Film: Sundance sundown

This year, independent films no better than Hollywood | Pamela Johnson

Of the five best-picture Oscar nominations, four (Secrets & Lies, Fargo, The English Patient, and Shine) were produced by independent studios. This was something of a slap in the face to the major studios; some in the motion-picture industry are blaming the bottom-line mentality prevalent in the major studios for mediocre products and flagging box-office receipts. The independents have made some fine films that have been positive alternatives to the standard Hollywood fare. But if this year's film festivals are previews of coming attractions, it appears that the next crop of films from the independents will be as morally challenged as anything from Hollywood.

One problem is that independent filmmakers can never fully escape Hollywood. While they enjoy the creative advantage of molding a movie into their own image, they must still secure a distribution deal with a larger company or studio. To find distributors, independents shop their wares among the various film festivals, the most prestigious being Robert Redford's Sundance Film Festival, held each January in Park City, Utah.