\u00a9<\/b>Courtesy of Sundance Institute<\/p>\n
The 2026 Sundance Film Festival announced the award-winning films, presented at a ceremony at The Ray Theatre in Park City, Utah. The ceremony was attended by the jury and artists receiving honors, in advance of the final day of the Festival on February 1. The 2026 Festival has featured premieres, screenings, talks, events, and more in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, including programming that honored Robert Redford and his vision that has inspired generations of artists and redefined cinema around the world. All feature award-winning films are available online nationwide now through February 1. Select award-winning films will screen in person for ticketholders and passholders. Tickets can be purchased at festival.sundance.org\/tickets<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n Grand Jury Prizes went to\u00a0Josephine\u00a0<\/i><\/b>(U.S. Dramatic Competition),\u00a0Nuisance Bear\u00a0<\/i><\/b>(U.S. Documentary Competition),\u00a0Shame and Money\u00a0<\/i><\/b>(World Cinema Dramatic Competition), and\u00a0To Hold a Mountain\u00a0<\/i><\/b>(World Cinema Documentary Competition). The NEXT Innovator Award presented by Adobe was given to\u00a0The Incomer<\/i><\/b>, and the NEXT Special Jury Award presented by Adobe was given to\u00a0TheyDream<\/i><\/b>.<\/p>\n Films in competition eligible for audience awards were presented by Acura to\u00a0Josephine\u00a0<\/i><\/b>(U.S. Dramatic Competition) and\u00a0American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez\u00a0<\/i><\/b>(U.S. Documentary Competition) and presented by United Airlines to\u00a0HOLD ONTO ME (\u039a\u03c1\u03ac\u03c4\u03b1 \u039c\u03b5)\u00a0<\/i><\/b>(World Cinema Dramatic Competition) and\u00a0One In A Million\u00a0<\/i><\/b>(World Cinema Documentary Competition).\u00a0Aanikoobijigan [ancestor\/great-grandparent\/great-grandchild]\u00a0<\/i><\/b>won the audience award for NEXT presented by Adobe. The Festival Favorite Award\u2013winning film will be announced on the Sundance Film Festival official social accounts on Saturday, January 31 in the afternoon. Awards for the\u00a0Short Film Program<\/span><\/a>\u00a0Presented by Ketel One Vodka were announced at a ceremony on January 27 at The Park in Park City, Utah.<\/p>\n The 2026 Sundance Film Festival jury includes:\u00a0Janicza Bravo<\/b>,\u00a0Nisha Ganatra<\/b>, and\u00a0Azazel Jacobs<\/b>\u00a0for the U.S. Dramatic Competition;\u00a0Natalia Almada<\/b>,\u00a0Justin Chang<\/b>, and\u00a0Jennie Livingston<\/b>\u00a0for the U.S. Documentary Competition;\u00a0Ana Katz<\/b>,\u00a0So Yong Kim<\/b>, and\u00a0Tatiana Maslany\u00a0<\/b>for the World Cinema Dramatic Competition;\u00a0Toni Kamau<\/b>,\u00a0Bao Nguyen<\/b>, and\u00a0Kirsten Schaffer<\/b>\u00a0for the World Cinema Documentary Competition;\u00a0A.V. Rockwell<\/b>,\u00a0Liv Constable-Maxwell<\/b>, and\u00a0Martin Starr<\/b>\u00a0for the Short Film Program Competition; and\u00a0John Cooper<\/b>\u00a0and\u00a0Trevor Groth<\/b>\u00a0for the NEXT section.<\/p>\n \u201cAs we conclude this memorable edition of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, we\u2019re thrilled to celebrate our award-winning films and all the artists who participated in this year\u2019s wonderful Festival,\u201d said\u00a0Eugene Hernandez, Director, Sundance Film Festival and Public Programming<\/b>. \u201cThank you to all of the artists and audiences who made this Festival one we\u2019ll remember for a long time, and we\u2019re deeply grateful to our friends and partners in Park City, Salt Lake City, and all across Utah, home to so many cherished Festivals. We salute and thank Utah\u2019s moviegoers who have embraced this Festival and our founder Robert Redford\u2019s vision. As this 2026 edition draws to a close, we\u2019re remembering all of these times spent together.