Sundance 2027 In Boulder Unveils Legacy Lineup With ‘Better Luck Tomorrow’, ‘Memento’, ‘Y Tu Mamá También’ & More

Sundance Film Festival 2027 has announced its first lineup for the inaugural Boulder, Colorado edition with the The Legacy Program, formerly known as From the Collection, which includes archival and restored screenings of indie classics that launched at the fest.

Cinephile social platform, Letterboxd, is a co-presenter of the Legacy program, and there will be forthcoming details for onsite activations at the Boulder cinema event which takes place Jan. 21-31. The Legacy portion of Sundance will occur during the fest’s second half from Tuesday, Jan. 27-Sunday, Jan. 31.

There will still be an online portion of the festival, which will run from Thursday, Jan. 28-Sunday, Jan. 31.

The Legacy lineup includes the 2002 Sundance Film Festival version of Better Luck Tomorrow (Justin Lin); a digital 4K restoration of Dogtown and Z-Boys (Stacy Peralta); a 35th anniversary screening of Fool’s Fire(Julie Taymor); Nitrate Kisses (Barbara Hammer), which premiered in the U.S. at the Festival 35 years ago and whose director is at the center of Brydie O’Connor’s 2026 Sundance Film Festival documentary Barbara Forever; a 25th anniversary screening of Real Women Have Curves (Patricia Cardoso); a 35th anniversary screening of Swoon (Tom Kalin); and a 25th anniversary screening of a 4K restoration of Y tu mamá también (Alfonso Cuarón).

The Legacy program will also include a two-part session on the final weekend of the Festival called “Sundance Film Festival presents: Cinema Interruptus featuring Memento” (Christopher Nolan), featuring a 4K restoration and discussion. Legacy screenings will include director appearances and select cast members in attendance,

Next reps the 30th anniversary of Sundance Institute and the UCLA Film & Television Archive. Together they established a film preservation initiative, the Sundance Institute Collection at UCLA, to ensure the long-term preservation of independent film. The Collection currently holds material from over 1,000 titles and has participated in restorations of Hoop Dreams, River of Grass, Mysterious Skin, Doom Generation, Just Another Girl on the IRT, High Art, Go Fish, Three Seasons, Paris Is Burning, Superstar, Unzipped, The Hours and Times, SLAM, and, this year, Better Luck Tomorrow and Swoon.

“We’re excited to kick off the Festival season in earnest with this first 2027 Sundance Film Festival announcement, revealing some of our Legacy programming,” said Eugene Hernandez, Director, Sundance Film Festival and Public Programming. “Each year we honor the legacy of our founder Robert Redford and the history of the Sundance Film Festival by looking back at just a few of the films and filmmakers who have shaped our history. Our first festival in our new home in Boulder, Colorado will bring change, but as we evolve, we’ll keep at our core what we celebrate: our rich history. Sundance will always uplift independent voices, and our Legacy slate is a beautiful example of that. We are also pleased to announce Letterboxd’s co-partnership for the Legacy category — it’s great to collaborate with organizations that build momentum and excitement for a culture of cinematic discovery, and we look forward to having them at the Festival with us in January.”

“Revisiting and becoming newly acquainted with films from our previous lineups in a theatrical setting, in community, and with some of the talent behind the films is a rare treat — even more so when these projects have been restored,” said Kim Yutani, Director of Programming, Sundance Film Festival.

“We’re really looking forward to welcoming back these artists and know that audiences will enjoy the opportunity to complement the new films we will soon be announcing with these classics.”

“Our Legacy programming at the Sundance Film Festival grew out of a partnership with the UCLA Film & Television Archive and its continued growth is running in parallel to the incredible moment repertory cinema is having across the country right now,” said John Nein, Sundance Film Festival Senior Programmer and Director of Strategic Initiatives. “This program offers a space for brand-new restorations of classic independent films to be discovered or rediscovered by audiences as the creative teams behind these films reunite — it’s an exciting way of celebrating what these artists have brought to independent storytelling.”

Below are descriptions of the Legacy lineup:

25th Anniversary of Better Luck Tomorrow / U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Justin Lin, Screenwriters: Ernesto Foronda, Fabian Marquez, Producers: Julie Asato, Ernesto Foronda) — To escape the crushing pressure of academic perfection, a group of high-achieving teens lead a secret, thrill-seeking double life of petty crime that quickly spins out of control. Cast: Karin Anna Cheung, John Cho, Roger Fan, Sung Kang, Parry Shen, Jason Tobin. Fiction. Better Luck Tomorrow premiered at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival as part of the U.S. Dramatic Competition. It was subsequently released with small changes in the edit. The original 2002 Sundance Film Festival cut of Better Luck Tomorrow was restored by the UCLA Film & Television Archive in collaboration with Sundance Institute and Perfect Storm Entertainment, with funding provided by Chris Quintos Cathcart, co-CEO of Unapologetic Projects. The 4K restoration utilized the original 35 mm camera negatives, 35 mm Sundance Film Festival print, and DA-88 sound materials and was supervised by filmmaker Justin Lin at Resillion and Deluxe Audio Services. Additional lab services by Roundabout Entertainment, Inc. The release version has also been restored and archived. Special thanks to Paramount Pictures for permission to screen the film.

25th Anniversary of Dogtown and Z-Boys / U.S.A (Director and Screenwriter: Stacy Peralta, Screenwriter: Craig Stecyk, Producer: Agi Orsi) — The Z-Boys: outcast surf rats from the run-down Dogtown neighborhood in Venice, California, who revolutionized skateboarding with their innovative style and attitude. The documentary is an exploration of the birth of a cultural phenomenon, narrated by Sean Penn and featuring old-school skating footage, a blistering soundtrack, and interviews with Tony Alva, Jay Adams, and Tony Hawk. Dogtown and Z-Boys premiered at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival as part of the U.S. Documentary Competition and won the Audience Award: Documentary and Directing Award: Documentary. 2027 marks the 25th anniversary of its theatrical release. The 4K digital restoration was undertaken from the original 35 mm elements by Sony Pictures Classics. The restoration was approved by the filmmakers.

