Sundance Diary

Julia Kwan, director of Eve & the Fire Horse. Photo by Steve Carty.

Vancouver-based filmmaker Julia Kwan attended this year’s Sundance Film Festival in Utah to promote her first full-length feature, Eve & the Fire Horse. The picture explores the religious awakening of two Chinese-Canadian girls living with their parents in 1970s Vancouver. The festival, which is held in both Park City and Utah’s capital, Salt Lake City, and ran Jan. 19-29, is one of the main events of the annual festival circuit, and is traditionally known for breaking new, independent talent. During the festival, Kwan kept an online diary as she attended all the hot parties and chatted up all the necessary contacts in the hopes of garnering international attention for her film.

January 21

Park City, Utah

My publicists kept me really busy yesterday. The day started off with lots of interviews and photo ops. My body is just so exhausted. The high altitude definitely has something to do with it, but also the fact that I was on the go all day. It was nice having both Vivien and Phoebe with me during the media stuff. I have to say, it was very strange being on TV, especially having to go for make-up. That was different. But I was so impressed with the way Phoebe handled herself. She’s just so calm. The director, on the other hand, not so much.

The premiere for Eve & the Fire Horse was last night at 6 p.m. It took place at the Egyptian Theatre, a beautiful old theatre here in Park City. The theatre, which holds about 300 people, was just packed. All the tickets had been sold out for the screening, so clearly there was some advance buzz for the film. Vivien, Phoebe and I did our little intro beforehand. I couldn’t sit through the film. I was watching and thinking about all the shots and scenes that I could have done, and I was driving myself crazy, so I just went out into the lobby. The nice thing was, when people came out to go to the bathroom, they would stop and talk to me and say how much they liked the film. When it was over, I got a really warm applause, and I was really surprised by how many people stayed for the Q&A. People asked some really interesting questions. I couldn’t have asked for a warmer reception.

The party afterwards was hosted by the Canadian Consulate. Throughout the party, my publicists were hustling to get me to do more interviews and photo ops. Of course, it was great to talk to people, but I was just so exhausted — partly because I’d been talking all day, but also because I hadn’t eaten anything.

After that, we went to a party put on by ICM, the talent agency. By then I was really tired. I had an interesting conversation, though, with one journalist, who suggested that my movie was this year’s Whale Rider. I didn’t expect that, but I was honoured that someone had even made the comparison.

The absolute highlight of the night was finding out that Wim Wenders was at the screening. I couldn’t believe it. Wim Wenders! Wings of Desire is absolutely one of my favourite movies. To think that he was there to see my little film...