park City Film Music Festival will hold screenings in the basement of the Park City Main Street Mall, 333 Main St., Park City. The event offers a film music competition for independent and studio-sponsored films, and presents performance showcases for composers with seminars for composers, musicians, songwriters and groups.

For more information, visit www.parkcityfilmmusicfestival.com.