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Since its inception in 1995 at the top of Main Street, the main artery of all things Sundance, the Slamdance Film Festival has simultaneously been an affront to the ever-increasing mainstream leanings of the Sundance Film Festival and a celebration of what that festival used to preach: true independent filmmaking fueled by unique voices with a passion that greatly outweighed their budgets.  Maybe Robert Redford is getting nostalgic in his old age or maybe he wants to show he's filmmaker friendly during the recession, but either way, America's premiere indepdent film festival is taking steps, albeit baby steps, to get back to its roots and out-Slamdance Slamdance by introducing the "Next" section during the 2010 festival, which will feature six to eight films from the world of low- and no-budget filmmaking.

The Hollywood Reporter quotes festival director John Cooper: "'The filmmakers who are working in this realm and who I have spoken to about this have a "creative impatience" that I find invigorating.  These are not just the films that have been labeled mumble core ... or dogma or even guerrilla. They are an emerging counter culture within our counter culture.'" 

Perhaps the groundwork for the plan was laid down at this year's festival when Lynn Shelton's low-budget feature Humpday went on to win the Special Jury Prize for the spirit of independence.  The film co-stars Mark Duplass, who, along with his brother Jay, wrote and directed the mumblecore film Baghead, which played at the 2008 festival.

Sundance has long been a breeding ground for young and up and coming talent.  It's well documented that the careers of such filmmakers as Richard Linklater, Quentin Tarantino, Kevin Smith and Steve Soderbergh were launched at Sundance, but its mainstream flavor has alienated some filmmakers and drawn derision from many within the industry, including Redford himself.

Slamdance will continue to run symbiotically with Sundance in 2010 from January 21-31, upholding its tradition to only accept films made for a budget under $1 million.