This year, Why Watch That attended the Sundance Film Festival for the first time, and boy did we learn a thing or two! As a result, we wanted to share some useful tips to help you get through the Sundance Film Festival with ease. Listen to our conversation, and check out the list below. You won’t find these tips anywhere else!

Map It Out  

Unlike the New York Film Festival, the events at Sundance are spread out. So, if you want to maximize your time, you’ll need to have a plan. Be sure to decide what you plan to eat, how you’ll travel from venue to venue, and what to do when nature calls!

Multitasking Is Your Friend

Knowing how to multitask, Sundance Film Festival-style, is vital for an enjoyable experience. If you want to ensure that you’ll make it into a press and industry screening, you might have to wait in line for at least an hour, especially during the festival’s first weekend. So, you’ll definitely want to pack a lunch and a portable charger. Even if you have a ticket, you’ll still want to arrive at the screening at least 30 minutes early!

Pace Yourself

Though it may be tempting, don’t try to see every movie at Sundance. Even if you were to stay for the duration of the entire festival, you wouldn’t have the time or the energy to see everything. So, pick two or three movies to see each day, and use the rest of the time to do some networking!

Photo by Jonathan Colon from https://skatesphere.com/

Stay Hydrated

Don’t be fooled by the cold: The altitude in Utah will dry you out. To avoid altitude-poisoning and sustain your energy during the festival, keep the water coming!

Dress for the Occasion 

It’s winter in the mountains! So, while you might want to get all dressed up on the off chance that you’ll run into Brad Pitt on the way to a screening, we strongly suggest that you rethink that. People at Sundance dress for the occasion: It’s cold, so pack some gloves, a hat, and a thermal mug to keep with you on the go!

Open Your Mouth

Be Chatty Kathy! Everyone at Sundance is somebody, so it’s a good idea to take advantage of the access you’re going to have to directors, producers, actors, and more. Since you’re going to be doing a lot of waiting and the majority of the people in town are there for the festival, you might as well strike up a conversation!