Comedy stars are the highlight of films exploring human nature and existence that will compete in the US drama category at the Sundance Film Festival next year, announced by organisers.

“Comedians have an inherent ability to observe human nature,” Sundance Film Festival director John Cooper said. “They make it into jokes most of the time, but now they’re actually stepping into it as a performance, and it really comes from understanding it.”

From The Bronze, co-written by and starring The Big Bang Theory actress Melissa Rauch as an ageing former gymnast, to Flight of the Conchords actor Jemaine Clement switching edgy humour for a more emotional performance in People, Places, Things, comedians are finding new territory in smaller films.

Sundance Film Festival founder Robert Redford (right) answers questions with John Cooper, director of the Sundance Film Festival. Photo: Lucas Jackson/Reuters

Comedians have an inherent ability to observe human nature

Sarah Silverman, known for her raunchy, sharp-tongued wit, will take a dramatic turn in I Smile Back, which Cooper described as “an intense dark portrait of a suburban mother dealing with pretty dark demons”. Started by actor-director Robert Redford in 1978 and going into its 31st year, the Sundance Film Festival is the premiere gathering of the US independent film industry in snow-covered Park City, Utah, and often launches strong awards contenders and new film stars.

Jazz-drumming drama Whiplash, which won the audience and grand jury awards at this year’s festival, is now part of the Hollywood awards race, with actor J.K. Simmons one of the early front-runners for the Oscar for best supporting actor.

The upcoming festival will run from January 22 through February 1.

The drama competition will see films explore existential issues or a bigger commentary on human nature.

Advantageous questions society’s notions of beauty, ageing and relevance in a near-futuristic world, while Z for Zachariah uses a post-apocalyptic environment to discuss the primal elements of survival.

In the eclectic US documentary competition, with films ranging from Evel Knievel biopic Being Evel and Hot Girls Wanted, an insight into the amateur porn industry, to a white supremacist trying to take over a small town in Welcome to Leith, films were selected for their innovative approach.

“There are so many interesting and important subjects, but what elevates the ones that make it into the festival are story and how that story is told on screen,” said the festival’s director of programming, Trevor Groth.

“There are some really incredible cinematic films in this section.”