By Gregg Goldstein

Memories of Sundance may be fading away, but deals for many of its titles are only beginning to gear up. As overnight film-fest bidding wars become an endangered species, the indie film market is allowing buyers to take their sweet time choosing a higher quality level of film, with more coastal execs screening pics to be sure they’re the right fit.

It’s worth noting that last year’s biggest deal (and biggest hit) “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire,” wrapped its Lionsgate distribution pact a week after Sundance ended. The 2010 iteration’s Sunday close had no effect on continuing dealmaking.

Katie Aselton’s “The Freebie” went to newcomer distributor Phase 4 Films on Monday.

Relativity Media and Rogue Pictures caught Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman’s documentary “Catfish” on Wednesday.

And IFC Films gave another doc from Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg, “Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work,” a distribution facelift on Thursday.

Other deals are still expected to close on titles such as Adrian Grenier’s documentary “Teenage Paparazzo,” John Wells’ downsizing drama “The Company Men,” the ensemble dramedy “HappyThankYouMorePlease,” the stoner comedy “HIGH School,” Mark Ruffalo’s directorial debut “Sympathy for Delicious,” the horror-comedy “Tucker & Dale vs. Evil” and more in the coming days and weeks.

Speaking of hangovers, the fest’s many parties had their share of glamorous moments (like watching Gerard Butler and Justin Bartha eat side-by-side at a packed dinner for “Holy Rollers”), but more often they felt like an upbeat reunion of the indie film crowd, many of whom survived company closures to consult or launch new ventures. Smart former execs from Warner Independent, ThinkFilm, Senator, Paramount Vantage, Picturehouse, HDNet Films (Jason Kliot and Joana Vicente), Miramax (including Daniel Battsek, cutely donning a ski cap indoors), various agents and musical-chaired publicists were back in full force at parties hosted by CAA, Cinetic and others. Several of their new companies will be snapping up more of this year’s Sundance titles in the coming months.

Then there were the actual hangovers from many (too many) film parties, several of which had memorable moments. Cheerleaders greeted guests and Michael Chiklis’ band performed Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out” at an event for “HIGH School.” Life imitated art when the Park City PD shut down a Greenhouse shindig for the competition entry “The Imperialists Are Still Alive!” which deals with conspiracy theories and a purported CIA abduction. The Stanfield Gallery at the bottom of Main Street was the site of fun late-fest events for “Douchebag,” “Twelve” (where Chase Crawford and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson appeared) and other films.

On the lounge scene, Here! Media and GLAAD separately hosted various soirees, including the Outfest Queer Brunch at Grub Street and a cineGLAAD cocktail reception at Downstairs, where Tracy Chapman, Rose Trioche and “Howl” directors Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman hung out. The Creative Coalition was also behind several functions, including a Ricki Lake/Tim Daly-hosted Sky Lounge discussion on the obesity epidemic … followed by a lunch buffet. It wasn’t enough to scare away plenty of celebs and filmmakers from sometimes fattening food offered at the MySpace Cafe.

Surprisingly, one of the most lavish affairs was the Sky Lounge “Nowhere Boy” party hosted by the Weinstein Co., where free-flowing Belvedere vodka and caviar appetizers defied typical schadenfreude whispers of financial troubles. Harvey Weinstein appeared to be everywhere at this year’s Sundance, in fact, his legendary presence perhaps helping reassure execs in old and new ventures that the independent film world would survive after all.