Sundance buzz brings films to look forward to

The Sundance Film Festival has grown into the arbiter of off-the-radar films that will populate theaters in the coming year and usher in the groundbreaking filmmakers of tomorrow. Soon after its first year in 1984, the festival demonstrated its ability to showcase young talent working outside the confines of the studios when a little film noir titled "Blood Simple" introduced us to a talented sibling duo by the name of Joel and Ethan Coen.

In the years that followed, Sundance provided the launching pad for such names as Quentin Tarantino, Jim Jarmusch, Paul Thomas Anderson, Ava DuVernay, Robert Rodriguez, Darren Aronofsky, Rian Johnson, Steven Soderbergh and Christopher Nolan.

Many of the names attached to this year's Oscar contenders began their careers at the prestigious festival, so it's wise to keep tabs on the films that emerge each year, not so much for the specific films, but so you can be the first on the bandwagon and say things like: "I like their earlier stuff..." or I remember them when...."

With that in mind, here are a few of the top films that created quite a buzz at this year's Sundance and whose directors, etc. just might be the Oscar nominees of 2028:

Blindspotting: Imagine a racially "woke" "48 Hrs." and you're getting close to "Blindspotting." A young black man, Collin (Daveed Diggs), is finishing out the final days of his parole sentence, and he and his best bud Miles (Rafael Casal), a white dude, struggle to get by in their evolving Oakland neighborhood. This film plays it for laughs as much as it plays it straight when it turns to the topic of racism. Directed by Carlos Lopez Estrada.

Eighth Grade: Comedian Bo Burnham has torn up the comedy charts from a very young age, releasing his first album at the age of 18, so he is no stranger to growing up quickly. This is perhaps the reason why his debut as a director has resonated so well and seems quite attuned to the struggles of a middle schooler. Social media addiction looms heavy in a dramedy that many kids (and parents) may find far too relevant.

I Think We're Alone Now: Peter Dinklage plays a loner who begrudgingly befriends Elle Fanning when they find they are survivors of an apocalypse. Both try to make sense of (and just merely make it in) the new world in their own ways. The drama boasts both actors at the top of their respective games. Directed by Reed Morano.

Assassination Nation: Billing itself as a "thousand percent true" story, "Assassination Nation" has just the right hyperbole, as do its teen protagonists. A social satire on mob justice, social media, the self-righteous and gun culture, its in-your-face attitude is bound to piss off as many as it will attract. Directed by Sam Levinson.

The Death of Stalin: Actually debuting at the Toronto Film Festival in September, "Stalin" is making stops around the globe at various festivals before a wider release. Armando Iannucci, director of "In the Loop," and creator of "Veep" and perhaps one of the funniest, most enduring comedic characters ever, Alan Partridge, is the director of this pitch-black comedy about the descent into chaos following the titular action. It features inept bureaucrats, meddling ministers, and opportunists who seek control of the Soviet Union in the wake of the leader's demise.

Hereditary: Toni Collette stars as an artist who struggles with two challenging children and the death of her mother. Ann Dowd co-stars as a woman who wishes to assist with her loss, but finds it difficult to distinguish reality from stories created by Collette herself. Moody, atmospheric and reminiscent of old-school horror such as "The Exorcist" and "Rosemary's Baby," but with the modern tension of films such as "The Babadook" and "The Witch," "Hereditary" will get a wide release to audiences this summer.