Director: Ryan Coogler
Stars: Michael B. Jordan, Octavia Spencer, Melonie Diaz, Kevin Durand
Release Date: TBD
Festival Speculation: Cannes, Telluride, Toronto
Distributor: The Weinstein Company
Why: Ryan Coogler's document of the night of the events that took place at the Fruitvale BART station in Oakland in the wee hours of January 1, 2009, and those that led up to them, had many an audience openly weeping at the Sundance Film Festival this year. The Weinstein Company was quick to pick the title up, presumably to position it for some awards attention later in the year. Michael B. Jordan's lead performance is a star-making one for those not aware of his work in "The Wire" and "Friday Night Lights" and maybe the entire enterprise can break out of the Gotham Awards/Indie Spirits corridor and onto a bigger, bolder stage.

- Kristopher Tapley