The Sundance Film Festival is making headlines once again, this time due to the recent pulling of the highly anticipated film Twinless from its streaming platform following piracy issues. Just hours after winning the coveted Audience Award on February 1, 2025, the festival's organizers announced the film would no longer be available to online viewers amid growing concerns over copyright infringement.
This decision marks Twinless as the second film to be removed from the Sundance portal this year, following the documentary Selena y Los Dinos, which was also scrubbed after clips surfaced on social media platforms including TikTok and Instagram. A Sundance spokesperson addressed the situation, stating, "The film Twinless was a victim of some copyright infringement on various social media platforms, ... we regret ... you will no longer be able to access the film.”
The film, directed by James Sweeney and starring Dylan O’Brien, explores themes of grief and redemption, featuring O’Brien as twin brothers Rocky and Roman. The narrative centers around Rocky’s tragic death and the emotional fallout experienced by his lover Dennis, played by Sweeney. Following Rocky's death, Dennis connects with Roman through a bereavement support group, setting the stage for both humorous and heart-wrenching moments.
Despite its positive reception, with critics lauding O’Brien's performance and the film's clever writing, clips—especially steamy scenes thought to be spoilers—began circulating widely, prompting the festival’s swift response. "Whoever leaked ... is honestly such a loser," remarked freelancer writer Nadira Begum on social media, criticizing those responsible for the unauthorized distribution.
Twinless had garnered early acclaim at Sundance, scoring positively with 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film’s ability to balance humor and serious themes was captured by Variety's film critic Peter Debruge, who noted, "It’s a tonal tightwire act ... balancing unconscionable behavior with earnest looks at bereavement, anxiety and anger management." Such feedback highlighted the film’s potential for commercial success following its Sundance debut.
The online streaming facet of the Sundance Film Festival has evolved significantly, launching during the COVID-19 pandemic to expand accessibility for film lovers. Although the streaming model has met with mixed reactions within the industry—some believing it helps piracy proliferate—Sundance has justified its existence. Organizers reported more than 500,000 viewers tuned in to the portal during 2021.
But these recent piracy incidents raise serious questions about the effectiveness of Sundance's digital platform, creating anxieties around potential financial impacts on filmmakers reliant on festival buzz to secure distribution deals. With piracy incidents now occurring after two successful festival editions of online streaming, the organization expressed its commitment to combatting future infringement: "We intend to fully cooperate with local, state, and federal law enforcement on all piracy-related issues. We acknowledge and regret the disappointment this may cause," the spokesperson stated.
This response not only reflects Sundance's respect for the creative processes of independent filmmakers but also highlights the fragility of modern distribution avenues. James Sweeney, the film's director, took the unexpected turn of events with humor, stating during his acceptance speech, "I guess the audience really does like the film,” reflecting both the excitement and challenges of independent filmmaking today.
With Twinless and Selena y Los Dinos both pulled from the Sundance online platform, industry insiders are watching closely to see how these piracy issues will influence future festival practices concerning digital distributions. It has become increasingly evident—not just for Sundance but for any platform hosting creative content—that no film is safe from the challenges posed by audience enthusiasm turned sour via unauthorized sharing.
What’s clear is the film industry continues to navigate the delicate balance between extending reach through streaming services and protecting intellectual property. The festival's digital transformation has made significant strides, but incidents such as these cast shadows on its future viability. Executing effective measures to deter piracy will be among the festival's top priorities as they prepare for ensuing editions, ensuring audiences can enjoy films as intended—without the unwanted spoiler alerts from social media.