VOA标准英语2010年-Sundance Film Festival Showcases Indep

The 2010 Sundance Film Festival is underway in Park City, Utah. The heavy snow and subfreezing temperatures do not stop almost 50,000 visitors from enjoying the films and exhibits around town. Documentaries, feature films and shorts -- 186 of them -- are being showcased here. The festival is a top venue¹ for independent filmmakers.

This quaint² alpine³ town is America's hottest venue for independent films.  Directors, critics, movie stars and others are here to see the almost 200 films selected for the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.

Competition to get in is fierce. Almost 10,000 films were submitted for this year's event. 

As independent filmmaker Gabriel Griffin Filmmaker says, "Sundance is truly organic."  

Griffin is ahead of the game. He's already publicizing his latest film by putting it up on a public poster board in the middle of Main Street. He hopes the film  will be accepted for Sundance next year.  But the poster board is filling up quickly. Griffin looks at his poster stoically. "In an hour this will be covered up," he says.

The festival shows only independent films. Low budget documentaries, features, and shorts are screened across the ski resort of Park City.
 
The Egyptian Theater, on Main Street,  figures prominently in the festival. The street is full of 19th century storefronts built during the silver mining boom.

Here, Sundance founder⁴ and president Robert Redford opened the 10-day festival. Redford says his brain child, now 26 years old, is in the vanguard of independent filmmaking. "I do honestly take pride in the fact that we've been doing this for so long and we send programmers all over the world to find these films in these countries that I honestly do think that we have the best films and the best documentaries from all over the world," said the legendary⁵ actor to a room filled with reporters.

Audiences too come from all over the world. Like Eduardo from Brazil. "Two Brazilian directors are showing movies, documentaries about the Amazon and maybe I will get tickets to enjoy," he says.

About 1,500 volunteers are here to help visitors like Eduardo find their way in the snow and subfreezing temperatures.

The "New Frontier" exhibit on Main Street is a highlight of the festival. 

There, one steps onto a virtual map projected on the floor and travels the world over, or sees oneself on an electronic mirror that turns everyone into a comic book figure with bubble thoughts overhead. 

Shari Frilo is the curator. She says the exhibit reflects the all-present media culture we live in.

"When you walk in," she says, "you're surrounded by images rather than a little gallery here or a little gallery there. It's supposed to be a social experience that resonates with our everyday life, that encourages conversation around this kind of experience in a hypermedia environment that is an artistic⁶ one rather than one that's powered by commerce and surveillance."

The festival offers filmmakers -- like Oscar winner Davis Guggenheim -- the chance to meet with the press and exchange ideas.   

And although the weather doesn't cooperate, it doesn't stop people from venturing out.  

Sundance is art in the making.

By now, Gabriel Griffin's poster has been covered by many others and soon new ones will cover those. 

One thing is certain: some of these independent films will go on to compete for the top prizes.

Just like the independent  film "Precious." It won a triple award at Sundance last year and is expected to make it at the Oscars in March.

 

1 venue   

n.犯罪地点，审判地，管辖地，发生地点，集合地点

参考例句：

• The hall provided a venue for weddings and other functions.大厅给婚礼和其他社会活动提供了场所。
• The chosen venue caused great controversy among the people.人们就审判地点的问题产生了极大的争议。

2 quaint   

adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的

参考例句：

• There were many small lanes in the quaint village.在这古香古色的村庄里，有很多小巷。
• They still keep some quaint old customs.他们仍然保留着一些稀奇古怪的旧风俗。

3 alpine   

adj.高山的；n.高山植物

参考例句：

• Alpine flowers are abundant there.那里有很多高山地带的花。
• Its main attractions are alpine lakes and waterfalls .它以高山湖泊和瀑布群为主要特色。

4 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

5 legendary   

adj.传奇（中）的，闻名遐迩的；n.传奇（文学）

参考例句：

• Legendary stories are passed down from parents to children.传奇故事是由父母传给孩子们的。
• Odysseus was a legendary Greek hero.奥狄修斯是传说中的希腊英雄。

6 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。