Billboard’s new home every January? The Sundance Film Festival in
 Park City, Utah. What started as a must for film insiders has become a 
mecca for music as well, with lots of great concerts, parties, pop-star 
sightings, music documentaries and more.
After a whirlwind, 
insomniac week-and-a-half in the mountains, we looked back at our packed
 schedules and narrowed them down to this best of the best from 
Sundance.
Michael Jackson’s Journey From Motown to Off the Wall
Spike
 Lee’s documentary looks at a crucial, often overlooked period of the 
singer’s life, when he made the difficult transition from 
Jackson 5 boy bander to grown-up solo star. There’s forgotten footage of 
MJ
 interviews and performances (him tapdancing with the Nicolas Brothers 
is a particular treat) and revealing interviews from both past 
collaborators and present-day stars (
The Weeknd,
 Questlove, ballerina Misty Copeland) who were influenced by him. It’s a
 delight for any music fan, and an absolute must for Jackson fanatics.
Nick Jonas in Goat
From boy bander to solo pop star to TV star, 
Nick Jonas isn’t done evolving: 
Goat, a
 gripping drama that spotlights fraternity hazing and male 
relationships, could be his breakout big-screen role. Jonas is 
convincing and subtle in his role as Brad, the older brother of a new 
fraternity pledge. The film has yet to announce a theatrical release or a
 buyer, but it definitely emerged as one of the most buzzed-about 
projects at Sundance.
Sting and J. Ralph at Sundance’s ASCAP Music Cafe
On
 a wintry Saturday evening at Sundance, an intimate industry gathering 
paid tribute to a tragic loss of journalist James Foley, who was 
murdered by ISIS in August 2014. 
Sting and J. Ralph appeared in support of documentary film
, Jim: The James Foley Story,
 to which they contributed haunting song "The Empty Chair." Recognizing 
the members of Foley's family in attendance, English singer/songwriter 
hailed the movie as "the most important film you will see this year." 
Sting kept the mood light initially with well-received opener “Message 
in a Bottle,” and a cover of 
Johnny Cash’s
 “I Hung My Head,” quipping, “it’s difficult for an Englishman to sing a
 country song. It’s a question of authenticity.” But the show’s 
emotional apex soon came as J. Ralph joined Sting onstage for what 
The Police’s former frontman called “the main event” -- a heartbreaking performance of “The Empty Chair.”
Flying Lotus at Base Camp 
Sundance’s
 first-ever Base Camp music and film stage, curated by Franki Chan’s LA 
collective IHEARTCOMIX, proved to be one of the festival’s unheralded 
highlights, with free admission, food trucks, an outdoor text right off 
main street, and most of all, great music. On Saturday, 
Flying Lotus took no prisoners in an animated hip-hop heavy set that culminated in a raucous rendition of 
Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright.” “Y’all are fun,” he interrupted his booming 808s to announce with a giant smile.
Diplo at Samsung Late Night LEVEL Party
Samsung celebrated the launch of its LEVEL headphone line by bringing surprise guest 
Diplo
 to drop mostly hip-hop jams to the delight of a celebrity-studded 
cocktail party at O.P. Rockwell. Afterwards, Diplo took to the decks at 
TAO, the popular nightlife pop-up whose notoriously tough door had even 
the Mad Decent boss waiting outside for a bit.
Southside With You
Richard Tanne's 
Before Sunset-esque
 film about the Obamas' first date is emotional, enjoyable and 
inspiring. Leaving aside the politics, it’s a treat to watch these two 
people get to know each other, with just small hints of the big things 
that await them. The film also features a moving tune by 
John Legend that plays over the credits (Legend also co-produced the film).
Lena Dunham Chat
At a
 Times
 Talk Friday on Main Street Friday, Lena Dunham and Norman Lear had an 
engaging conversation about television, character creation, "political 
correctness” and Donald Trump (needless to say, neither are fans). The 
enlightening conversation was a treat to watch -- Dunham's obvious 
fondness for Lear, and his for her, was obvious.
Tallulah
Call it three women and a baby. Featuring knockout performances by Ellen Page, Allison Janney and Tammy Blanchard 
Tallulah
 tells the story of three very different ladies, and the way their lives
 connect after homeless teen Tallulah (Page) makes a rash decision to 
kidnap a toddler. Emotional and powerful, the film has already been 
picked up by Netflix, so fans all over will get a chance to check out in
 the coming months.
Billboard Winterfest
Hey, what can we say? Our second annual concert series at Sundance was pretty damn good, with 
Wiz Khalifa, 
Travis Scott, 
Cage the Elephant, 
Chainsmokers and 
Kygo performing raucous sets to a great mixed crowd of locals and festival-goers at Park City Live four nights in a row.
Birth of a Nation
Believe
 the hype. This film about slave Nate Turner and the rebellion he led 
not only shines a much-needed spotlight into a little-discussed 
historical benchmark, but it's remarkably shot and acted, at turns 
harrowing and beautiful.