The Dramatic Competition Lineup for the 2006 Sundance Film Festival:
'A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints' directed and written by Dito Montiel
A writer recounts his teenage experiences in tough 1980s Astoria, New York -- where all his friends ended up dead, as junkies, or in prison -- exploring how he managed to emerge unscathed.
Starring Robert Downey, Jr., Rosario Dawson, Chazz Palminteri, Diane Wiest, Shia La Boeuf, Channing Tatum, and Eric Roberts.
'Come Early Morning' directed and written by Joey Lauren Adams
The story of a southern woman trying to escape her addictions and self-destructive behavior to find true love.
Starring Ashley Judd, Jeffrey Donovan, Tim Blake Nelson, Diane Ladd, and Stacey Keach.
'Flannel Pajamas' directed and written by Jeff Lipsky
A magical evening in a local diner sparks an intense courtship and an emotionally mercurial marriage that challenges two New Yorkers to the core.
Starring Julianne Nicholson, Justin Kirk, Rebecca Schull, Tom Bower, Jamie Harrold, Michele Federer, Jamie Harris, Chelsea Altman, George Riddle, Lauren Bittner, Stephanie March, Kirby Mitchell, and Stephanie Roth Haberle.
'Forgiven' directed and written by Paul Fitzgerald
On the eve of his campaign launch for a seat in the U.S. Senate, a small town District Attorney receives word that the governor has exonerated a death row inmate whom he'd prosecuted five years earlier.
Starring Paul Fitzgerald, Susan Floyd, Russell Hornsby, and Kate Jennings Grant.
'Half Nelson' directed by Ryan Fleck; written by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck
An inner-city junior high school teacher with a drug habit forms an unlikely friendship with one of his students after she discovers his secret.
Starring Ryan Gosling, Shareeka Epps, Anthony Mackie, Tina Holmes, Jay O. Sanders, Denis O'Hare, and Deborah Rush.
'Hawk Is Dying' directed by Julian Goldberger; written by Harry Crews (novel) and Julian Goldberger
A Gainesville, Florida auto upolsterer attempts to subvert his mundane life by training a wild, red-tailed hawk.
Starring Michael Pitt, Paul Giamatti, and Michelle Williams.
'In Between Days' directed by So Yung Kim; written by So Yong Kim and Bradley Rust
When a recent Korean immigrant falls in love with her best and only friend, their misunderstood affection for each other creates a delicate relationship that is challenged by the demands of living in a new country.
Starring Jiseoa Kim, Taegu Andy Kang, Bok-ja Kin, Gina Kim, and Mike Park.
'Puccini For Beginners' directed and written by Maria Maggenti
On the rebound from her latest lesbian relationship, a New York writer finds herself in two surprising complicated love affairs in this only-in-New-York screwball comedy.
Starring Justin Kirk, Gretchen Mol, and Elizabeth Reaser.
'Quinceanera' directed and written by Richard Glatzer & Wash Westmoreland
Disaffected Latino teenagers come of age in a gentrifying community in the Echo Park district of Los Angeles.
'Right At Your Door' directed and written by Chris Gorak
Multiple dirty bombs are detonated and spread deadly toxic ash and mass panic throughout Los Angeles. With limited information, time and supplies, and in the midst of city-wide chaos, a married couple struggles to survive.
Starring Mary McCormack, and Rory Cochrane.
'Sherrybaby' directed and written by Laurie Collyer
After serving a three-year prison sentence, a young woman quickly discovers that coming back to the world she left behind is far more difficult than she had planned.
Starring Maggie Gyllenhaal, Brad Henke, Bridget Barkan, Ryan Simpkins, Giancarlo Esposito, Danny Trejo, Sam Bottoms, and Rio Hackford.
'Somebodies' directed and written by Hadjii
Surrounded by eccentric relatives, prankster classmates, and more-or-less rehabilitated ex-cons, a Black college student stumbles along the path to responsible adulthood.
Starring Hadjii, Kaira Whitehead, Pat Brown, Tyler Craig, Carlos Davis, Nard Houston, Nick Lewis, and Iron E Singleton.
'Stay' directed and written by Bob Goldthwait
A youthful, impulsive sexual encounter opens the door to a dark comedy about the complexities of honesty.
Starring Melinda Paige Hamilton, Bryce Johnson, Geoff Pierson, Bonita Friedericy, Jack Plotnick, and Brian Posehn.
'Steel City' directed and written by Brian Jun
In a small Midwest town, two irresponsible brothers must come to terms with the lives they live after their father is incarcerated for killing a woman.
'Stephanie Daley' directed and written by Hilary Brougher
A forensic psychologist, seven months pregnant, is hired to learn the truth behind a teenager's denial of accusations that she concealed her pregnancy and committed infanticide.
Starring Tilda Swinton, Amber Tamblyn, Timothy Hutton, Denis O'Hare, Melissa Leo, Jim Gaffigan, Kel O'Neill, and Neal Huff.
'Wristcutters -- A Love Story' directed by Goran Dukic; written by Goran Dukic and Etgar Kerrett
An Offbeat Comedy, A Love Story, A Road Movie - But Everybody's Dead!
Starring Patrick Fugit, Shannon Sossamon, Shea Whigham, Tom Waits, John Hawkes, Will Arnett, Leslie Bibb, Mikal P. Lazarev, Mark Boone Jr., Jake Busey, Abraham Benrubi, Mary Pat Gleason, Julie Carmen, Clayne Crawford, and Azura Skye.
