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Six Tips For Surviving Sundance 2009

January 9, 2009 at 1:31 PM | by | Comments (0)

Once was enough. We're skipping Sundance this year, but for those of you first timers hoping to enjoy the Park City insanity, here are six ways to make your film fest fun.

Don't Drive: We know: It seems impossible to give up your wheels, particularly if you're coming from LA. But trust us, they don't say Sundance traffic's a bitch for nothing. The streets are backed up from dawn until well after sundown, and you're not going to find a parking spot anyway. Just take the bus.

Get Tickets: Individual tickets go on sale January 12, and you can order online. You can also get tickets for each day's screenings starting at 8 am, way earlier than most festival-goers wake up. Get your groggy self to the Park City box offices (at Gateway Center) and line up for guaranteed seats.

Pack a Coat: You'd be surprised how many (LA) people don't realize it is coooold in the mountains in January. A jacket and a scarf won't cut it when the temperature hits single digits, so be smart and bring some serious winter gear. Park City venues keep the heat cranked up high, but walking Main Street and waiting for buses can get really miserable really fast if you're underdressed.

Pack Your Patience: Park City is a small town, and it overflows with tourists during the festival. There are no tables at restaurants, no space on the sidewalk, tight velvet ropes and lots of entitled stars (and "stars") wandering the streets. You'll overhear way too many phone calls, and BlackBerrys will probably be buzzing in screenings. But at least if you know ahead of time, you can try to stay cool in the middle of it all.

Skip Opening Weekend: Celebrities and movie moguls are busy, which means they don't stay in Park City for the whole 10-day event. By Monday, the Salt Lake Tribune reports, the crowds have grown smaller and everyone's so exhausted that the town moves a bit slower. If you can stand missing the most electric part of the festival, you'll still be able to enjoy all the flicks.

Or Just Skip Sundance: This isn't exactly a Sundance tip by its very nature, but the LA Times reminds us that there are heaps of other West Coast film events this time of year. Besides the already-underway Palm Springs International Film Fest, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival starts January 22 and the LA Comedy Shorts Film Festival isn't far off.

Related Stories:
· Jaunted at Sundance: Park City Transit [Jaunted]
· Jaunted at Sundance: How to Get into the Films You Want to See [Jaunted]
· Jaunted at Sundance: Walking Down Main Street [Jaunted]

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