SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- In the first of four program announcements, Sundance Institute today announced the line-up of films for the Independent Feature Film and World Cinema Competitions in the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, taking place January 19-29, 2006, in Park City, Utah. The Competition categories provide audiences with a first look at the most compelling new dramatic and documentary films from emerging independent filmmakers. As the premier showcase for the best new work of American independent and international filmmakers, the Sundance Film Festival screens films that embody creative risk-taking, diversity, and aesthetic innovation.

For the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, 120 feature films were selected including 84 World Premieres, 18 North American Premieres and 15 U.S. Premieres representing 29 countries with 48 first time feature filmmakers. These films were selected from 3,148 feature submissions composed of 1,764 U.S. feature films and 1,384 international feature films. These numbers represent an increase from 2005 when 1,385 U.S. feature films and 1,228 international films were considered.

"This year's program reflects all the exceptional qualities we've come to associate with independent film. Every category is filled with fresh, original voices with quality storytelling that take risks and will not be mistaken for typical mainstream fare," said Geoffrey Gilmore, Director of the Sundance Film Festival. "Additionally, in this, the second year of the Festival's World Cinema Competition, we were particularly impressed with the originality and caliber of this year's crop of international filmmakers, with stories to tell from South Africa, China, South Korea, Denmark, to Argentina, Bosnia and Lebanon."

The Independent Feature Film Competition is the heart of the Sundance Film Festival program and has introduced audiences to many of the best American independent films and filmmakers of the past 22 years. Launched in 2005, The World Cinema Competition reflects the Festival's commitment to international film and to stimulating creative dialogue among cultures. The dramatic and documentary sections of the Independent Film and World Cinema Competitions each present 16 films, for a total of 64 films that screen in competition.

"This Festival has always been about independent films with independent spirit and aesthetic and ideological diversity. This year, we found many talented first time directors making original films in content and style and we're excited to share with audiences these American and international cinematic discoveries," said John Cooper, Director of Programming.

Festival films screen in nine sections: Documentary Competition, Dramatic Competition, World Cinema Documentary Competition, World Cinema Dramatic Competition, Spectrum, Frontier, Park City at Midnight, Sundance Collection and Premieres. Feature films selected for Spectrum, Frontier and Park City at Midnight categories will be announced on Tuesday, November 29. The Premieres section will be announced on Wednesday, November 30 and the Short Film program will be announced on Monday, December 5. A complete list of films and other information is available at www.sundance.org.

The Sundance Film Festival is a core program of Sundance Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated year-round to the discovery and development of independent film and theatre artists and audiences. 2006 marks the 22nd year of the Festival and the Institute's 25th anniversary. Anniversary-related activities will take place throughout 2006 and will be announced at the Festival.

American films selected to screen in Dramatic and Documentary Competitions are eligible for a number of jury awards including Grand Jury Prizes, Cinematography Awards and Directing Awards. Other jury awards include the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award sponsored by Utah Film Commission and presented to a film in Dramatic Competition. New this year is a Documentary Editing Award presented to the editor of a documentary film in competition. The Alfred P. Sloan Prize will also be presented to an outstanding dramatic feature film for the quality of its presentation of science or technology themes. Films in the Independent Feature Film Competition will also be eligible for the Dramatic and Documentary Audience Awards. Films screening in the World Cinema Dramatic and Documentary Competition are eligible for the World Cinema Jury Prizes and World Cinema Audience Awards.