It is the annual cinephile pilgrimage, a reunion with the Indie homeland, a gathering of cinematic bounty. For one week a year Park City, Utah transforms from ski slopes to festival frenzy. From around the globe, new and seasoned independent filmmakers, actors and industry professionals have reconvened here for the past 30 years.

Today marks day one of the Sundance Film Festival. newportFILM’s very own Andrea van Beuren, Tom Hall and Terri Conners have touched down in Park City and will be hitting the screens looking for the best in independent film to bring back to the Rhode Island community. Sundance holds a special place in newportFILM’s heart, having pulled such alums as Gasland, Waste Land, Buck, Project Nim, Senna, and Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey from their award winning lists.

Always with an eye for what will resonate back home, let us see what gems they find for 2012!