They’re here. The MIB’s (moviegoers in black).
The Sundance Film Festival is in fullswing and Park City is transformed into Manhattan in the Mountains. It is kinda crazy. And kinda cool.

For the first time since I moved here, I see people walking around who look like the people I used to work with. Producer type people. Director type people. Creative people. People wearing black and crossing the street while texting.

There are still skiers of course, and the healthy, hearty locals who look like they just stepped out of a Patagonia print ad. But add 15,000 filmmaking and filmwatching people to the 7,000 people who normally live here and you have a decidedly different town, overnight.

I like it.

I have only been back two days so there have not been any celebrity sightings that I know of, other than, of course, Bob. You know, the Sundance Kid himself? I give him credit for building his brand well these past 25 years. It seems to be thriving. The attendees, Starbucks and cell phone in hand at all times, dressing down in their cool jeans and black jackets, appear relaxed, happy and friendly, even willing to pose for a photo for my blog.

And it seems that the documentary and indie films that Sundance has supported and nourished for so long, are finally going mainstream. “The Kids Are All Right” won here last year, and it is not uncommon now to see a couple of Sundance films at the Academy Awards, every year. Independent films, in general, have gained new respect and credibility.

Let’s hear it for creativity and fresh, non-formulaic films. Let’s hear it for creativity of any kind.

I may not make it to any of the films this week, although “Circumstance” is getting lots of praise and there is a short, “Aurora Borealis,” that looks enticing if I can figure out how to wrangle some tickets. But the cool thing is, Sundance shows a reel of the winners for free to locals at the Library, the week following the festival.

That may be an offer I cannot refuse.