Slamdance, a year-round organization by filmmakers for filmmakers, announced today the opening night film for the 30th edition of their annual festival. Oscar winning filmmaker Carol Dysinger’s (“Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl)”) documentary, “One Bullet,” will screen on Friday, January 19, kicking off the festival.

“One Bullet” tells the story of the mother of an Afghan teenager who was shot in front of his house, dying of his wounds two years later – and the scars left on their family by the experience — through the lens of a friendship. A labor of love and understanding, “One Bullet” is a film eighteen years in the making and is an essential film about Afghanistan, America, and the reality of war.

“As an artist-driven festival, Slamdance has always recognized the act of madness that some kinds of filmmaking can be – the kind that takes a different path, a longitudinal angle of view – and this is what the world needs right now,” stated director Carol Dysinger. “To have the story of Bibi Hajji and our relationship unfolding through years and years of war opening the 30th Anniversary edition of Slamdance is a gift and a testament to the power of friendship. This is the story of what one bullet did to one family. Now, do the math. This is one of the reasons that wars never end.”

Slamdance also announced today that it will return to The Doubletree Park City – The Yarrow for the festival this year, which will run January 19-25, 2024. The location marks a return home for the organization, which had screenings at several locations in its inaugural year, including The Yarrow and the University of Utah, which will also be hosting screenings this year.

The Yarrow is located in the heart of Park City and is fully ADA-compliant, allowing Slamdance to further its commitment to visibility and accessibility for both its filmmakers and audiences.

“The Yarrow has always been a great space for independent filmmakers and serves as a pivotal part of Slamdance’s history as the festival’s first home in Park City, a foothold which helped launch the festival into what it is today,” stated Slamdance founder Peter Baxter. “Since then, we’ve grown beyond imagination in the discovery of new and emerging talent and we’re excited to recognize and celebrate this legacy by returning to our roots at Park City’s epicenter for Slamdance ’24.”

“The team here at the Doubletree Park City – The Yarrow is extremely excited to welcome back Slamdance,” said Tony Moody, General Manager of The Yarrow. “We have the honor of celebrating both the 30th anniversary and to celebrate this landmark where it all began – at the Yarrow. The Yarrow has always been a supportive and nurturing environment for creative voices and independent films. It will be an amazing, exciting, and creative event. We hope to see you there.”

The Yarrow features two state-of-the-art screening rooms and offers a fully accessible and inclusive environment. Slamdance at The Yarrow includes the Slamdance Hall and Slamdance Meeting Rooms, offering a dynamic space for panels, discussions, and networking. Additionally, the festival will host happy hours and a dedicated Slamdance South Florida Filmmaker Lounge, where all filmmakers are welcome into a space designed to foster collaboration and creativity among the film community.

In addition to returning to The Yarrow, Slamdance will partner once again with the University of Utah for the Unstoppable program. The Unstoppable program will be showcased at both the Yarrow and the University of Utah’s Student Union Theater, with events at the University scheduled for January 22-24th. This collaboration highlights the joint commitment to accessible cinema, with both locations featuring 100% accessible theaters, and all screenings at the university offered free of charge.

The 2024 Slamdance Film Festival will take place in person from January 19-25 in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, and virtually from January 22-28. Festival passes are now on sale and priced with accessibility in mind. In-person passes for the Festival range from $125 to $250 and are available for purchase at Slamdance.com. Virtual Festival passes are now available on the Slamdance Channel for $50 and include an annual program subscription. In collaboration with the University of Utah, the Festival is providing free screenings in Salt Lake City.

About Slamdance
Established in 1995 by a wild bunch of filmmakers who were tired of relying on a large, oblique system to showcase their work, Slamdance has consistently discovered new and emerging talent that shapes our cultural future. The artist-led organization lives and breathes its mantra; by filmmakers, for filmmakers.

In 2024, Slamdance will celebrate its 30th Festival in Park City, Utah from January 19-25 and virtually on the Slamdance Channel from January 22-28.

In addition to the festival, Slamdance serves artists with several year-round programs, including its Screenplay Competition, DIG (Digital, Interactive & Gaming), an accessible education initiative called Polytechnic and Unstoppable, a showcase of works made by creators with visible and non-visible disabilities.

In collaboration with alumni Anthony and Joe Russo and their AGBO production company, Slamdance recently presented its first DTLA Summer Showcase, a multi-faceted and accessible media program in support of new artists.

Notable Slamdance alumni include The Russo Brothers (“Avengers: Endgame”), Christopher Nolan (“Oppenheimer”), Lynn Shelton (“Little Fires Everywhere”), Gina Prince-Bythewood (“The Old Guard”), the Safdie Brothers (“Uncut Gems”), Marina Zenovich (“LANCE”), Lena Dunham (“Girls”), Sean Baker (“Red Rocket”), Rian Johnson (“Knives Out”), Bong Joon Ho (“Parasite”), Merawi Gerima (“Residue”) and Andrew Patterson (“The Vast of Night”).

Slamdance’s mission is to function as an agent of change in filmmaking and digital media, helping to make the creative works of artists with divergent voices accessible to everyone.