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOur Awards ceremony is a perfect moment to consider the journeys each artist team took while creating these stories they\u2019ve so generously shared with us during the Festival,\u201d said\u00a0Kim Yutani, Sundance Film Festival Director of Programming<\/b>. \u201cAs a programming team we are thankful for being part of the journey for so many talented filmmakers this and every year. Championing work that is distinctive, timely, and impactful is our priority, and this event is a celebration of what these storytellers have achieved.\u201d<\/p>\n This year\u2019s Sundance Film Festival has introduced audiences to 97 feature-length and episodic works and 54 short films \u2014 curated from a total 16,201 submissions \u2014 screening to audiences in Park City, Salt Lake City, and online nationwide.<\/p>\n The 2026 Sundance Film Festival will be the culmination of the yearly gathering in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah. Starting in 2027, the Sundance Film Festival will move to Boulder, Colorado, continuing to celebrate independent storytelling and fresh voices for global audiences to discover. The Festival deeply values the long-standing legacy in Utah and the local community who laid the foundation.<\/p>\n Feature film award winners in previous years include:\u00a0Sorry, Baby<\/i>,\u00a0Come See Me in the Good Light<\/i>,\u00a0Twinless<\/i>,\u00a0The Perfect Neighbor<\/i>,\u00a0A Real Pain<\/i>,\u00a0D\u00ecdi (<\/i>\u5f1f\u5f1f)<\/i>,\u00a0Porcelain War<\/i>,\u00a0Sujo<\/i>,\u00a0Daughters<\/i>,\u00a0A Thousand and One<\/i>,\u00a020 Days in Mariupol<\/i>,\u00a0Nanny<\/i>,\u00a0CODA<\/i>,\u00a0Summer of Soul (\u2026Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised)<\/i>,\u00a0Flee<\/i>,\u00a0Minari<\/i>,\u00a0Boys State<\/i>,\u00a0Clemency<\/i>,\u00a0One Child Nation<\/i>,\u00a0Honeyland<\/i>,\u00a0The Souvenir<\/i>,\u00a0Whiplash<\/i>,\u00a0Fruitvale Station<\/i>,\u00a0Beasts of the Southern Wild<\/i>,\u00a0Twenty Feet from Stardom<\/i>,\u00a0The Square<\/i>,\u00a0Me and Earl and the Dying Girl<\/i>,\u00a0Cartel Land<\/i>,\u00a0The Wolf Pack<\/i>,\u00a0The Diary of a Teenage Girl<\/i>,\u00a0Dope<\/i>,\u00a0Dear White People<\/i>,\u00a0The Cove<\/i>, and\u00a0Man on Wire<\/i>.<\/p>\n The 2026 Sundance Film Festival awards are:<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n GRAND JURY PRIZES<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n The\u00a0U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic<\/b>\u00a0was presented to\u00a0Josephine\u00a0<\/i><\/b>\/ U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Beth de Ara\u00fajo, Producers: David Kaplan, Josh Peters, Marina Stabile, Mark H. Rapaport, Crystine Zhang) \u2014 After 8-year-old Josephine accidentally witnesses a crime in Golden Gate Park, she acts out in search of a way to regain control of her safety while adults are helpless to console her.\u00a0Cast: Mason Reeves, Channing Tatum, Gemma Chan, Philip Ettinger, Syra McCarthy, Eleanore Pienta. World Premiere. Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n Jury citation: For the depth and nuance of storytelling. For the delicate and elegant execution of a challenging subject matter. The skilled direction of performance from the cast. The humanistic view of the filmmaker and how they withheld judgment of those dealing with the impact of victimization. This filmmaker offered an empathetic view into the many different ways we as humans cope and try to set the wrongs right.<\/p>\n The\u00a0U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary<\/b>\u00a0was presented to\u00a0Nuisance Bear\u00a0<\/i><\/b>\/ U.S.A., Canada (Directors: Gabriela Osio Vanden, Jack Weisman, Producers: Michael Code, Will N. Miller, Teddy Leifer) \u2014 A polar bear is forced to navigate a human world of tourists, wildlife officers, and hunters as its ancient migration collides with modern life. When a sacred predator is branded a nuisance, it becomes unclear who truly belongs in this shared landscape.\u00a0World Premiere. Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n Jury citation: This film tells an enormous story with great drama, beauty and verve, and powerfully confronts the realities of climate change, the tensions between Indigenous tradition and Western capitalist encroachment, and the complexities of humanity\u2019s relationship with the natural world. It also features a standout sequence that is, like the film itself, humorous, terrifying, and unforgettable. Of all the documentaries we saw, this one was the least \u2026 polarizing. The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary goes to\u00a0Nuisance Bear<\/i>.<\/p>\n The\u00a0World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic<\/b>\u00a0was presented to\u00a0Shame and Money\u00a0<\/i><\/b>\/ Germany, Kosovo, Slovenia, Albania, North Macedonia, Belgium (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Visar Morina, Screenwriter: Doruntina Basha, Producers: Fabian Altenried, Sophie Ahrens, Kristof Gerega, Pia Hellenthal) \u2014 After losing their livelihood in a village, a Kosovar family is forced to move to the capital in pursuit of a place in a hypercapitalist society.\u00a0Cast: Astrit Kabashi, Flonja Kodheli, Kumrije Hoxha, Fiona Gllavica, Alban Ukaj. World Premiere. Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n Jury citation: For his powerful and unique portrayal of human dignity in contemporary Kosovo that universally resonates. A sensitive filmmaker who masterfully draws the audience into the daily struggles of a family. For his deep empathy for his characters in a crucial moment in which they are beginning again, the World Cinematic Grand Jury Prize goes to\u00a0Shame and Money<\/i>.<\/p>\n The\u00a0World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Documentary<\/b>\u00a0was presented to\u00a0To Hold a Mountain<\/i><\/b>\u00a0\/ Serbia, France, Montenegro, Slovenia, Croatia (Directors, Screenwriters, and Producers: Biljana Tutorov, Petar Glomazi\u0107, Producers: Quentin Laurent, Rok Bi\u010dek) \u2014 In the remote highlands of Montenegro, a shepherd mother and daughter proudly defend their ancestral mountain from the threat of becoming a NATO military training ground, stirring memories of the violence that shattered their family.\u00a0World Premiere. Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n Jury citation: This visually and emotionally stunning film transported us to a remote mountain top and into the most intimate moments of a family fighting to protect not only their land, but their way of life. The truest example of the power of cinema to make the personal political.<\/p>\n NEXT INNOVATOR AWARD PRESENTED BY Adobe<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n The\u00a0NEXT Innovator Award\u00a0<\/b>Presented by Adobe was awarded to\u00a0The Incomer\u00a0<\/i><\/b>\/ U.K. (Director and Screenwriter: Louis Paxton, Producers: Shirley O\u2019Connor, Emily Gotto) \u2014 On a remote Scottish isle, siblings Isla and Sandy hunt birds and talk to mythical beings while fighting off outsiders. Their lives change when Daniel, an awkward official, arrives to relocate them.\u00a0Cast: Domhnall Gleeson, Gayle Rankin, Grant O\u2019Rourke, Emun Elliott, Michelle Gomez, John Hannah. World Premiere. Fiction. Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n Jury citation: This award goes to a boldly original comic fable that blends folklore with formal playfulness. Deadpan humor, animation, and myth collide \u2014 proof that fearless invention can be both uproarious and deeply humane.<\/p>\n<\/ins>\n AUDIENCE AWARDS<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n The\u00a0Audience Award: U.S. Dramatic<\/b>, Presented by Acura was awarded to\u00a0Josephine<\/i><\/b>\u00a0\/ U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Beth de Ara\u00fajo, Producers: David Kaplan, Josh Peters, Marina Stabile, Mark H. Rapaport, Crystine Zhang) \u2014 After 8-year-old Josephine accidentally witnesses a crime in Golden Gate Park, she acts out in search of a way to regain control of her safety while adults are helpless to console her.