The Sundance Film Festival announced the slate of independent films selected across the feature film categories for its 2023 edition. Next year’s festival will take place 19-29 January 2023 and will be the first time Sundance has taken place in person since 2020, with the event being called off the last two years because of the pandemic.

The line-up includes the latest films from directors Nicole Holofcener and Ira Sachs, biodocs about Brooke Shields, Michael J. Fox and Little Ricahard. Several entries focus on the Ukranian war and the treatment of women in Iran. The festival has a reputation of launching films that are often nominated for numerous awards throughout the remainder of the year, especially documentaries. In 2021, “CODA” premiered at Sundance and went on to win the Oscar for Best Picture earlier this year.

There are 101 feature-length films representing 23 countries in the 2023 program. First time feature-filmmakers represent 28% of the selection, or 32 of 115 titles, while 17 of the feature films and projects announced were supported by the Sundance Institute in development through direct granting or residency labs.

Sundance waded through 15,855 submissions, including 4,061 feature-length films to program next year’s festival. Of the 4,061 feature film submissions, 1,662 were from the U.S., and 2,399 were international.