So… my Sundance 2012 predictions list traveled quite a bit it seems, if the number of emails I received afterward alerting me to other potential *black films* that might get into the festival (a few even confirming with me that they were in, though I won't say which :))

The festival is scheduled to announce its first batch of entries (the dramatic competition titles) sometime today, likely any minute now; and once that happens, we'll obviously know much more about the fate of the titles I mentioned on my predictions list, as well as those that I didn't, for one reason or another, like this one…

A film we've written about a number of times on S&A in the last 12 months, and that really should've made my predictions list, but I just forgot all about it. Thankfully, the film's producers, Gordon Bijelonic and Datari Turner sent me emails alerting and thus reminding me of the project, as well as others films on their production slate (some we've covered; others we haven't).

And now that they've gotten my attention, I'll be watching for future Bijelonic/Turner projects. These guys are busy, from what they've shared with me thus far.

But back to this particular project of theirs that should have made my Sundance 2012 predictions list… a recap from previous posts:

Titled LUV (previously known as Learning Uncle Vincent), the feature film centers on a day in the life of William “Woody” Watson (played by newcomer Michael Rainey Jr), a shy and timid 13-year old in search of a family and a better life, who looks to his Uncle Vincent, an ex-con, played by Common, hoping to find the father figure he’s never had, and has always wanted.

The film, directed by Sheldon Candis (a graduate of the USC School of Cinematic Arts), takes place over the course of 1 single day.

Joining Common (who is also acting as one of the producers on the project) is an all-star cast of mostly seasoned actors in Dennis Haysbert, Danny Glover , Charles S. Dutton, Lonette McKee, Megan Good, Michael K. Williams, Russell Hornsby, and Tracey Heggins.

The short film I embedded at the bottom of this post, which made for the Film Independent's Director's Lab in 2009, is essentially a short-form version of the feature that's. In it, you'll get an idea of what the feature might look, sound and feel like, as well as the dramatic starring role Common will play as Uncle Vincent

While we're waiting for Sundance's official 2012 announcement today, to find out whether LUV. and other films on (and not on) my predictions list made the cut, check out a few stills from the film, and watch the short that it's based on:

Watch the short 8-minute film, which was then called Learning Uncle Vernon, below: