Sundance 2014 promises to be as varied as ever, with a healthy mix of world cinema, documentary film and Hollywood output. Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the festival will run from January 16-26 and, by the time it closes its doors, will have showcased 117 feature-length projects, 16 of which are world premieres.

Philip Seymour Hoffman and Eddie MarsanPhilip Seymour Hoffman and Eddie Marsan in God's Pocket

"This year's lineup is reflective of film-makers wanting to tell new stories, and we're seeing a broader range of characters and ages," Trevor Groth, the director of programming, told the Hollywood Reporter. "A lot of times, the typical Sundance film-maker has a younger perspective and tells stories of what they know. But this year we're seeing more stories about people who are older."

Grabbing attention already is John Slattery’s directorial debut, God’s Pocket, which tells the tale of a construction worker’s life after his stepson dies on site. Things get worse for him as his cover story begins to wear thin. The Mad Men star has enlisted Phillip Syemor Hoffman and Richard Jenkins for his bow, while Christina Hendricks and John Turturro.

Kristen StewartKristen Stewart in Camp X-Ray

Similarly dark, thematically anyway, is Jim Mickle’s ‘Cold in July’, which sees a small-town Texan get to grips with life after murdering a burglar. It stars Michael C Hall, Don Johnson and Sam Shephard. The film’s synopsis, according to IMDB, is: “In 1980s East Texas, two fathers pitted against each other in revenge must band together to uncover a darker truth.”

Kristen Stewart also enjoys the status of festival a-lister with her film, Camp X-Ray, towards the top of the slate. The Twilight actress has been trying to break free from her vampire days since the teen-drama wrapped up, but her turn in the highly anticipated, yet critically-mauled On The Road did nothing to dispel her unwanted reputation.

Michael C HallMichael C. Hall in Cold in July

Camp X-Ray, though, tells the ostensibly compelling story of a Guantanamo Prison guard who forges an improbable friendship with an inmate. The Peter Sattler-written-and-directed film also stars Payman Maadi, Lane Garriso n, J.J. Soria and John Carroll Lynch.

Having won an Oscar for her role in Les Miserables, Anne Hathaway stars in writer-director Kate Barker-Froyland's Song One. It centres on a young woman’s return to her hometown following the death of her brother, who left behind a vibrant music scene in which she becomes embroiled.

Tilda Swinton and Tom HiddlestonTilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston in Only Lovers Left Alive

US entries for the Documentary prize – something Sundance has become famous for - includes ‘The Case Against 8’, a documentary described as a behind-the-scenes look at the case to overturn California's ban on same-sex marriage, and. Another documentary entered is The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz, which is about the young American internet programmer and Reddit co-owner who committed suicide in January when it appeared he was about to be jailed under anti-piracy laws.

This year's Spotlight lineup includes Jim Jarmusch's beloved "Only Lovers Left Alive," the acclaimed French thriller "Stranger by the Lake" and Jeremy Saulnier's Cannes-winning "Blue Ruin." Highlights in the New Frontiers section include Sundance regular Joseph Gordon-Levtitt's latest online video experiment "HIT RECORD ON TV," and "The Better Angels" starring Brit Marling and Jason Clarke.

The Case Against 8The Case Against 8