Freaky Tales, Kristen Stewart and Christopher Nolan help kick off Sundance

Kristen Stewart attends the 2024 Sundance Film Festival’s Opening Night Gala on Thursday (Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

Thousands of cinema lovers, Hollywood celebrities, industry executives and filmmakers from around the world have arrived in a snowy Park City, Utah, for 10 days of movie watching.

The 40th edition of the Sundance Film Festival, the world’s premier showcase for independent film, kicked off on Thursday with a starry gala honouring festival veterans such as Kristen Stewart and Christopher Nolan and numerous world premieres.