Sundance Film Festival Kicks Off Today

Sundance 2004 gets underway tonight with the premiere of "Riding Giants," a documentary by Stacy Peralta ("Dogtown and Z-Boys.") Last year's grand jury winner "American Splendor" appeared on many critics' top ten lists. This year's festival promises once again a mix of high profile pictures and work by unknown filmmakers. Superstar Nicole Kidman will be in attendance to promote Lars Von Trier's "Dogville," and in a festival first, Sundance founder Robert Redford will appear on the big screen as a kidnapped father in "The Clearing."

High buzz screenings include the premiere of Bernardo Bertolucci's sexually provocative drama "The Dreamers, " "Maria and Bruce" starring Julianne Moore and Matthew Broderick, "Garden State," the debut feature from Zach Braff with Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, and Ian Holm, and "Iron Jawed Angels" starring Hilary Swank and Frances O'Connor.