The following article was issued by the University of North Carolina School of the Arts

WINSTON-SALEM - Nearly 30 alumni from the School of Filmmaking and the School of Drama at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) have ties to at least 14 independent films screening at Sundance Film Festival and the alternative Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

The Sundance Film Festival, founded in 1981 by actor/director/producer Robert Redford, takes place Jan. 22 to Feb. 1. UNCSA has ties to 12 films in six categories at Sundance.

Slamdance, Jan. 23 to 29, is billed as a showcase for raw and innovative filmmaking self-governed by filmmakers, for filmmakers. UNCSA has ties to two films at Slamdance, including the opening film of the festival.

Independent filmmaking is usually the gateway into the industry for our graduates, said Film Dean Susan Ruskin. Independent film festivals like Sundance and Slamdance are very important for getting their work seen. We are extremely proud of our presence at these festivals, year after year.

Ruskin, along with the North Carolina Film Office, will host a reception for alumni in Park City during the festivals.

Films with UNCSA connections chosen to screen at Sundance include A Walk In The Clouds, Last Days In The Desert, I'll See You In My Dreams, and Don Verdean in the out-of-competition Premieres category (a showcase of some of the most highly anticipated dramatic films of the coming year); Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Z for Zachariah, People,Places and Things, and Advantageous in the U.S. Dramatic Competition (a first look at groundbreaking new voices in American independent film); City of Gold in the U.S. Documentary Competition; It Follows in the Park City After Midnight category (for unruly films that defy any genre); 99 Homes in the Spotlight Category (a tribute to beloved cinema); and H in the Next Category (films that stretch limited resources to create impactful art and embody the spirit of independent filmmaking).

At Slamdance, Bloodsucking Bastards is the World Premiere Special chosen to open the festival, and Female Pervert will screen in the Beyond Program.

Alumni involvement with the films includes:

• 99 HOMES Tim Guinee (Drama 85) appears in the film, directed by former Film faculty member Ramin Bahrani.
• ADVANTAGEOUS Jennifer Ehle (Drama 88) appears.
• A WALK IN THE WOODS Reynolds Anderson (Film 05) is assistant to Director Ken Kwapis.
• BLOODSUCKING BASTARDS -- Directed by Brian OConnell (Film 98) with Scott Kyger (Film 07) as first assistant director and Tim Eulich (Film 03) as student coordinator.
• CITY OF GOLD Sound design by Zach Seivers (Film 06).
• DON VERDEAN -- Danny McBride (Film 99) appears.
• FEMALE PERVERT Produced by Melodie Sisk (Drama 04), with cinematography by Alex Sablow (Film 09).
• H -- Will Janowitz (Drama 00) appears.
• ILL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS Written, directed and produced by Brett Haley (Film 05); with Zach Seivers (Film 08) as sound designer/sound re-recording mixer; Rebecca Green (Film 01) producer; Rob Givens (Film 05) cinematographer; Jennifer Haire (Film 02) unit production manager; Mike Hartman (Film 01) attorney; Alex Bickel (Film 04) colorist; Jacob Shrum (Film 14) additional music; David Dean (Film 03) additional editor; Kevin Wheatley (Drama 02), cast; Stewart Carrico (Drama 02) location permits; and Brandon Zachary (Film 07) camera vendor representative.
• IT FOLLOWS Produced by Rebecca Green (Film 01).
• LAST DAYS IN THE DESERT Sound design by Zach Seivers (Film 06) and Justin Davey (Film 08).
• ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL Co-produced by Michael Sledd (Film 01).
• PEOPLE, PLACES, THINGS -- Summer Shelton (Film) executive producer, line producer and post-production supervisor.
• Z FOR ZACHARIAH Directed by Craig Zobel (Film 99); Tim Orr (Film 98) cinematographer; Jane Rizzo (Film 98) editor; and Will Files (Film 02) sound re-recording mixer.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts is Americas first state-supported arts school, a unique stand-alone public university of arts conservatories. With a high school component, UNCSA is a degree-granting institution that trains young people of talent in music, dance, drama, filmmaking, and design and production. Established by the N.C. General Assembly in 1963, the School of the Arts opened in Winston-Salem (The City of Arts and Innovation) in 1965 and became part of the University of North Carolina system when it was formed in 1972. For more information, visit www.uncsa.edu.

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