For all you "indie-nistas" out there, the films screening in competition this year at the Festival have been announced. It's broken down into the Independent Feature Film (USA) and World Cinema (rest of world) categories and then into dramatic and documentary sections. Click Here for the full list - it is way too much to type in here. While you're there take a gander at the Spectrum, Frontier, Park City at Midnight, Sundance Collection and Premieres line-ups as well.

To put it all in perspective, 120 feature films were selected (29 countries and 48 first time filmmakers represented) from 3,148 feature submissions (up from 2,613 feature submissions last year). 

And not to be forgotten, the Short Film program is perfect for all those with A.D.D. There are 73 short films in the Festival culled from 4,327 submissions.  You can watch them online anytime at www.sundance.org starting on January 19th. 

That's all for now.

If you're heading to the Sundance Film Festival you've probably already worn out your Sharpie marking up your calendar with festival dates and party times.  But you'll definitely want to take special note of the films that are opening and closing the event.

On January 19th, Nicole Holofcener's Friends with Money marks the official start of the Festival.  It's screening out of competition, but with a post-Pitt Jennifer Aniston and indie icons Frances McDormand and Joan Cusack heading up the cast, you really can't go wrong.

As we all get ready to nurse our week-long hangovers and head on home, you'll want to take that one final hit on January 27th with Nick Cassavetes' Alpha Dog, the true story of suburban drug dealer Jesse James Hollywood, who made the FBI's most wanted list at the tender age of 19.

For more info on these films and the complete line-up of films screening at the Festival Click Here

Later.

It's the dawn of a new era in independent film coverage! And guess what the biggest news to hit the festival circuit in years is? (drum roll please....) The gala premiere of the Sundance Channel blog on MSN Spaces!

Okay, so you're seeing right through my delusional self importance. But I know you all want the latest and greatest info and gossip from the upcoming Sundance Film Festival, and where better to get it from than the Official TV Network of the Sundance Film Festival? Looking for info on the films in competition? The scoop on the after-parties? The latest haute couture being peddled by Paris Hilton? You'll find it here. Well, except maybe for that last part.

The 2006 Sundance Film Festival runs from January 19-29, but we're beginning our coverage right now. Check back early and check back often for updates from Park City and beyond. In the meantime, check out the Sundance Channel and Sundance Institute web sites for press releases, full festival line-ups and more.

And remember we'll be streaming video clips of our Festival Dailies show - our nightly recap of what's going on at the Festival - right here in our blog. You can also catch Festival Dailies on Sundance Channel at 9pm EST starting Jan. 20 - 29.

See you on Main Street!