\u00a0Cast: Mason Reeves, Channing Tatum, Gemma Chan, Philip Ettinger, Syra McCarthy, Eleanore Pienta. World Premiere. Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n The\u00a0Audience Award: U.S. Documentary<\/b>, Presented by Acura was awarded to\u00a0American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez<\/i><\/b>\u00a0\/ U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: David Alvarado, Producers: Lauren DeFilippo, Everett Katigbak, Amanda Pollak) \u2014 Against political resistance and industry skepticism, Luis Valdez pushes Chicano storytelling from the fields to the film screen with Zoot Suit and La Bamba, crafting iconic works that challenge, celebrate, and expand America\u2019s story.\u00a0World Premiere. Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n The\u00a0Audience Award: World Cinema Dramatic<\/b>, Presented by United Airlines was awarded to\u00a0HOLD ONTO ME (\u039a\u03c1\u03ac\u03c4\u03b1 \u039c\u03b5)<\/i><\/b>\u00a0\/ Cyprus, Denmark, Greece (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Myrsini Aristidou, Producer: Monica Nicolaidou) \u2014 11-year-old Iris learns her estranged father, Aris, is back in town for his own father\u2019s funeral. Determined to know him, Iris tracks him down to a dilapidated shipyard, where he\u2019s been keeping to himself. What begins as a stubborn attempt to reconnect slowly unfolds into a fragile bond. Cast: Christos Passalis, Maria Petrova.\u00a0World Premiere. Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n The\u00a0Audience Award: World Cinema Documentary<\/b>, Presented by United Airlines was awarded to\u00a0One In A Million\u00a0<\/i><\/b>\/ U.K. (Directors: Itab Azzam, Jack MacInnes, Producers: Raney Aronson-Rath, Will Anderson, James Bluemel, Andrew Palmer) \u2014 Filmed over 10 years, one girl\u2019s epic journey from Syria to Germany and back again. She and her family navigate war, exile, and heartbreak in a foreign land, illuminating the complexities of the refugee experience.\u00a0World Premiere. Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n The\u00a0Audience Award: NEXT<\/b>, Presented by Adobe was awarded to\u00a0Aanikoobijigan [ancestor\/great-grandparent\/great-grandchild]\u00a0<\/i><\/b>\/ U.S.A., Denmark (Directors and Producers: Adam Khalil, Zack Khalil, Producers: Steve Holmgren, Grace Remington, Jacque Clark, Franny Alfano) \u2014 Trapped in museum archives, Ancestors bend time and space to find their way home. History, spirituality, and the law collide as tribal repatriation specialists fight to return and rebury Indigenous human remains, offering a revealing look at the still-pervasive worldviews that justified collecting them in the first place.\u00a0World Premiere. Documentary. Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n JURY AWARDS FOR DIRECTING, SCREENWRITING, and EDITING<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n The\u00a0Directing Award: U.S. Dramatic\u00a0<\/b>was presented to\u00a0Josef Kubota Wladyka\u00a0<\/b>for\u00a0Ha-chan, Shake Your Booty!\u00a0<\/i><\/b>\/ U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Josef Kubota Wladyka, Screenwriter: Nicholas Huynh, Producers: Kimberly Parker Zox, Mao Nagakura) \u2014 Haru and Luis love competing in Tokyo\u2019s ballroom dance scene, but after tragedy strikes, Haru withdraws into isolation. When friends coax her back to the studio, she develops an infatuation with the new instructor. She must face what comes next as sparks fly.\u00a0Cast: Rinko Kikuchi, Alberto Guerra, Alejandro Edda, YOU, Yoh Yoshida, Dami\u00e1n Alc\u00e1zar. World Premiere. Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n Jury citation: For bringing us into a creative world that allowed us to explore love, loss, and grief through dance with deep emotion and surprising joy and laughter. We will carry Rinko Kikuchi\u2019s performance in our hearts, and thank this film for reminding us that when magical realism works it is truly a feat to behold.