Sundance Film Festival Struggles to Balance Politics and Pleasure This Year's Event Grappled with the Dark Reality of ICE Amidst Glamour and Giggles.
The Sundance Film Festival is known for its glamour and glitz, but this year's event was marked by a stark contrast – the harsh realities of ICE. The news of Alex Pretti's fatal shooting by ICE agents sent shockwaves through the festival, with director Ava DuVernay calling out the brutal violence in front of an audience.
As people stepped out of dark movie theaters and onto snowy sidewalks, they were bombarded with videos of Pretti's killing on their cellphones. The sense of cognitive dissonance was palpable, with many attendees struggling to reconcile the festive atmosphere with the ugliness of ICE's actions.
"It's hard to be somewhere like this, wear nice outfits and talk about film, when something so ugly is happening right next to us," actress Jenna Ortega said. Actor Edward Norton echoed her sentiments, saying that an "illegal army" was being mounted against U.S. citizens – a stark contrast to the films playing on screen.
The entertainment industry's response to ICE has been muted this year, with some stars feeling that their prior activism made little impact. However, not everyone was silent. Stars such as Natalie Portman and Olivia Wilde wore "ICE OUT" pins, symbolizing solidarity against the organization.
"We can't go another day just sort of accepting this as our new norm," Wilde said. "It's outrageous. People are being murdered. And I don't want to normalize seeing people being murdered on the internet... It's hideous."
The festival also saw a number of panels and events focused on politics and activism, including one hosted by the American Civil Liberties Union. Filmmaker Kogonada acknowledged the importance of using cinema as an empathizing machine, deepening our sense of humanity in dark times.
As the festival came to a close, attendees showed their support for ICE reform with small crowds and rallies. The scenes were a stark contrast to the glamour and glitz that typically define Sundance – but a necessary reminder that even in the most glamorous of settings, there is always a need for empathy and activism.
The Sundance Film Festival is known for its glamour and glitz, but this year's event was marked by a stark contrast – the harsh realities of ICE. The news of Alex Pretti's fatal shooting by ICE agents sent shockwaves through the festival, with director Ava DuVernay calling out the brutal violence in front of an audience.
As people stepped out of dark movie theaters and onto snowy sidewalks, they were bombarded with videos of Pretti's killing on their cellphones. The sense of cognitive dissonance was palpable, with many attendees struggling to reconcile the festive atmosphere with the ugliness of ICE's actions.
"It's hard to be somewhere like this, wear nice outfits and talk about film, when something so ugly is happening right next to us," actress Jenna Ortega said. Actor Edward Norton echoed her sentiments, saying that an "illegal army" was being mounted against U.S. citizens – a stark contrast to the films playing on screen.
The entertainment industry's response to ICE has been muted this year, with some stars feeling that their prior activism made little impact. However, not everyone was silent. Stars such as Natalie Portman and Olivia Wilde wore "ICE OUT" pins, symbolizing solidarity against the organization.
"We can't go another day just sort of accepting this as our new norm," Wilde said. "It's outrageous. People are being murdered. And I don't want to normalize seeing people being murdered on the internet... It's hideous."
The festival also saw a number of panels and events focused on politics and activism, including one hosted by the American Civil Liberties Union. Filmmaker Kogonada acknowledged the importance of using cinema as an empathizing machine, deepening our sense of humanity in dark times.
As the festival came to a close, attendees showed their support for ICE reform with small crowds and rallies. The scenes were a stark contrast to the glamour and glitz that typically define Sundance – but a necessary reminder that even in the most glamorous of settings, there is always a need for empathy and activism.
... like, what's the point of having a festival if we're just gonna ignore the harsh realities of ICE? 
it's all glamour and glitz on the surface, but inside, people are being killed and marginalized. and don't even get me started on how some stars think their activism is going to make a difference... "ICE OUT" pins ain't gonna fill the gaps in our broken immigration system 
we need real change, not just a PR stunt 
... like, how do you balance all the glitz and glamour with the harsh realities of ICE? It's hard enough when it's not in our faces, but when it is, like Alex Pretti's tragic death, it's just devastating 
. I feel like we need more than just a pin on our outfits or a silent protest to make a difference 
... we need meaningful change and action, not just words 
. It's great that Natalie Portman and Olivia Wilde spoke out, but what can we actually do? 
. I mean, one day you're walking around with your posh coat on and sipping champagne, the next you're scrolling through your phone and seeing videos of people getting killed by ICE agents... it's just SO WRONG 
. I saw Natalie Portman wearing an "ICE OUT" pin and I'm HERE. FOR. IT 
. We need more people speaking out against this crap and demanding change 
. And can we please talk about how the entertainment industry is supposed to be a force for good, but it feels like they're all just sitting on their hands right now? 
. It's time for some real action, not just hollow words and Instagram posts 
.
The industry's response was pretty muted, but it's okay, I think. We just need more voices speaking out against this stuff, you know? Like Natalie Portman and Olivia Wilde wearing those "ICE OUT" pins – that takes courage. And Kogonada's talk about cinema being an empathizing machine... that hit home for me. 
We can't keep pretending like everything is okay when it's not.
. And I love that there were panels and events focused on politics and activism – it shows they're trying to be more than just a glitzy party. But at the same time, it feels like some people are feeling a bit stuck or helpless about how to respond, you know? Like, their activism isn't having as much of an impact as they'd hoped.
Like, how do you even balance all that out? The glamour and glitz just don't cut it when people are gettin' hurt like that. And to be real, I feel for the ones who went to the festival this year, seein' somethin' so beautiful on screen but knowin' somethin' ugly is goin' down right outside. It's like our whole country's just... what's happenin'?! 
, but I think we need more of those kinds of moments at festivals like Sundance. We need people talkin' about the real issues and what we can do to make a change. And if that means disruptin' the whole vibe for one minute, so be it – sometimes you gotta shake things up a bit 
.
like can we pls focus on justice for him instead of just talking about politics all the time? 
i'm low-key impressed that natalie portman and olivia wilde wore those "ice out" pins tho 
it's a small act of solidarity but it counts, right? 
idk man, im torn