35th Anniversary of Fool’s Fire / U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Julie Taymor, Producer: Kerry Orent) — A captured dwarf, Hopfrog, is forced to become jester to a tyrannical king. But when the King is gifted with another little person, whom the king debases and shames, Hopfrog plots a terrible revenge. Based on the story “Hop-Frog” by Edgar Allan Poe. Cast: Michael J. Anderson, Tom Hewitt, Mireille Mossé. Fiction. Fool’s Fire premiered at the 1992 Sundance Film Festival as part of the U.S. Dramatic Competition. This new restoration was created by the nonprofit IndieCollect in collaboration with Julie Taymor and with support from the Golden Globe Foundation, using a 6.5K scan of the original 35 mm negative and a soundtrack restored by Endpoint Audio Labs from the optical track negative. Featuring an extended conversation with Julie Taymor and clips from The Making of Fool’s Fire, exploring the film’s artistry and cutting-edge use of high definition.

Nitrate Kisses / U.S.A. (Director: Barbara Hammer) — A portrait of queer sexuality that weaves striking images of four lesbian and gay couples with archival footage, interviews, sexual imagery, and queer cinema dating back to the 1930s to unearth forbidden and long-invisible histories. Documentary. Nitrate Kisses had its U.S. premiere at the 1993 Sundance Film Festival as part of the U.S. Documentary Competition. Nitrate Kisses was preserved by the Academy Film Archive. The original 16 mm A/B-rolls were scanned at 4K and restored by BB Optics. The mono mix was digitized from the original 16 mm mag track. The restoration was funded by Frameline and supervised by The Estate of Barbara Hammer and Brydie O’Connor.

The 25th Anniversary of Real Women Have Curves / U.S.A. (Director: Patricia Cardoso, Screenwriters: George LaVoo, Josefina López, Producers: George Lavoo, Effie Brown) — Ana, a first-generation Mexican American teenager, fights for her independence and her curves in a war of wills with her mother. Based on the play by Josefina López. Cast: America Ferrera, George Lopez, Ingrid Oliu, Lupe Ontiveros, Brian Sites. Real Women Have Curves premiered at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival as part of the U.S. Dramatic Competition and took home the Audience Award: Dramatic and the Special Jury Prize for Acting for America Ferrera and Lupe Ontiveros. Supervised by director Patricia Cardoso and director of photography Jim Denault, this new 4K restoration was undertaken by Criterion in collaboration with Warner Bros. Pictures, Sundance Institute, and the Academy Film Archive from the 35 mm original camera negative.

The 35th Anniversary of Swoon / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Tom Kalin, Producers: Christine Vachon) — The true story of Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, who kidnapped and brutally murdered 14-year-old Bobby Franks in Chicago in 1924. The revelation that these wealthy Jewish college students had a sexual relationship scandalized the nation. After their arrest and trial, they were sentenced to life plus 99 years. Cast: Craig Chester, Michael Kirby, John A. Mudd, Daniel Schlachet, Natalie Stanford, Michael Stumm, Ron Vawter. Swoon premiered at the 1992 Sundance Film Festival as part of the U.S. Dramatic Competition and took home the Excellence in Cinematography Award: Dramatic. Swoon was restored by the Academy Film Archive and UCLA Film & Television Archive in collaboration with Frameline, Strand Releasing, and Sundance Institute in 4K from the original 16 mm A/B camera negatives, 35 mm interpositive, 35 mm dupe negative, and 35 mm magnetic track. The restoration was supervised by Tom Kalin and Ellen Kuras at Roundabout Entertainment, Inc. and Deluxe Audio Services. Restoration funding was provided by the Academy Film Archive and UCLA Film & Television Archive with additional support from Frameline, Ellen Kuras, Strand Releasing, and Sundance Institute.

The 25th Anniversary of Y tu mamá también / Mexico (Director, Screenwriter and Producer: Alfonso Cuarón, Screenwriter: Carlos Cuarón, Producer: Jorge Vergara) — After their girlfriends jet off for the summer, a pair of Mexico City teenagers become bewitched by an older Spanish woman they meet at a wedding. When she agrees to accompany them on a road trip, the three form an increasingly intense and sensual bond. Cast: Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna, Maribel Verdú. Y tu mamá también screened at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival as part of the Special Events category. Newly restored by Esperanto Films in 4K under the supervision of filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki. The feature is a Janus Films release.

LEGACY SPECIAL EVENTS
Memento / U.S.A. (Director: Christopher Nolan) — A former insurance investigator who now suffers from anterograde amnesia uses notes and tattoos to hunt down his wife’s murderer. Fiction.
Memento had its U.S. festival premiere at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival in the U.S. Dramatic Competition and it took home the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award. Restored in 4K from original interpositive materials by Umbrella with approval from director Christopher Nolan.
Cinema Interruptus is also part of our Offscreen program, to be announced in its entirety soon.

As part of the screening, there will be Sundance Film Festival presents: Cinema Interruptus featuring Memento. A tradition first established by the late Roger Ebert, Cinema Interruptus is communal film criticism in two sessions. As Memento screens, participants can yell “Stop!” at any point to make a comment or ask a question, after which the film will resume. Critic and author Josh Larsen — who hosted Interruptus at the University of Colorado Boulder’s Conference on World Affairs from 2017 to 2024 — will moderate the discussion, with the goal of finishing the entire movie by the end of the second session.