Kicking off with a bang, this year's Sundance Film Festival premieres the NC-17-slapped "American Psycho" for jaded Park City audiences and then sets about its usual tasks of piling swag on young filmmakers and creating buzz for films that major studios will snap up and then watch falter at the box office. Well, there are exceptions.

The Robert Redford-launched festival for independent films has snowballed into a genuine cultural phenomenon, adding special areas for documentary and gen-y filmmakers this year, attracting hordes of rock stars, and spawning the offshoot fest Slamdance.

This year, the fest will show a record number of films by women among its nearly 200 films. If you can't be there to fight your way into screenings and see and be seen by the next Parker Posey, you can check out video updates, schedules and recaps on the Web. But if you're looking for topflight Sundance dish, you'll need to read the on-the-scene reports filed by Newcity film critic Ray Pride, which will appear on this site throughout the festival.

For the latest news on Sundance, click here.

Frank Sennett

Newcity.com affiliates reel off Sundance commentary:

SON OF A WITCH
Blair Witch's digital ghost haunts Sundance 2000

DIRTY DANCING
He went to Sundance and promoted "Get Right With God," his new movie that doesn't really exist

INDIE JONES
Another Sundance festival rolls around, with all its compromises, contradictions--oh, and movies

DANCE FEVER
Sundance 2000: The year of "dot-comming," short films, female athletes and the feverish race for the next big thing

AFTER THE DANCE
Two post-fest screening series show intelligent, publicity-shy films

THE SUNDANCE CURSE
Sometimes not winning at Redford's little get-together is the best thing for a film

WITCH HUNT
Recapping the movies that made an impression at Sundance 2000

FIGHTERS, FONDLERS, FREAKS & GEEKS
Sundance 2000 brings out the fringe

DOC DRAMA
This year's fest unspools fine nonfiction films

D.V. OR NOT D.V.?
Sundance raises the digital-filmmaking question

INDEPENDENTS' DAY
There's still life in movies outside the big studios--and Park City

SUNDANCE DIARY
A stressed-out critic reports back from Park City--home of Mormons, jackasses and one cranking film festival

SUNDANCE FEVER
Get your black leather out--it's time to be scene

LET IT SNOW
Another cinematic avalanche rolls at Sundance 2000

FILLING THE DANCE CARD
Advance takes on some of Sundance's most-anticipated features

SLAMMIN'
The granddaddy of Sundance spin-offs, Slamdance focuses on nuts and bolts

WEBDANCE
Bored with too-hip film festivals? Create your own using the Internet.

RAMBLE ON, JACK
One of folk music's greatest heroes is the subject of a Sundance film

BEING JOHN TRAVOLTA
One woman dodges through film fests galore to acquire the holy grail of autographs