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Directing Award: U.S. Documentary<\/b>\u00a0was presented to\u00a0J.M. Harper<\/b>\u00a0for\u00a0Soul Patrol<\/i><\/b>\u00a0\/ U.S.A. (Director and Producer: J.M. Harper, Producers: Sam Bisbee, Danielle Massie, Nasir Jones, Peter Bittenbender) \u2014 From deep behind enemy lines, a hidden chapter of American military history is uncovered, prompting the question of whether reckoning with the past can bring peace to those who lived it. The Vietnam War\u2019s first Black special operations team reunites to tell their story.\u00a0World Premiere. Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n Jury citation: With remarkable intelligence and resourcefulness, and an elegant attention to cultural context, this filmmaker achieves a skillful balance of archival footage, vivid re-enactments and troubling hallucinations. In doing so, he makes palpable the trauma of Black Americans who have never gotten due recognition for their sacrifices in war. The Directing Award: U.S. Documentary goes to J.M. Harper for\u00a0Soul Patrol<\/i>.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Directing Award: World Cinema Dramatic<\/b>\u00a0was presented to\u00a0Andrius Bla\u017eevi\u010dius<\/b>\u00a0for\u00a0How to Divorce During the War\u00a0<\/i><\/b>\/ Lithuania, Luxembourg, Ireland, Czech Republic (Director and Screenwriter: Andrius Bla\u017eevi\u010dius, Producer: Marija Razgut\u0117) \u2014 In Vilnius in 2022, Marija has a revelation that she wants to divorce her husband, Vytas, right before Russia invades Ukraine. Forced to confront their crumbling relationship, they navigate the process of divorce as it collides with the ongoing war.\u00a0Cast: Marius Rep\u0161ys, \u017dygimant\u0117 Elena Jak\u0161tait\u0117, Amelija Adomaityt\u0117, Indr\u0117 Patkauskait\u0117, Gintar\u0117 Parulyt\u0117. World Premiere. Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n Jury citation: For his immense talent and steady hand in a darkly comedic film about life in times of war, this director\u2019s subtle observation holds a mirror to our contradictions without neglecting the humanity of his characters\u2026the Directing Award goes to Andrius Bla\u017eevi\u010dius for\u00a0How to Divorce During the War<\/i>.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Directing Award: World Cinema Documentary\u00a0<\/b>was presented to\u00a0Itab Azzam\u00a0<\/b>and\u00a0Jack MacInnes<\/b>\u00a0for\u00a0One In A Million<\/i><\/b>\u00a0\/ U.K. (Directors: Itab Azzam, Jack MacInnes, Producers: Raney Aronson-Rath, Will Anderson, James Bluemel, Andrew Palmer) \u2014 Filmed over 10 years, one girl\u2019s epic journey from Syria to Germany and back again. She and her family navigate war, exile, and heartbreak in a foreign land, illuminating the complexities of the refugee experience.\u00a0World Premiere. Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n Jury citation: Elegantly exploring the ideas of freedom and the importance of home in the aftermath of war, this film impressed us with its sense of scale and decade-long directorial commitment to its subjects. It is a beautiful synthesis of one family\u2019s migration across multiple countries as they seek refuge from societal upheaval.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: U.S. Dramatic<\/b>\u00a0was presented to\u00a0Liz Sargent<\/b>\u00a0for\u00a0Take Me Home\u00a0<\/i><\/b>\/ U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Liz Sargent, Producers: Apoorva Guru Charan, Minos Papas) \u2014 Anna, a 38-year-old Korean adoptee with a cognitive disability, cares for her aging parents in a fragile balance of meeting one another\u2019s needs. When a Florida heat wave shatters their family and Anna\u2019s routine, her future is uncertain until she creates a world where she can thrive.\u00a0Cast: Anna Sargent, Victor Slezak, Ali Ahn, Marceline Hugot, Shane Harper. World Premiere. Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n Jury citation: For modeling a different way to tell a story. This is a movie that embraced the truth of the moment on set, necessitating the filmmaker be fully present to shift, reflect, and trust her vision, in order to capture the miracle that she did.