3 Standouts from Sundance 2026

The 2026 Sundance Festival just wrapped, with a farewell to its longstanding Park City location. Next year, it will be held in Boulder, CO. With paralyzing temperatures, this year’s slate seemed distant, often depressing, and cold. That said, there are always three standout films. Here’s a look at them.

The Moment

This looks at singer Charli XCX’s comedown from her 2024 Brat Summer tour. It’s something of a mockumentary tinged with irony and genuine personal reflection.

Charli is trying to figure out where to leave off with her “brat” hit. Personal issues of wanting to feel loved in the midst of fame are examined.

The ridiculousness of this whole thing is acknowledged, and often feels like a shot at other big artists(*cough Taylor Swift). By the end of the film, one of Charli’s main jokes rang deep and true: we (and she) are tired of brands partnering with every possible thing.

The Incomer

One of the surprise standouts of the fest is this funny little Scottish feature. It follows a sheltered pair of adult siblings who were left behind by their parents on a remote island. The siblings, portrayed by Gayle Rankin and Grant O’Rourke, are met by Daniel (Domnhall Gleeson) as the Scottish land authority there to evict them.

What happens between Daniel and the siblings, the former living a drab office life, the latter living through unfounded island confusion, creates a goofy story of self-discovery and the morality of governments ‘claiming’ land from people.

Josephine

My favorite entry and the consensus “best film” at the fest. It was also the hardest to watch. Josephine is an 8-year-old girl who witnesses a sexual assault in the park. This one looks at our frustrating legal system and how it can have such a cascading effect on someone and those around them

Josephine is a “screaming at the screen” level of frustration kind of movie. The 8-year-old is forced to grow up fast. The gory, sad details are not spared. Mason Reeves’ portrayal is a career-making triumph that will have people talking for the rest of this year. Expect to see Josephine in award talks later this year.

-Michael Archer

Photo: Getty