Netflix Brings Intriguing Slate to Sundance 2017!

Netflix is taking four narrative films, a documentary and two docuseries to Sundance 2017 – and they are an intriguing mix.

Burning Sands is a film about a fraternity pledge’s realization that Hell Week might be dangerous; Deidra & Laney Rob a Train finds teenage sisters having to come up with a way to make ends meet; I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore follows a depressed woman whose being burgled gives her a new purpose in life; and The Discovery is set in a world where the afterlife has be scientifically proven to exist.

The Mars Generation is a comprehensive look at the little known history of mankind’s efforts to reach Mars as seen through the eyes of the teens who aspire to be the first ever to set foot on the Red Planet.

Abstract: The Art of Design looks to demystify the art of design y seeing the world through designers’ eyes, and Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On looks at how the mainstreaming of pornography affects intimacy, connection, disconnection, self-promotion, race and gender politics.

Follow the jump for more.

NETFLIX ANNOUNCES SLATE OF ORIGINAL FILMS, DOCUMENTARIES AND SERIES AT THE 2017 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL

Premiering in Park City are features Burning Sands, The Discovery, I Don’t Feel at Home in this World Anymore, and Deidra & Laney Rob a Train; Selected Episodes of Docu-Series Abstract and Hot Girls Wanted; and the original doc feature The Mars Generation.

All titles will launch globally on Netflix in 2017.

Beverly Hills, CA (December 5, 2016) – Netflix unveiled its expanded slate of diverse originals making their world premiere at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, which will include four original features, one original documentary feature, and episodes of two hotly-anticipated doc series. With a roster of talent including Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville, Jason Segel, Rooney Mara, Robert Redford, Elijah Wood, Rashida Jones, Melanie Lynskey, Riley Keough, Jesse Plemons, and Alfre Woodard, the titles selected for Sundance Film Festival highlight the diversity and breadth of creativity found at Netflix.

“Sundance Film Festival has always been committed to giving voice to true originals, and their curation of titles for the 2017 festival is exceptionally strong and innovative,” said Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos. “It’s thrilling for Netflix to have the opportunity to premiere such a compelling array of original films, documentaries and series this year.”

Netflix Original Films

Burning Sands (Netflix launch: March 10, 2017)

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Deep into a fraternity’s Hell Week, a favored pledge is torn between honoring a code of silence or standing up against the intensifying violence of underground hazing.

The film stars Trevor Jackson, Alfre Woodard, Steve Harris, Tosin Cole, DeRon Horton, Trevante Rhodes, Christian Robinson, Rotimi, Octavius Johnson, Malik Bazille, Mitchell Edwards, Imani A. Hakim, Serayah, and Nafessa Williams. Directed by Gerard McMurray, Written by Christine Berg & Gerard McMurray and Produced by Stephanie Allain, Jason Michael Berman, Reginald Hudlin, and Mel Jones. Executive Produced by Caroline Connor.

Burning Sands will compete in the U.S. Dramatic Competition.

Deidra & Laney Rob a Train (Netflix launch: March 17, 2017)

Two teenage sisters start robbing trains to make ends meet after their single mother’s emotional meltdown in an electronics store lands her in jail.

Directed by Sydney Freeland and written by Shelby Farrell, the film stars Ashleigh Murray, Rachel Crow, Tim Blake Nelson, David Sullivan, Danielle Nicolet, Sasheer Zamata, Missi Pyle, Arturo Castro, and Sharon Lawrence. Susan Cartsonis and Nick Moceri serve as producers. Nicolaas Bertelsen serves as co-producer and Randy Kiyan serves as executive producers. The film will have its world premiere in NEXT at the festival.

I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore (Netflix launch: February 24, 2017)

When a depressed woman is burglarized, she finds a new sense of purpose by tracking down the thieves alongside her obnoxious neighbor. But they soon find themselves dangerously out of their depth against a pack of degenerate criminals.

Written and directed by Macon Blair, the film stars Melanie Lynskey, Elijah Wood, David Yow, Jane Levy, Devon Graye, Christine Woods, Robert Longstreet, Gary Anthony Williams, and Lee Eddy. The film was produced by Neil Kopp, Vincent Savino, and Anish Savjani for filmscience, and Mette-Marie Kongsved for XYZ Films. Nick Spicer executive produced for XYZ Films, along with Lee Eddy. Louise Lovegrove and Kyle LeMire served as co-producers.

I Don’t Feel At Home in this World Anymore will open the U.S. Dramatic Competition.

The Discovery (Spring, 2017)

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A love story set in a world where the afterlife has been scientifically proven, and as a result millions of people start taking their own lives to “get there.”

Directed by Charlie McDowell, The Discovery stars Jason Segel, Rooney Mara, Robert Redford, Jesse Plemons, Riley Keough and Ron Canada. The film was produced by Alex Orlovsky of A-LO Films and James D. Stern of Endgame Entertainment, and was co-financed by Endgame Entertainment and Protagonist Pictures. Charlie McDowell and Justin Lader are the screenwriters. Executive Producers are Julie Goldstein, Lucas Smith, Mike Goodridge, Dimitra Tsingou, Hunter Gray, Charlie McDowell and co-producer Erika Hampson.

Netflix Original Documentary Features

The Mars Generation (Netflix launch: Spring, 2017)

The Mars Generation, a Time Inc. production world premiering in the Sundance Kids section, is a comprehensive look at the little known history of mankind’s efforts to reach Mars as seen through the eyes of the teens who aspire to be the first ever to set foot on the Red Planet, as well as the leading experts currently pushing the boundaries of technology and innovation in space exploration. The film sheds light on just how close we are to a manned mission to Mars and the incredible impact that such a journey would have on both the scientific advancement and the collective pride of the people of Earth.

Directed by Michael Barnett, Produced by Austin Francalancia and Clare Tucker.

Netflix Original Documentary Series

Abstract: The Art of Design (Netflix launch: February 10, 2017 )

Abstract: The Art of Design demystifies the contemporary creative experience for a wide audience by bringing us inside the lives and minds of some of the greatest designers working today in a variety of disciplines. By seeing the world through these designers’ eyes, Abstract shows viewers in a fresh and inspiring way how design impacts every aspect of life and exposes them to a new perspective on design thinking.

Executive produced by Scott Dadich (Editor in Chief of WIRED ), Morgan Neville and for Radical Media Dave O’Connor, Jon Kamen, and Justin Wilkes.

Making its world premiere, Sundance will screen a episode of the series featuring the German illustrator Christoph Niemann (directed by Morgan Neville).

Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On (Netflix launch: Spring, 2017)

Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On tells personal stories about people whose lives are affected by the explosion of the Internet where pornography, dating apps and virtual relationships are all just a click away. The series explores the intersection of sex and technology telling stories of intimacy, connection, disconnection, self-promotion, race and gender politics. How is establishing sexual relationships through screens now rewiring us in fundamental ways?

Executive Producer by Rashida Jones, Jill Bauer and Ronna Gradus, and the series is an extension of the feature documentary Hot Girls Wanted, which premiered at Sundance in 2015.

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