Page 34 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch December 6, 2013 . . Film To Open At Sundance Festival FROM PAGE 9 The project’s financing was secured by the producers through private equity, as well as generous support from the Town of Ocean City, Worcester County and the state of Maryland. In August of 2012 both Worcester County and Ocean City agreed to contribute $100,000 each towards the production in the belief that the movie would be a boon for attracting visitors to the area. Sundance Film Festival takes place from January 16-26, 2014 in Park Place, Utah. “Ping Pong Summer” will premiere Saturday, Jan. 18, at 11:30 a.m. The film’s team will be hosting a party on the evening of the 18th. “Even though Sundance takes place at a Utah ski resort, we anticipate a big group from the Eastern Shore will attend the film’s premiere,” said Rush. “Our hope is to turn Park City into Ocean City.” Ocean City Tourism Director Donna Abbott said on Thursday it is too soon to tell who will be attending the film on behalf of the Town of Ocean City. “We are excited ‘Ping Pong Summer’ is going to premiere at Sundance Film Festival,” she said. “That is fantastic news. There is a lot of visibility with the film festival from around the world. I would love to make a road trip. If I’m not there in person, I will definitely be there in spirit.” Tickets are available at www.sundance.org/festival/tickets/ and lodg“Ping Pong Summer,” an independent film shot locally in and around Ocean City last fall, will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January. Pictured above, the cast and crew complete a scene near 32nd Street last October toward the end of the production. Photo by Shawn Soper ing options can be found at www.sundance.org/festival/tickets/. The Sundance Film Festival is the country’s most prestigious showcase for independent films. Sundance is also the premiere marketplace for independent films. All the film distributors targeted will be attending, so Ping Pong’s producers want as many friendly faces in the audience as possible to create the right energy. The festival, founded by Robert Redford in 1978, is held in Park City every January, attracting celebrities, industry insiders, and film enthusiasts from around the world. Beyond Sundance, “Ping Pong Summer” will have its international premiere at the Rotterdam Film Festival and have engaged a foreign sales agent to sell the film to overseas territories. For more information on Rotterdam Film Festival, visit www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com/en/.