Variety Announces Lineup for Sundance Film Festival Interview Studio, Presented by Audible, Featuring Jodie Foster, Pedro Pascal, Will Ferrell, Lionel Richie

Variety is returning to the Sundance Film Festival this year with its annual Interview Studio, presented by Audible, the leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling. Throughout the festival, videos from the interview studio will be distributed across Variety.com as well as Variety and Audible’s social media channels (Instagram: @audible, @Variety; Twitter: @audible_com, @Variety; TikTok: @audible, @VarietyMagazine).

Beginning Friday, January 19, running through Sunday, January 21, the Variety Studio, presented by Audible, will feature interviews with industry-leading directors and top talent from the films premiering at the Sundance Film Festival. Confirmed talent includes Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin (“A Real Pain”); Jodie Foster, Alex Hedison, Alok Vaid-Menon (“Alok”); Lionel Richie, Bao Nguyen, Julia Nottingham (“The Greatest Night in Pop”); Kerry Washington, Angela Patton, Natalie Rae (“Daughters”); June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Clark Gregg, Josh Margolin (“Thelma”); Anna Fleck, Ryan Boden, Pedro Pascal, Jay Ellis, Normani, Dominique Thorn, Ji-Young Yoo, Jack Champion (“Freaky Tales”); Richard Linklater, Glen Powell (“Hit Man”); Susanna Fogel, Emilia Jones, Zach Galifianakis, Kathryn Newton, Danny Ramirez (“Winner”); Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jay Will, Camila Cabello (“Rob Peace”); Will Ferrell, Harper Steele (“Will & Harper”).

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Additionally, talent and creators from the following projects will also participate in the interview studio: “Sue Bird: In The Clutch,” “The American Society of Magical Negroes,” “Sasquatch Sunset,” “Presence,” “The Outrun,” “Little Death,” “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story,” “Krazy House,” “Ponyboi,” “Chrissy & Dave Dine Out,” “A Different Man,” “Exhibiting Forgiveness” and “Your Monster.”

In addition to the interview studio, Variety and Audible will once again host “Variety x Audible Cocktails & Conversations” events taking place on the evenings of Friday, January 19 and Sunday, January 21. On Friday, a dynamic conversation with Kenya Barris, the award-winning multi-hyphenate behind titles such as “Black-ish,” “You People,” “#blackAF,” “Girls Trip,” and the Founder & CEO of Khalabo Ink Society, and Audible’s Chief Content Officer Rachel Ghiazza will be led by Variety’s Brent Lang. Barris will delve into the unique creative opportunities available through audio storytelling, highlighting the multi-project development deal between Khalabo Ink Society and Audible resulting in their latest project, “DJ Drama’s Gangsta Grillz Podcast.”

The conversation on Sunday, January 21 will explore the importance of creative freedom in storytelling, across different mediums of entertainment. Susanna Fogel, Writer, Director, Producer, “Winner”, Giancarlo Esposito, Executive Producer and Star, AMC’s “Parish”, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Director, Writer, Actor, “Rob Peace”, Alok Vaid-Menon, Author, Poet, Comedian & Public Speaker, and Audible’s Kate Navin, Head of Creative Development, North America, will join Variety’s Angelique Jackson to discuss their experiences defying expectations and challenging genre norms for greater expression and innovation, opening new doors for creativity and the future of storytelling.

Throughout the weekend, the Audible Listening Lodge will again be open to festival attendees as a cozy escape from the hustle and bustle of Sundance to relax, connect, and recharge around fireplaces between screenings. Located on the outside terrace of Kimball Terrace on Main Street, film-goers will have the daily opportunity to hear Audible’s selection of premium podcasts, audiobooks, and Originals while relaxing in bespoke listening gondolas. Various hot and cold beverages and light bites will also be served on-site. The Audible Listening Lodge is open to the public Friday through Sunday (Friday, January 19: 11am-4pm; Saturday, January 20: 12pm-6pm; Sunday, January 21: 11am-4pm).

Listeners can discover some of the world’s most groundbreaking storytellers on Audible, featuring curated listens in the spirit of the festival, from Sundance creators, and more: https://adbl.co/audiblelistens

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