Deep Dive Into Sundance Doc Lineup: Will Ferrell Film, Tammy Faye Series, Lucy Lawless Directorial Debut, And The Film That Made Programmers Cry

deadline.com:

Documentary lovers are digesting the announcement of the Sundance nonfiction lineup, a slate of films certain to factor in awards conversation into next Oscar season. “I think there’s a lot of discoveries in there,” Sundance Senior Nonfiction Programmer Basil Tsiokos says of the lineup revealed on Wednesday. “It’s a nice blend of new filmmakers and alumni, lots of different kinds of approaches to filmmaking… There’s biodocs, but there’s also films that are political.

There’s films that are dealing with the environment. There’s lots of other things happening, so it’s a nice mix we think.” Among the most eye-popping titles are Will & Harper, Josh Greenbaum’s nonfiction road movie about comedian Will Ferrell and Harper Steele, his close friend of 30 years who came out as trans. “The two decide to embark on a cross-country road trip to process this new stage of their relationship in an intimate portrait of friendship, transition, and America,” according to a description from Sundance. “There’s warmth to this film and that’s what we love about it,” Tsiokos tells Deadline. “It’s a film about allyship, it’s a film about openness to trying to understand something that you may not necessarily completely understand, but to have the openness and warmth to explore it together and to be honest and candid about it.” Ferrell’s broad appeal across blue and red states could make for significant cultural impact for the documentary.  “We see the value of it being able to reach somebody that may not necessarily know trans people in their lives,” Tsiokos says. “Will Ferrell is actually a really smart way of getting entrée to those people and saying, Hey, you like Will Ferrell, you should watch this film!