A little over twenty years ago, a film that would help change the landscape for independent film debuted at Sundance: Napoleon Dynamite.
Stars Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite), Efren Ramirez (Pedro), Jon Gries (Uncle Rico), Shondrella Avery (Lafawnduh) and co-writer Jerusha Hess were on hand for a special screening of the indie sensation.
In December, it was announced that the film was undergoing a 4K restoration, with an original 35mm negative digitally scanned into 4K as part of Sundance’s 40th anniversary celebration.
The $400,000 film was purchased by Fox Searchlight from Sundance for $4 million and grossed over $44 million in the summer of 2004.
Heder stepped out in a light blue denim jacket with Levi’s fur lining and a gray sweater with a colorful scarf.
The bearded actor also wore a brown leather fanny pack, black pants and brown work boots.
Stars Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite), Efren Ramirez (Pedro), Jon Gries (Uncle Rico), Shondrella Avery (Lafawnduh) and co-writer Jerusha Hess were on hand for a special screening of the indie sensation Napoleon Dynamite, premiering 20 years later; Efren Ramirez and Jon Heder pictured Wednesday at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival at the Ray Theater in Park City, Utah
Indie hit: A little over two decades ago, a film debuted at Sundance that would help change the landscape for independent films: Napoleon Dynamite; Efren and Jon depicted in the film
Stars Jon Heder (center left, Napoleon Dynamite), Efren Ramirez (center right, Pedro), Jon Gries (far right, Uncle Rico), Shondrella Avery (center, Lafawnduh) and co-writer Jerusha Hess (left) were on hand for a special showing of the indie sensation
In December, it was announced that the film was undergoing a 4K restoration, with an original 35mm negative digitally scanned into 4K as part of Sundance’s 40th anniversary celebration.
Heder stepped out in a light blue denim jacket with Levi’s fur lining and a gray sweater with a colorful scarf
Ramirez opted for a black denim jacket over a black sweater and a white shirt with black framed glasses.
He also had a gray scarf wrapped around his neck to stay warm in the cold Utah environment.
The actor completed his look with matching black pants and black Doc Martens boots for the event.
Gries opted for a kelly green Oakland A’s baseball cap with a black sweater and a plaid scarf.
He also opted for black pants and gray shoes for the 20th anniversary outing at Sundance.
Avery opted for an oversized black coat and a long black scarf with black leggings and black boots, accessorized with a black clutch.
Co-writer Hess opted for a black sweater and matching black dress and black boots for the outing.
The new 4K restoration was overseen by director Jared Hess, with all color and restoration work done in 4K resolution.
Ramirez opted for a black denim jacket over a black sweater and white shirt with black framed glasses
Gries opted for a kelly green Oakland A’s baseball cap with a black sweater and a plaid scarf
Avery opted for an oversized black coat and a long black scarf with black leggings and black boots, accessorizing with a black clutch
Co-writer Hess opted for a black sweater and matching black dress and black boots for the outing
The new 4K restoration was overseen by director Jared Hess, with all color and restoration work done in 4K resolution
“Returning to Sundance with Napoleon Dynamite feels like coming home. When it premiered at the festival 20 years ago, we never expected the incredible response it would receive,” director Jared Hess said in a statement.
“Returning to Sundance with Napoleon Dynamite feels like coming home. When it premiered at the festival 20 years ago, we never expected the incredible response it would receive,” director Jared Hess said in a statement.
“It has always been a very personal film for Jerusha and me, so the love affair it has had with audiences over all these years continues to surprise us,” he added.
“In commemoration of the 20th anniversary, we are pleased to be showing this newly restored version of Napoleon Dynamite,” he continued.
‘The restoration team did a fantastic job bringing to life new details from the negative of the original film that we had never seen before. We can’t wait to share it!’ he concluded.