This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Slamdance Film Festival, the rough-and-tumble upstart playing alongside the Sundance Film Festival, is prepping for its 20th edition next January — with a nod back to its roots.
Slamdance announced today that it will host the world premiere in Park City of a new documentary, "DIY (Do-It-Yourself)" to celebrated the festival's hardscrabble roots.
Directed by festival co-founder Peter Baxter (who's still Slamdance's president) and Slamdance TV veterans Ben Hethcoat and Eric Ekman, "DIY" features interviews with some big names in filmmaking. They include Slamdance alums Christopher Nolan ("The Dark Knight Rises"), Oren Peli ("Paranormal Activity"), Anthony and Joe Russo ("Captain America: The Winter Soldier"), Rian Johnson ("Looper"), David Greenspan ("Grey's Anatomy"), Marc Forster ("World War Z"), Penelope Spheeris ("Wayne's World"), Matt Johnson ("The Dirties") and Benh Zeitlin ("Beasts of the Southenr Wild").
"Alumni often tell us 'it all started at Slamdance,' Baxter said in a statement. "It's still surprising to hear this because we didn't think we'd last a year. But, since 1995, our community has focused on supporting emerging artists, many of whom are among the biggest filmmakers in the world today."
Baxter said the film will demonstrate "a Do-It-Yourself filmmaking spirit which, along with self-governance, has allowed the Slamdance community to grow and thrive."
Meanwhile, Slamdance also unveiled its 2014 logo. It's the work of noted artist David Flores, known for his Los Angeles street murals.
The Slamdance Film Festival runs Jan. 17 to 23 at the Treasure Mountain Inn in Park City.