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Heading to the Berlin Film Festival this week after its Sundance preiere, The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman has been a high on everyone's radar for the year. And although it opened to mixed reviews in Park City, the thriller may prove to have a different sway with European audiences and those outside the festival. From music video direct Fredrik Bond in his directorial debut, the film stars the powerfully beautiful Evan Rachel Wood and Shia Labeuf, who hopefully gets to exercise some of his darker acting chops this time around.

Amidst the delirium of award season, the annual Sundance Film Festival creeps up every January to remind us each year that the scope of Hollywood is changing and being infiltrated with a host of new talent and emerging artists from around the world. The festival is a beacon for A-list talent as well as those new to the world of cinema who are getting their first premieres and chance at large-scale recognition. With an enormous slate of films, the festival will commence on Thursday and feature new work from those you already know and worship and those whose names are on the tip of our tongues.