MOVIES - Jan. 15, 1988

The United States Film Festival, which includes a juried competition of new American independent feature and documentary films, opens tonight in Salt Lake City, with Louis Malle’s “Au Revoir Les Enfants.” The remaining nine days of the Sundance Institute-sponsored event will take place in the small ski town of Park City, Utah. Highlights include a tribute to American maverick director Samuel Fuller, who will be present; a variety of film premieres; an extensive look at the cinema of Argentina; a cross-section of contemporary North American animation; a new “Discovery” program of short films by first-time directors; a presentation of the restored 1925 “Ben-Hur,” and seminars and discussions of particular interest to independent film makers.