Two ITVS films make it to Sundance; Elmo, too

The Sundance Institute on Wednesday (Dec. 1) revealed the lineup of competition for the 2011 Sundance Film Festival in January. Two ITVS-funded docs are on the list: "If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation," profiling a radical environmental group, in the U.S. Documentary competition; and "Family Portrait in Black and White," in the World Cinema Documentary competition, an examination of interracial individuals and relationships in Eastern Europe. Other entries include "Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey," which follows Kevin Clash, the man behind the iconic character. A Sesame Workshop spokesperson said it did not fund the project but provided access to Clash for the filmmaker. A full list of films in the festival is here.

UPDATE: Two additional ITVS-funded films will premiere at the festival, Jan. 20-30 in Park City, Utah: "Granito," looking at Guatemala's efforts to heal after decades of turmoil; and "The Interrupters," following several former gang members now working to protect the communities they once terrorized.