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Jonathan Oppenheim Editing Award: U.S. Documentary<\/b>\u00a0was presented to\u00a0Matt Hixon<\/b>\u00a0for\u00a0Barbara Forever\u00a0<\/i><\/b>\/ U.S.A. (Director and Producer: Brydie O\u2019Connor, Producer: Elijah Stevens) \u2014 An archive-driven exploration of the life, work, and legacy of iconic, pioneering lesbian filmmaker Barbara Hammer.\u00a0World Premiere. Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n Jury citation: Drawing on an artist\u2019s deep archive of original work and forming exquisite connections between history and biography, art and life, this intimate and expansive portrait gives a pioneering figure in queer experimental filmmaking her rightful due. The Jonathan Oppenheim Editing Award: U.S. Documentary goes to Matt Hixon for\u00a0Barbara Forever<\/i>.<\/p>\n<\/ins>\n SPECIAL JURY AWARDS<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n A\u00a0U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award<\/b>\u00a0for Debut Feature\u00a0<\/b>was presented to\u00a0Bedford Park<\/i><\/b>\u00a0\/ U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Stephanie Ahn, Producers: Gary Foster, Chris S. Lee, Nina Yang Bongiovi, Theresa Kang, Son Sukku) \u2014 Haunted by an abusive childhood, Audrey, a Korean American woman in her 30s, faces her emotional past. When her mother\u2019s car accident brings her back to her parents\u2019 home, she meets the man responsible for the accident. Their relationship builds, passions ignite, and they form a loving connection.\u00a0Cast: Moon Choi, Son Sukku, Won Mi Kyung, Kim Eung Soo, Jefferson White. World Premiere. Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n Jury citation: For inviting us into a world we\u2019ve never seen depicted on film, and daring to share the very personal, the filmmaker upended all of our assumptions of a story told with depth and skill.<\/p>\n A\u00a0U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast<\/b>\u00a0was presented to\u00a0The Friend\u2019s House is Here<\/i><\/b>\u00a0\/ U.S.A., Iran (Directors, Screenwriters, and Producers: Hossein Keshavarz, Maryam Ataei) \u2014 In Tehran\u2019s underground art scene, two young women build a blissful world of freedom and sisterhood. But when their creative circle is exposed, they must fight to save each other.\u00a0Cast: Mahshad Bahram, Hana Mana, Farzad Karen, Zohreh Pirnia. World Premiere. Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n Jury citation: For delivering performances that each of us could find ourselves in, revealing a story that is frighteningly universal. The ensemble injects the world with gravity, love, and humor, and shows us the way community and connection are often our key to survival.<\/p>\n A\u00a0U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Journalistic Excellence\u00a0<\/b>was presented to\u00a0Who Killed Alex Odeh?\u00a0<\/i><\/b>\/ U.S.A. (Directors: Jason Osder, William Lafi Youmans, Producer: Dawne Langford, William Lafi Youmans, Jason Osder, Daniel J. Chalfen) \u2014 The assassination of a beloved Palestinian American activist in Southern California ignites a 40-year quest for justice, revealing the roots of a dangerous political movement that thrives today.\u00a0World Premiere. Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n Jury citation: This engrossing and surprising true-crime saga begins as an investigation into an unsolved murder and, with great procedural rigor, excavates a nefarious history about America\u2019s role in suppressing justice for a Palestinian American family. The Special Jury Award: Journalistic Excellence goes to\u00a0Who Killed Alex Odeh?<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n A\u00a0U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Impact for Change\u00a0<\/b>was presented to\u00a0The Lake<\/i><\/b>\u00a0\/ U.S.A. (Director and Producer: Abby Ellis, Producer: Fletcher Keyes) \u2013\u2014 An environmental nuclear bomb looms in Utah. Two intrepid scientists and a political insider race the clock to save their home from unprecedented catastrophe.