At 7,000 feet of elevation, and a top space on any filmmaker’s bucket list, Sundance is already an elevated festival. Revered, renowned, and revolutionary, Sundance is ground zero (but at thousands of feet above sea level) for independent films and those that love them.
At the center of this wintery creative mecca, which is already a gift in and of itself, there is a unique way to elevate your already elevated experience: Zooz Cinema Center by MARBL at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.
As a Festival first timer, there are a few things I knew would come with the territory: figuring out the geography, setting up a meaningful schedule, and maneuvering around the terrain. But I didn’t expect that my own footwear would be lacking (I live in a mountain town after all). But a common mistake of first timer Sundance trekkers is opting for fashion over function, at least when it comes to your feet. And as I slid down the slosh on Main Street, I wondered how I might get through the next few days.
But Park City is a place where you can emote your questions and place your needs into the thin mountain air with the hope that a solution or a serendipitous answer appears somewhere along Main Street.
And this case, one did.
From the moment one entered the “Hospitality Hub,” warmth seeped in from all sides, and not just as a respite from the cold. The generosity of spirit. The smiles of guests. The delight at the opportunities. The joy of being in community. The sequins. The shine. The tiny bubbles in bottles of Saratoga water. All moments of warmth and delight.
The Zooz Cinema Center, stationed on the entry into Main Street, provided every ingredient for a special Sundance experience. Need some water to cure your altitude sickness? Saratoga Spring Water will keep you hydrated. Interested in some boots that are both warm and good looking? Mou Footwear has you, and your feet, covered and comfortable in a soft, luscious feel. A beanie to keep your head warm? Fisker’s your new best friend. Looking for an apres-ski happy hour? Stella Artois was ready to help. A jacket for the unexpected cold? Yup, that too! And last but not least, you might need a way to celebrate. And the Zooz Lounge was prepared with the Sommsation wine station.
Among those that took part in this warmth were Jonathan Majors, participating in the Collider Interview studio to share more about his role in “Magazine Dreams” followed by Emilia Clarke and Director Sophie Barthes to chat about “The Pod Generation.” Emilia Jones, a solidified Sundance darling as the star of CODA, returned to Sundance with “Cat Person” and left with two new pairs of mous. Amy Ray strolled by, solidified epic with her music and her denim jacket, to take part.
Mixed together like a Hendrick’s Gin cocktail were the compliments, the art of posing in a new piece of fashion, the conversations around new Sundance offerings, and among it all, the feeling that you were a different person from when you came in, both to Sundance and the suite. And how you feel can change everything including, and perhaps especially, your Sundance experience.
As a first timer to Sundance, you’re constantly moving and figuring out your approach. In some ways, your experience feels just out of your reach, like some weird migraine or having the wrong pair of glasses. But with one visit, a brief pampering, it all came into focus: I was honored to be a part of it all.
And I imagine other visitors felt the same.
Featured Image: Emilia Jones stayed cozy and chic in luxury boots from mou at the Zooz Cinema Center. P/C : Photagonist.ca
Additional Images: Eugenio Derbez tries on a jacket at the Zooz Cinema Center Lounge. P/C : Photagonist.ca
The author with her newfound sense of fashion and warmth, ready to take on the rest of Sundance.
