After applause at Park City and an angry reaction elsewhere, Bean's controversial drama about a young Jewish man-turned-Neo-Nazi finally was bought by Showtime for a cable premiere, and will get a theatrical release in the care of Fireworks Pictures in 2002. Bean is already planning his next move, writing what he calls "a film about urban noise -- beepers, sirens, garage trucks -- and my favorite kind of character, a fanatic.''

TODD FIELD

"In the Bedroom''

Sissy Spacek and Tom Wilkinson's joint acting award at Sundance proved to be the start of a remarkable ride for Field's deeply nuanced drama about a mother and father's response to a family tragedy. Miramax acquired the film out of the festival and began a characteristically early and effective campaign. Arguably the best-reviewed new American film of the year, "In the Bedroom'' has compiled a growing tally of awards and nominations, ranging from the L.A. Film Critics Assn. to the Golden Globes, making it a strong Oscar contender.

RICHARD KELLY

"Donnie Darko"

As a sign of the tough marketplace for even wildly-liked indie films like "Donnie Darko,'' Kelly notes that there was actual talk at Park City about making a direct-to-cable deal. Fortunately for this widescreen time-bending opus about a disturbed suburban teen, that plan was quickly scrapped. Still, after no offers from most big indie distributors, it took four months to secure distribution with fledgling Newmarket, flush with its "Memento'' success. The well-reviewed "Donnie'' quickly went dark after a Halloween release, but Kelly feels satisfied that "critical success with your first film is more important than box office, because they want to see what you can do.''

JOHN CAMERON MITCHELL

"Hedwig and the Angry Inch''

Unlike his fellow alum (Patrick Stettner), Mitchell -- who had developed his screen adaptation of his gender-switching Off Broadway musical hit at the Sundance labs for writing and directing -- had his debut film fully financed and with a distribution deal in place by Fine Line Features before he ever shot a frame. This, along with an enthusiastic welcome at the fest, paved the way for a larger fest tour that included Berlin and Outfest, followed by a fine summer release and now, a Golden Globe nom for Mitchell as best comedy-musical actor. Mitchell's next is a radical change of pace: "The Grandmaphone,'' which he describes as being "a cross between 'Willy Wonka' and 'Fannie and Alexander.'''

PATRICK STETTNER

"The Business of Strangers''

A Sundance colleague of Mitchell's, Stettner went to the fest with hopes that co-star Julia Stiles, hot with B.O. hit "Save the Last Dance,'' would help jumpstart buyer interest in his sly mixture of corporate intrigue and Antonioniesque modernism. "With the cast of Julia and Stockard (Channing),'' he says, "companies had some expectation of a crossover indie film, when what they had was what I intended -- an indie arthouse film.'' A sale to IFC Films was made two months after Sundance, and though Stettner frets a bit at his baby opening during the crowded holiday season, Channing has earned an AFI Award nomination for actress.