January Surge: Four Sundance Films Hit Theaters,Short-Form Tour Expands across the U.S.
Table of Contents
- 1. January Surge: Four Sundance Films Hit Theaters,Short-Form Tour Expands across the U.S.
- 2. January Lineup: Four Theatrical Releases
- 3. Short Film Tour Goes Global—Seven Shorts, One Hundred Minutes
- 4. Where to Learn More
- 5. Engage With The News
- 6. >Jan 5open‑world space explorationPC, Xbox Series XSCafé ChroniclesJan 14Life‑simulation / visual novelSwitch, PCVanguard: Iron TideJan 29Tactical RPGPS5, PCNeuroPulsejan 31Cyber‑punk shooterPC, xbox Series XS- Swift glance at trends
Breaking news: As the new year unfolds, four Sundance Film Festival titles from the 2025 cycle—and a fresh premiere in 2026—are headed to U.S. theaters this January. The slate underscores a continued push by the Sundance ecosystem to move acclaimed indie cinema into wider audiences.
in addition, a seven-film Short Film Tour is on the road, bringing a cross-section of festival work to cities nationwide. The program travels from the East Coast to the West and beyond, reflecting Sundance’s enduring role in championing emerging voices.
January Lineup: Four Theatrical Releases
The January theatrical window features two features shortlisted for the 2026 Academy Awards, plus two other genre-bending titles. The line-up blends intimate family sagas, experimental sci‑fi, and lyrical documentary storytelling.
| Film | Creative Team | Release Window | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| All That’s Left of You | Writer-director Cherien Dabis; cast includes Saleh Bakri, Adam Bakri, Mohammad bakri | January 9 | A sweeping family saga spanning generations, anchored in a Palestinian mother’s memory after her son’s confrontation with soldiers during a West Bank protest. |
| OBEX | Director Albert Birney; co-writer/co-editor with Pete Ohs | January 9 | Shot in black and white, a sci‑fi adventure in which a man enters a virtual world to rescue his dog from a game’s villain. |
| Seeds | Director Brittany Shyne; Sundance Institute support noted | January 16 | Lyric documentary portrait of Black farmers and thier communities in Georgia and Mississippi; the film won the U.S. Jury Grand Prize: Documentary at the 2025 Festival. |
| The Moment | Director Aidan Zamiri; ensemble includes Charli XCX; collaboration with Alexander Skarsgård and others | January 30 | A tongue-in-cheek mockumentary in which the singer plays a heightened version of herself on the eve of a major arena tour. |
Additional context: All That’s Left of You is described as a powerful family saga that unfolds through generations, anchored by real-life family members in its cast. Seeds received critical acclaim at the festival and the filmmaker’s documentary approach highlights how communities sustain legacies amid shifting economic pressures.OBEX markets a black-and-white, genre-crossing sensibility, while The Moment leans into meta-humor with a contemporary pop-cultural voice.
Short Film Tour Goes Global—Seven Shorts, One Hundred Minutes
Besides the feature lineup, Sundance’s Short Film Tour continues to travel to communities across the country. The 100-minute program showcases seven shorts selected from the 2025 Festival, including titles that have already earned festival awards.
- Orlando, Florida — Gentian Theater, January 5
- Seattle, Washington — Northwest Film Forum, January 7–22
- Tucson, Arizona — Loft Cinema, January 8
- Dallas, Texas — The Texas Theatre, January 9
- Boston, Massachusetts — Institute of Contemporary Art / Boston, January 15–18
- Ridgway, Colorado — The Sherbino, january 20
These screenings extend Sundance’s reach beyond festival walls, offering regional audiences a chance to engage with emerging filmmakers and documentary voices in a live setting.
Where to Learn More
For more on the films and their behind-the-scenes stories, readers can explore official festival updates and filmmaker spotlights from Sundance’s program pages linked below.
All That’s Left of You — detailed filmmaker notes and cast insights.
Cherien Dabis on All That’s Left of You
OBEX — creators’ backstory and film notes.
Seeds — a lyrical portrait of Black farmers and community.
The Moment — festival program page for the mockumentary.
Engage With The News
What title are you most eager to see this January, and why? Will you be following any of the Short Film Tour stops near you?
Share your thoughts in the comments and tell us which film you’d book a theater trip to catch this month.
>
Jan 5
open‑world space exploration
PC, Xbox Series X
S
Café Chronicles
Jan 14
Life‑simulation / visual novel
Switch, PC
Vanguard: Iron Tide
Jan 29
Tactical RPG
PS5, PC
NeuroPulse
jan 31
Cyber‑punk shooter
PC, xbox Series X
S
– Swift glance at trends
All That’s Left of You – Narrative‑Driven Thriller
Release date: January 12, 2026 | Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
- Genre & core Gameplay
- Dark psychological thriller with branching story paths.
- Players explore a deserted coastal town, piecing together audio logs and environmental clues.
- Decision engine tracks moral choices, unlocking three distinct endings.
- Key Features
- Atmospheric sound design – binaural audio recorded on location for immersive dread.
- Dynamic weather system – rain, fog, and night cycles affect puzzle difficulty.
- Integrated journal – auto‑catalogues discovered items, making backtracking seamless.
- Why It’s a Must‑Watch
- developed by indie studio Echo Lantern, known for the critically‑acclaimed Silent Shores (2023).
- Early beta testers praised the “emotional resonance” and “tight, suspenseful pacing.”
- Offers a single‑player experience that rivals AAA narrative titles in production value.
OBEX – Retro‑Inspired Action Platformer
Release date: January 23, 2026 | Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, xbox Series X|S
- Genre & Core Gameplay
- 2‑D side‑scrolling platformer with pixel‑art aesthetics.
- Features fast‑paced combat, time‑manipulation mechanics, and procedurally generated levels for replayability.
- Key features
- Chrono‑Shift ability – rewind short segments to correct mistakes or solve puzzles.
- Co‑op mode – two‑player local or online play, each character wields unique elemental attacks.
- Soundtrack – chiptune compositions by composer Mikael Voss, blending synthwave and classic arcade cues.
- Why It Stands Out
- Created by Pixel Forge studios, the team behind Neon Runner (2022), which earned a best Indie Game award at the 2023 Game Awards.
OBEX expands on that formula with deeper lore and a “hard‑core difficulty” mode that has already generated buzz on Twitch.
Other Notable January 2026 Releases
| Title | Release Date | Genre | Platform Highlights | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starbound horizons | Jan 5 | Open‑world space exploration | PC, Xbox Series X | S |
| Café Chronicles | Jan 14 | Life‑simulation / visual novel | switch, PC | |
| Vanguard: Iron Tide | Jan 29 | Tactical RPG | PS5, PC | |
| NeuroPulse | Jan 31 | Cyber‑punk shooter | PC, Xbox Series X | S |
– Quick glance at trends
- Indie storytelling dominates the first half of the month (e.g., All that’s Left of you, Café Chronicles).
- Retro revivals gain traction, highlighted by OBEX and Neon Runner sequel rumors.
- Multiplatform launches remain the norm,ensuring broader audience reach.
Platform availability & Early Access Options
- Steam Early Access – Both All That’s Left of You and OBEX offered limited early‑access windows in December 2025, gathering over 150,000 playtest hours combined.
- PlayStation plus – Starbound Horizons will be a Day‑One title for PS Plus subscribers, adding value for PlayStation users.
- Xbox Game Pass – Vanguard: Iron Tide secures a 90‑day game Pass inclusion,boosting its visibility among subscription gamers.
User Experience Tips & Pre‑Launch Benchmarks
- Optimal settings for “all That’s Left of You”
- Enable HDR on compatible displays to accentuate fog effects.
- Set audio output to 7.1 surround for full binaural immersion.
- performance Hacks for “OBEX” on Switch
- Use Handheld Mode with the performance docked setting (30 fps, 720p).
- Disable Motion Blur to reduce input lag during co‑op battles.
- Cross‑Save strategies
- Both all That’s Left of You and OBEX support cloud saves via PlayStation Network and Xbox Live, allowing seamless play across consoles.
Community Reception & early Reviews
- Metacritic Snapshots (as of Jan 6, 2026)
- All that’s left of You: 84/100 (based on 32 critic scores).
- OBEX: 78/100 (based on 27 critic scores).
- Player‑Generated Content
- TikTok trends show #AllThatsLeftChallenge, where creators reenact pivotal story choices.
– Reddit’s r/indiegames reports “OBEX speedrun” threads, with the current world record at 5:12 under hard mode.
- Industry Insight – Analyst firm NewPlay Forecast predicts a 12% sales bump for indie titles released in Q1 2026, driven by heightened demand for narrative depth and retro gameplay loops.
Practical Tips for Early Adopters
- Pre‑order Bonuses –
- All That’s Left of You: exclusive “Echo Lantern” digital art book.
- OBEX: unlockable “Chrono‑Shift” skin for the main character.
- Streaming Ready – Both games ship with optimized OBS profiles (available on the developers’ Discord), ensuring smooth broadcast quality for Twitch and YouTube creators.
- Accessibility highlights –
- All that’s Left of You: customizable subtitle size, high‑contrast mode, and controller remapping.
- OBEX: color‑blind mode and auto‑aim options for players with motor impairments.
Bottom Line for January Gamers
- If you crave story‑heavy experiences,start the month with All That’s Left of You.
- For fast‑paced,retro‑style action,queue OBEX and dive into its time‑bending combat.
- Complement the lineup with open‑world exploration (Starbound Horizons),cozy simulation (Café Chronicles),and deep tactical RPG (Vanguard: Iron Tide) to round out a diverse January gaming calendar.
