The Best of Sundance 2026: A Director Fits Guide

 I spent four days at the last ever Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah at the behest of the lovely folks over at Hypebeast. Earlier this week, we published a diary painstakingly documenting my time spent at the festival as a first-timer. It’s also the first year without the festival’s founder, Robert Redford, who named the event after his titular character in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. His presence has always loomed large over the town and still did this year. Many Uber drivers and volunteers I met along my way had stories about him. Every film screening at Sundance started with a heartfelt tribute to its founder. When I started Director Fits just a few years ago, I never thought it would take me to places like this. I never thought I’d be in these rooms. Watching Entourage’s Season 2 Episode 7 titled “The Sundance Kids” was as close as I thought I’d ever get to this place. I’ve never been to any film festivals and, from afar, they seemed like these glamorous events for the select few. While that may be slightly true, Sundance 2026 felt like it was more democratic in its attendees and festival entrees. The director of the festival, Eugene Hernandez, told me that Sundance is a place that’s “always looking ahead.” My favorite films at the festival were a couple of time capsules that preserved distinct eras of culture, a return to form from a legendary ‘90s auteur, and a star studded comedy from an established filmmaker. So, I guess, my experience in Park City more so looked backwards rather than forwards? But I think one movie from first time feature film director, Rafael Manuel, contradicts my previous statement. Over the course of my four days in Park City I saw nine films. Here are a handful that stood out to me.The Best SummerDirected by Tamra DavisThe Best Summer is an absolute gem, literally. At the height of the LA fires just over a year ago, director Tamra Davis discovered a box of lost tapes in her Pacific Palisades home garage while evacuating the area. In 1995, just shortly after marrying Mike D from the Beastie Boys, the band was billed as a headliner with an all-star cast of bands for an Australian tour. Davis joined along on tour and brought her camera and recorded just about everything from the super exciting to the super mundane. She enlisted Bikini Kill’s Kathleen Hanna to facilitate interviews backstage using the same prompt of questions to all the various band members on the lineup. Adam Yauch is seen wearing the Supreme classic logo tee in 1995, just a year after James Jebbia launched the brand. Wild. Beck is caught saying his New Year’s resolution is to finally buy a pair of shorts for the first time since he was a 10 year old. OK? Dave Grohl points to cigarettes and wine when asked how he is able to perform on stage. Keep in mind this is just a year after the loss of Kurt Cobain; the wound still appeared to be fresh. This whole doc felt like seeing someone’s family home videos except