Sundance 2026: Day Five Brings Powerful Premieres and a Meaningful Farewell for New Mexico Entertainment

"The Weight" Press Line - Austin Amelio, Padraic McKinley, Ethan Hawke, Julia Jones, Sam Hazeldine and George Burgess attend the premiere of The Weight by Padraic McKinley, an official selection of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. © 2026 Sundance Institute | photo by Jason Peters.

Monday unfolded as one of the most emotionally resonant days of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, delivering a lineup that balanced intimate storytelling with broader reflections on community, history, and humanity. As Park City buzzed with anticipation for another full slate of premieres, the energy felt both celebratory and contemplative — a fitting tone for a day defined by meaningful cinema and, for New Mexico Entertainment, our final day covering the Festival in person.

Narrative and documentary standouts dominated conversations throughout the day, beginning with Run Amok, which arrived with raw momentum and an impressive ensemble that included Patrick Wilson, Margaret Cho, and Molly Ringwald. The premiere and subsequent Q&A highlighted the film’s propulsive energy, while Ringwald and Cho reflected thoughtfully on generational shifts and what they learned from their younger castmates. That sense of exchange — between generations, perspectives, and lived experiences — echoed throughout Monday’s screenings.

Laughter and warmth filled theaters for Chasing Summer, Josephine Decker’s latest comedy starring Iliza Shlesinger alongside Tom Welling, Cassidy Freeman, Aimee Garcia, and Garrett Wareing. With much of the cast in attendance, the film played to a packed house and delivered consistent laughs, offering audiences a buoyant counterpoint to the day’s heavier themes while still grounding its humor in emotional honesty.

Sports, activism, and legacy took center stage with Give Me the Ball!, a documentary centered on tennis icon and trailblazer Billie Jean King, who attended the premiere and turned the Q&A into a moment of pure Sundance joy. King’s wit had festivalgoers laughing throughout the discussion, and she delighted the Eccles Theatre crowd when she began launching tennis balls into the audience — a playful reminder of her enduring charisma and connection to fans. Reflecting on the film’s intimate visual approach, King quipped, “It’s so tight, you wanted intimate, this is intimate!”

The emotional weight of the day deepened with The Weight, Padraic McKinley’s Depression-era crime drama starring Ethan Hawke and Julia Jones. Met with thunderous applause, the film’s themes of survival, morality, and resilience resonated strongly with audiences. During the Q&A, Hawke spoke candidly about the influence of Robert Redford and Sundance itself on independent filmmaking, noting, “It was a sincere desire to listen with no agenda…and it’s like he built this lightning rod and so many people cared.” His words served as a poignant reminder of the Festival’s lasting impact — especially meaningful as Sundance approaches the end of its Park City era.

Late-night audiences were also treated to genre-driven storytelling with Rock Springs, Vera Miao’s horror-drama that debuted at midnight with Benedict Wong, Kelly Marie Tran, and Jimmy O. Yang in attendance. Inspired by the 1885 Rock Springs Massacre, the film explored generational trauma, immigration, and racism, grounding its supernatural elements in historical reality.

Music lovers experienced a standout moment with Broken English, where a live tribute to singer-songwriter Marianne featured moving performances by Norah Jones and Rufus Wainwright. Their renditions of “The Ballad of the Soldier’s Wife” and “The Ballad of Lucy Jordan” transformed the screening into a deeply affecting celebration of artistry and legacy.

Beyond the screen, Monday’s festival experience extended into conversations and events that underscored Sundance’s role as a hub for ideas. The Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize Reception honored films exploring science and technology, while The Big Conversation: From Fire to Flight — Humans, Technology and Time drew a packed audience eager to engage with questions about innovation, humanity, and the future. Together, these moments reinforced that Sundance is as much about dialogue as it is about discovery.

Documentary premieres continued to elevate underrepresented stories and voices, including Who Killed Alex Odeh?, with directors Jason Osder and William Lafi Youmans joined by Odeh’s widow, Norma, and daughter, Helena. The screening served as both a remembrance and a call to justice, honoring decades of advocacy within the American-Arab community. Similarly, Aanikoobijigan [ancestor/great-grandparent/great-grandchild] offered a deeply respectful exploration of Indigenous repatriation, with directors Adam Khalil and Zack Khalil sharing the years-long journey it took to tell the story with care and intention.

As the sun set on Day Five, it also marked New Mexico Entertainment’s final day covering the 2026 Sundance Film Festival on the ground. From red carpets and Q&As to late-night premieres and powerful conversations, this year’s Festival once again affirmed why Sundance remains a vital space for bold, independent storytelling — and why New Mexico continues to play an essential role in the future of film.

While our time in Park City comes to a close, the Festival continues through February 1, with many titles available online nationwide beginning January 29. Audiences can still be part of the experience by visiting festival.sundance.org, where tickets, screening schedules, and program details are available.

As Sundance looks ahead to its final days in Utah and prepares for its next chapter, we leave inspired by the stories shared, the voices uplifted, and the enduring power of cinema to connect us all.