PARK CITY, Utah — In a recent development at the Sundance Film Festival, the film “Twinless” has been withdrawn from the festival’s online platform following an incident of piracy. This marks the second film to be removed from the digital venue after another title faced similar issues.
“Twinless,” which quickly gained popularity at Sundance, features Dylan O’Brien in a dual role as twin brothers Rocky and Roman. The plot thickens as Roman navigates through the grief of losing his brother Rocky, whose lover, Dennis, played by James Sweeney—who also directs and writes the film—feels a lingering sense of responsibility for Rocky’s death. Their story unfolds against the backdrop of a twin grieving therapy circle, interwoven with emotionally intense and provocative scenes.
The film premiered as part of the opening day lineup at Sundance and has since received critical acclaim, boasting a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from critics. It also captured the Audience Award for U.S. Dramatic and a Special Jury Award for Dylan O’Brien’s performance.
However, the festival’s pivot to include streaming options, initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic and continued post-pandemic, has stirred mixed reactions within the industry. Despite the convenience and expanded access, the online platform has proven to be vulnerable to piracy. This year’s streaming operation started on Jan. 30 and is scheduled to end by midnight on Feb. 2.
In response to the unauthorized distribution of “Twinless,” Sundance, in collaboration with the filmmakers, decided to pull the film to prevent further infringement. The festival expressed regret for the inconvenience to online ticket holders, who will now receive vouchers to view other films.
In a statement, Sundance emphasized their commitment to protecting independent filmmakers and their work. They noted the seriousness with which they regard copyright infringement and pledged full cooperation with law enforcement to address these issues.
The film, created by Republic Pictures, a division under Paramount Pictures, and made on a modest budget, has attracted significant interest from potential buyers, likening the interest to planes circling Chicago’s O’Hare Airport.
The debate over the benefits and drawbacks of digital film festival platforms continues as organizers navigate the challenges of safeguarding copyrighted content while making independent films accessible to a broader audience. Similar streaming setups were adopted by other festivals like TIFF during the pandemic, but were later discontinued as the challenge of controlling piracy became apparent.
As the industry searches for a balance between access and protection, the experience of Sundance may serve as a learning curve for future digital engagements in the festival circuit.
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