This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
With some 45,000 people expected to converge at Park City during the 10-day Sundance Film Festival, it's going to be a little trying to take in a movie and soak up the festival vibe.
But there are a few ways to experience the festival atmosphere at home through some of Sundance's digital initiatives designed to support the event, which begins today.
YouTube • This year, the festival is partnering with the popular Internet video-streaming website, YouTube, to present a video channel that hosts filmmaker interviews and premiere some of the festival's short films. The site is at http://www.youtube.com/user/sff.
For the eighth year, the "Meet the Artist" video interviews with filmmakers is at the site and gives personal insight into why many of the feature films at the festival were made.
Fifteen of the short films that will show at the festival's Shorts Program are available for free streaming on the YouTube Channel.
The site will be live streaming the Sundance Film Festival Shorts Awards ceremony Tuesday at 9 p.m. where a special audience award will be given out to the short with the most views on the site. YouTube also will live stream the Sundance Film Festival Awards Ceremony, which will be hosted by Nick Offerman ("Parks and Recreation") and Megan Mullally ("Will & Grace"), Jan. 25 at 6 p.m.
Finally, "Live@Sundance" is a one-hour news program that will stream on the YouTube channel every morning during the festival at 11 a.m. and highlight festival premieres, events and hold artist interviews. The show begins today and runs through Jan. 24.
Social media • For the seventh year, Sundance will host a series of celebrity Tweeters who each will tweet during a day at the festival. This year's lineup includes Rose McGowan, Jenny Slate, Katie Couric, Geore Takei and Offerman.
You can also follow the festival through these social networks:
Twitter • @sundancefest, @sundancefestnow; Facebook: @Sundance Film Festival; Pinterest: @Sundance Film Festival
Instagram • @SundanceInstitute; Tumblr: SundanceArchives
Google + • Sundance Institute/Film Festival
Sundance USA • Later this month, the Sundance Institute is again taking the festival on the road. Nine cities across the country will host screening of festival films, including Maya Forbes' "Infinitely Polar Bear," Joe Berlinger's documentary "WHITEY: United States of America v. James J. Bulger, and Jake Paltrow's, "Young Ones."
The screenings will be held at Ann Arbor, Mich; Boston; Chicago; Houston; Nashville; Orlando, Fla.; San Francisco; Seattle; and Tucson, Ariz.
Mobile app • The festival has a mobile app for iPhones and Android phones that will help you navigate through the festival should you choose to go up there.
It has the film schedule and a guide with the ability to choose and save your favorite films, Twitter integration to share your favorite movies with your followers, the ability to connect directly to Sundance's Twitter and Facebook feeds, blog re-caps of festival news, and a direct feed to the "Live@Sundance" show on YouTube. It also has information on venues, parking, and shuttle schedules.
The app is free.
Twitter: @ohmytech