We’ve been hard at work covering as many films as we can ahead of Sundance Film Festival 2026! There’s no shortage of great films and new discoveries, and we’re excited to experience everything the festival has to offer when we touch down in Park City later this month. For now, we’ve got another collection of films we want to highlight ahead of Sundance!
So here are 5 more films we recommend checking out.
“Joybubbles“
I had never heard of Joybubbles, born Josef Carl Engressia Jr. until I watched “Joybubbles,” and now I will remember him forever. An early Phone Phreak and hacker pioneer, the film documents the early days of landline telephones and long distant calling charges the early “phone phreaks” hacked to avoid paying. Joybubbles – who has been blind since birth – falls in love with the new technology and discovers a hidden whistling talent that allows him to perfectly match the pitch of dialing tones that let him call long distance for free. What transpires is a wild, unexpected journey of a man with childlike wonder in his heart and his voice as he recounts his life story as he remembers it. “Joybubbles” breezes by with humor and heart and some deep emotional resonance that unexpectedly comes through in the journey. Highly recommend for someone looking for the lighter side of documentary filmmaking!
“All About The Money“
I don’t know what I was expecting when I started watching “All About The Money,” but nothing could’ve prepared me for where things would go. What starts as a simple premise of an alternative community project spirals into a deep deconstruction of capitalism, wealth disparity, and systemic gaps designed to keep the rich richer. And even someone with good intentions, disillusioned by generational wealth trying to give it away gets lost in the muddy waters that more money than you can spend brings. It’s hard to really even sum up all the places “All About The Money” takes us to, but it is relentlessly intriguing and keeps you guessing with every new decision our eccentric protagonist makes. If you’re looking for a surprise and unique look at something that quite literally dictates our every move, “All About the Money” is a great film to check out at Sundance!
Public Access
70s New York was a wild time and I never get tired of learning about it. “Public Access” is no different, capturing a bubbling, diverse culture and awakening of identity through the a new freedom of expression in the form of cable television. I had no idea how crazy and unfiltered public access television actually was, and very little can prepare you for just how unhinged and mature things got. “Public Access” amasses a huge collection of archival footage stitch together to tell the story of this new, accessible platform for artists that paved the way for the internet world we know today. An American experiment that saw itself on the frontlines of free speech battles, broke all the rules and transformed television in ways we didn’t even realize came from public access television. “Public Access” is definitely for mature audiences, as it is explicit in its sexual content and gets weird in more ways than one, but you’ll be treated to a whole new world of what television was at a time of explosive discovery and new ideas. Definitely recommend!
“TheyDream“
A testament to the catharsis of art, “TheyDream” is a deeply personal, highly unique and creative look at a young Puerto Rican’s filmmaker’s life and the family lost and loved throughout his journey. William David Caballero uses multiple animation styles to retell personal stories and memories and brings to life loved ones in truly special ways. Stop motion, miniatures, digital artwork and even paper cutouts are all ways “TheyDream” injects new life into lost family members, turning tragedy and memories into evergreen films. It’s beautiful and heartbreaking but also humorous and hopeful, the kind of film that isn’t really about anything but manages to be universal in the experiences being examined. It’s the kind of film that makes you want to hug your parents when its over, and “TheyDream” left me in tears more than once. Can’t recommend this one enough. There’s really nothing like it and may be one of the most original and emotionally engaging documentaries I’ve seen so far.
“Ghosts In The Machine“
I’m pretty open about my alarmist rejection of AI, so “Ghosts in the Machine” is the perfect kind of film for someone already on the outs with the new technology. But rather than rehash the common perspectives of those who are against environmentally and ethically – the film does touch on these things – it zeroes in on a core principle very few people even realize let alone say out loud. AI is rooted in eugenics, and “Ghosts in the Machine” documents the history of just how tied to eugenics and racism AI actually is. The measuring of intelligence is literally born out of these harmful theories, and it makes sense when you remember that most generative AI programs end up being horrifically racist and start spouting off white supremist rhetoric. “Ghosts in the Machine” is a hard but necessary watch, one that may feel like sensory overload but sheds some new light on this very dangerous and ubiquitous technology.
More films to come as we gear up to touch down in Park City! Check back for more recommendations and news.
