The Slamdance Film Festival, the scruffy cousin of the Sundance Film Festival, which is also happening in Park City this week, relishes its reputation as a truly independent festival that is less focused on glamour and more on the cutting edge expression of its filmmakers.

Further expanding its reach, the Festival has announced a worldwide video content collaboration with Microsoft to offer a four-film package as video-on-demand premieres. Zune Video Marketplace will make the selected films available for video-on-demand across North America on both Zune and Xbox platforms. During an initial 7-day period, movie fans will have the opportunity to rent some of the same films being screened at the Slamdance Film Festival on their computers or through Xbox LIVE. Price per film rentals during the Festival will range from 600 to 880 “Microsoft Points” (which can be purchased on Zune.net, Xbox.com, from the Zune PC software or Xbox LIVE).

After the Festival week, the four titles will expand worldwide through the Zune Marketplace with year-round programs featuring download to own and rental videos to the more than 20 million Zune and Xbox LIVE members. Documentaries and feature titles from previous Slamdance Film Festival years will also be included in the mix.

“We’re very excited to be the exclusive digital presenter of the Slamdance Film Festival and bring its unique festival experience to our millions of marketplace users,” said Paul Davidson, manager of Global Video Content for Zune Video Marketplace, in a statement. “We share their passion for nurturing and supporting new talent and by offering the films in the marketplace; we hope to do just that.”

Not to be outdone, the Sundance Film Festival had previously announced that three of its films would premiere on Youtube this week, further expanding the global reach of the Festival to those who have not made the trek to Park City.

Sandy Mandelberger, Festival Dailies Editor