Sundance begins annual independent film campaign

PARK CITY, Utah, Jan 20 (Reuters) The Sundance Film Festival began its annual campaign showcasing new independent movies following the opening night debut of an innovative documentary urging people to speak out against war.

The documentary, ''Chicago 10,'' blends historical television footage and animated characters to look back at the anti-war protests of the 1968 US Democratic convention and the famed ''Chicago Seven'' trial of protesters such as Tom Hayden and Abbie Hoffman who were convicted of inciting riots.

Organizers at Sundance, which is backed by Robert Redford's Sundance Institute and is the top US event for independent movies, have said ''Chicago 10'' typifies this year's more than 120 films because it takes risks with its themes and with its movie-making techniques.

But at Thursday's opening night ceremony, it was the movie's strong anti-war message that took the spotlight.

Redford, well-known as a political activist, said the leaders who launched invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq owed their supporters ''a big, massive apology'' for mistakes they made.

The film's director, Brett Morgen, took the stage to a standing ovation after the movie's screening and urged audiences to stand up and speak out.

''I just wanted to make a good movie that people would find entertaining and mobilize the youth in the country to get out and stop this war,'' Morgen said yesterday.

Hayden, who attended the premiere, was impressed. He questioned how Morgen, who was born after the 1968 protests and trial, could have captured the intense emotion of the time.

''I thought he did it brilliantly,'' said the veteran anti-war protester and political activist.

ANTI-WAR, INDIE EDGE While other documentaries at Sundance 2007, such as ''Ghosts of Abu Ghraib'' and ''No End in Sight,'' look at the war in Iraq, the festival features a range of fictional and nonfictional films from the United States and more than 25 other countries.

Of the total, 64 movies 32 US and 32 international will compete for an array of filmmaking awards throughout the 10-day festival that ends on January 28.

Among early highlights, ''The Savages,'' starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney, tells of adult siblings who must care for an elderly parent who failed them as kids.

''An American Crime,'' starring Catherine Keener and James Franco, is based on a true story of young girl tortured by an abusive mother.

Although indie movies often focus on dark dramas, the mood is not all gloomy. Veteran Sundance director Gregg Araki is screening ''Smiley Face,'' about a pot smoking girl trying to replace the stash of marijuana-laced cupcakes she ate.

On the international front, actor Antonio Banderas makes his directorial debut with ''Summer Rain,'' a coming-of-age tale set in southern Spain, and Frenchman Luc Besson brings to the festival ''Angel-A,'' about a down-on-his luck con man.

Finally, many stars such as Anthony Hopkins, Josh Hartnett, Keri Russell, Zooey Deschanel and Samuel L Jackson may show up on the snowy streets of this mountain town east of Salt Lake city where the festival is held.

As happens every year, corporations are here promoting goods and services in hospitality suites like ''The Ultimate Green Room'' and ''The Village at the Lift.'' But festival organizers, leery of the product promotion, have been handing out buttons to festival goers that say: ''Focus on Film.'' REUTERS SY KP1045