PARK CITY — It all started to unfold with 8,731 films flowing in as submissions for entry into the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.
In the court of creative criticism, the number of so-called independent productions was carved down to 207 final selections. The films then flicker to life in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and in a screening room at festival founder Robert Redford's Sundance Resort.
In 10 cold days in January, well over 1,200 volunteers become the engine that keeps the festival humming for about 1,300 media types in town to dissect and air every festival angle they can.
The oldest volunteer is 82. And they come to help from as far away as Australia, Brazil, Italy, Switzerland and 41 U.S. states.
Canadian James Keena has worked the Toronto Film Festival and other festivals. He heard a lot of good things about Sundance and wanted to try it out for the first time this year. He landed a sweet post, too, right outside of the Egyptian Theatre on Main Street.
"I have a real strong passion for producing," Keena said about his motivation for working film festivals. "The best part? We get to see lots of free films and talk to lots of interesting people. There really isn't a bad part."
One woman, Julie Freestone, is director of human relations for the Sundance Institute. Part of her job is matching the festival's needs, broken down into 50 departments, with all of the volunteers.
"Within these 50 departments we have over 100 different roles that are filled by volunteers," Freestone said. "The most rewarding part of this work is meeting the individuals who will fill these roles."
Nearly 800 volunteers have more than five years under their belt with the festival. Why so many repeats?
"I think each individual has his or her own motivation, but one common theme I hear is a love of film," Freestone said. "Many will describe the Sundance Film Festival as a family, and as the volunteers arrive each year it does feel like a reunion."
What do they get out of it?
Freestone said some volunteers will actually make a "significant" investment to volunteer, paying for their own travel from outside the state and covering other related expenses. In return, helpers get a Sundance coat courtesy of Kenneth Cole, access to films, free lodging in some cases and a small expense-relief payment.
The most coveted volunteer posts that quickly get filled are the Main Street venues in Park City or being part of a theater team. The toughest jobs, Freestone said, may belong to the transportation liaisons, who sometimes have to stand out in the cold for long stretches to help people like reporters and photographers get where they need to go.
"Next time you're at one of our shuttle stops, thank the volunteer on duty," Freestone said.
Each year, more and more media teams flock to the increasingly popular, now Hollywood-like celebration of cinema from Argentina, Croatia, Hungary, Japan, Nigeria, Venezuela and Yugoslavia — 27 countries in all.
Giovanna Grassi, a reporter for the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, is now based in Los Angeles, assigned to cover the Hollywood scene and other festivals. Her relationship with Sundance began 10 years ago.
"It was very difficult to convince my newspaper to write a lot of articles about Sundance, because it was not as famous as Cannes or Berlin," Grassi said.
Her paper isn't printing Sundance news every day, but the festival does get covered every year. In particular, Grassi is focusing this year on finding dramatic documentaries to write about.
"I really believe in the importance of Sundance," Grassi said.
E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com