Famed for launching the careers of dozens of renowned filmmakers and actors over the years, January's Sundance Film Festival looks to have uncovered another gem - Portuguese-born actress Kika Magalhaes.

Her performance in drama The Eyes of My Mother, about a woman consumed by her deepest and darkest desires following a tragedy, has been one of the standout performances of the indie film fest in Utah. The eerie black and white film marks the actress's first starring role, and after its debut, Magalhaes - who trained at New York's Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theater - has been snapped up by Hollywood management company Anonymous Content, home to stars such as Ryan Gosling, Samuel L Jackson and Emma Stone.