Are you eager to discover the next “Clerks,” “Reservoir Dogs,” or “Get Out” before anyone else does? Then you should check out Sundance.

The Sundance Film Festival is happening now (it wraps up on Sunday) in Park City, Utah, perfect for indie film enthusiasts. For over four decades, this yearly festival has presented viewers with an impressive array of films, including classics like “Sex, Lies and Videotape,” “Hoop Dreams,” “Napoleon Dynamite,” and “Hereditary.” Sundance has also served as a stepping stone for films that went on to earn Oscars: “CODA” premiered in the 2021 festival and took home best picture the following year, while “A Real Pain,” a highlight at this year’s event, is nominated for best original screenplay and best supporting actor (for Kieran Culkin) at the upcoming 97th Academy Awards.

We are compiling a list of all the movies we watch this year at Sundance, and here are the top picks, ranked. (If you’re interested in experiencing some of Sundance from home, select films from the festival will be accessible online starting Thursday.)

4. ‘Luz’

The film follows Ren (Sandrine Pinna), a Hong Kong art dealer who visits her ailing stepmother (Isabelle Huppert) in France. On the other hand, Chinese ex-con Wei (Xiao Dong Guo) yearns to reconnect with his estranged daughter (En Xi Deng), a social media influencer who believes he has passed away. Their paths cross in a virtual-reality game where both are in search of something significant, leading them to assist one another and discover a mythical deer. Although director Flora Lau’s drama has various subplots that complicate the emotional core, it creates an engaging, vibrant digital world enriched with relatable human experiences.

3. ‘Folktales’

This heartfelt documentary is hard to resist, especially due to the adorable sled dogs featured throughout. In “Folktales,” directors Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady follow teens from around the globe as they attend a folk high school in Norway, located near the Russian border. There, they learn survival skills, adult responsibilities, and the art of dog sledding with tough canine companions. Some students seek to overcome family issues, others are in pursuit of their career paths, while some tend to be socially shy and find companionship in the dogs, helping them emerge from their shells.

2. ‘The Ugly Stepsister’

Imagine combining “Cinderella” with “The Substance,” and you get Emilie Blichfeldt’s witty, comedic, and disturbingly clever body horror interpretation of the classic fairy tale. Elvira (Lea Myren) dreams of marrying the charming prince of her realm, but faces fierce competition from her attractive new stepsister, Agnes (Thea Sofie Loch Næss), vying for attention at an upcoming ball. Elvira’s mother (Ane Dahl Torp) encourages her to go to extreme measures for “beautification,” leading to some shocking scenes featuring outdated plastic surgery and the horrific use of tapeworms as a weight-loss method (definitely not advisable).

1. ‘Pee-wee as Himself’

Pee-wee Herman was an iconic pop-culture figure, known for his quirky style and bowtie. In contrast, Paul Reubens, the man behind Pee-wee, had his own complex persona. This captivating documentary deeply explores these contrasts, revealing Reubens’ life—his monumental successes, the challenges of embodying Pee-wee, his experience as a closeted gay man throughout much of his career, and the toll of his later legal issues, including the stigma of being labeled a pedophile. Despite these personal struggles, Reubens presents his story with humor and sincerity, showcasing his charming and enigmatic nature, contrasting the ultra-private person he was with the whimsical character he portrayed.