Oscar-winning director Daniel Roher returned to the Sundance Film Festival with a fresh creative direction, presenting his new Sundance film, Tuner, on opening day.
Roher, who won the Best Documentary Oscar for Navalny, shifted from documentary storytelling to fiction. Tuner stars Dustin Hoffman and Leo Woodall and blends romance, thriller, and drama. The story follows Woodall’s character, Nikki, a talented pianist with hypersensitive hearing, whose rare skill lands him in unexpected danger.
“The idea came from a chance meeting with a piano tuner,” Roher explained. “I wanted to explore atrophy, entropy, and the forces of the universe.” Hoffman plays a mentor and piano shop owner who guides Nikki through life and music. Roher called working with Hoffman a unique learning experience, noting the veteran actor’s dedication and respect for the craft.
In addition to Tuner, the festival showcased other highlights, including Mohammed Ali Naqvi’s Sundance film, Hanging By A Wire. This gripping documentary depicts the real-life rescue of Pakistani schoolboys stranded in a Himalayan cable car. Using cellphone footage and drone shots, the film captures both the danger and urgency of the rescue. Naqvi said he drew inspiration from 1980s and 1990s action thrillers to give the documentary a cinematic pace.
Another debut, Louis Paxton’s dark comedy The Incomer, blends Scottish folklore with a story about islanders resisting eviction. Domhnall Gleeson leads the cast in this quirky, character-driven Sundance film, exploring themes of isolation and belonging.
Festival-goers praised the diversity and creativity of this year’s lineup. With a mix of fiction, documentaries, and dark comedies, the 2026 Sundance Film Festival promises to deliver both innovation and suspense.
Sundance runs until February 1, highlighting fresh perspectives in both independent and mainstream filmmaking. This year, the festival continues to reinforce its reputation as a platform for emerging talent and established directors alike.
In other news read more about: Hollywood Legend Robert Redford Dies at age 89
