First films announced for 2013 Sundance Film Festival

Is it really almost time for another Sundance?

Apparently so, as the Sundance Institute has officially announced the films that will screen in the U.S. Dramatic Competition, U.S. Documentary Competition, World Cinema Dramatic Competition, World Cinema Documentary Competition and the out-of-competition NEXT <=> categories at the 2013 film festival.

The U.S. Dramatic Competition features 16 American narrative feature films, with many of them coming to Park City with considerable buzz. Festival-goers will be getting the first looks at "Ain't Them Bodies Saints," a Texas crime drama starring Rooney Mara and Casey Affleck; Daniel Radcliffe's turn as beat poet Allen Ginsburg in "Kill Your Darlings"; and the high school romance "The Spectacular Now," starring Shailene Woodley and this past year's Sundance darling, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who received much acclaim for her powerful performance as an alcoholic in "Smashed."

The U.S. Documentary Competition features 16 American feature-length documentaries, with this year's lineup including "99% - The Occupy Wall Street Collaborative Film," a look at the Occupy movement that erupted in September 2011; "Blackfish," which explores the dangers of keeping killer whales in captivity; and "Manhunt," a gritty look at the CIA's long conflict against Al Qaeda.

The World Cinema Dramatic Competition features 12 films from emerging filmmakers with "fresh perspectives and inventive styles," with this year's offerings including "Circles," a look at five people affected by a tragic heroic act; the strange coming-of-age tale "The Future"; and "Shopping," a New Zealand tale about a teenager who becomes seduced by the criminal antics of a group of shoplifters.

The World Cinema Documentary Competition features 12 films by some of "the most courageous and extraordinary filmmakers working today." As always, this category covers a wide variety of topics, from a look at the lofty ambitions of Google ("Google at the World Brain") to an examination of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake ("Fallen City") to an ode to the life of a farmer ("The Moo Man").

Finally, the oddly titled NEXT <=> category features "pure, bold works distinguished by an innovative, forward-thinking approach to storytelling." This year's films include the existential comedy "Computer Chess," the sexual coming-of-age tale "It Felt Like Love" and the chronicle of a teacher-student affair, "A Teacher."

You can view the complete announced lineup at the Sundance official site, and stay tuned for announcements regarding the official selections for other categories such as Park City at Midnight and the Short Films program. The 2013 Sundance Film Festival will be held in Park City, Utah, January 17-27.