\u00a0World Premiere. Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n Jury citation: This environmental-crisis story is a probing and provocative look at the interdependency of science and faith, and the power of individuals and communities to avert disaster by working together. We were moved and encouraged by its vision of people working across political divides. A Special Jury Award: Impact for Change goes to\u00a0The Lake<\/i>.<\/p>\n A\u00a0World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Creative Vision<\/b>\u00a0was presented to\u00a0Filipi\u00f1ana\u00a0<\/i><\/b>\/ Singapore, U.K., Philippines, France, Netherlands (Director and Screenwriter: Rafael Manuel, Producers: Jeremy Chua, Alex Polunin, Bianca Balbuena, Bradley Liew, Nadia Turincev, Omar El Kadi) \u2014 Tee girl Isabel feels strangely drawn to Dr. Palanca, the president of the country club where she works. However, after piecing together a violent picture of what lies beneath the club\u2019s pristine surface, she realizes that what began as an innocent infatuation is actually rooted in a sinister shared history.\u00a0Cast: Jorrybell Agoto, Carmen Castellanos, Teroy Guzman, Carlitos Siguion-Reyna, Isabel Sicat, Nour Houshmand. World Premiere. Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n Jury citation: With stunning visual command and sensitivity to the setting, the filmmaker thoughtfully evokes a world where characters languish. Through its static form, the filmmaker highlights insidious tension between luxury and labor\u2026 The special jury award for Creative Vision goes to\u00a0Filipi\u00f1ana<\/i>.<\/p>\n A\u00a0World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting Ensemble\u00a0<\/b>was presented to\u00a0LADY\u00a0<\/i><\/b>\/ U.K., Nigeria (Director and Screenwriter: Olive Nwosu, Producer: Alex Polunin) \u2014 In the sprawling African metropolis of Lagos, a fiercely independent young cab driver meets a band of radiantly reckless sex workers whose sisterhood pulls her into danger and joy, setting her on a journey toward her own transformation.\u00a0Cast: Jessica Gabriel\u2019s Ujah, Amanda Oruh, Tinuade Jemiseye, Binta Ayo Mogaji, Seun Kuti, Bucci Franklin. World Premiere. Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n Jury citation: For a film full of depth and texture and with a rhythm all its own, with an electric ensemble cast that brings life and humor and insight to a story about day-to-day challenges and finding safety in unexpected friendships, the special jury award for Acting Ensemble goes to\u2026\u00a0LADY<\/i>.<\/p>\n A\u00a0World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Journalistic Impact<\/b>\u00a0was presented to\u00a0Birds of War<\/i><\/b>\u00a0\/ U.K., Syrian Arab Republic, Lebanon (Directors, Screenwriters, and Producers: Janay Boulos, Abd Alkader Habak, Producer: Sonja Henrici) \u2014 The love story of a London-based Lebanese journalist and a Syrian activist and cameraman as told through 13 years of personal archives across revolutions, war, and exile.\u00a0World Premiere. Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n Jury citation: By turning the camera on themselves, the co-directors follow the arc of their own love story as the vehicle for a deeply moving narrative about the complexity of revolution and war. This film showcases the power of journalism through emotion and vulnerability; enduring, bearing witness, and telling one\u2019s own story oftentimes has the most impact.<\/p>\n A\u00a0World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Civil Resistance<\/b>\u00a0was presented to\u00a0Everybody To Kenmure Street\u00a0<\/i><\/b>\/ U.K. (Director and Producer: Felipe Bustos Sierra, Producer: Ciara Barry) \u2014 In May 2021, a U.K. Home Office dawn raid triggers one of the most spontaneous and successful acts of civil resistance in recent memory. In Scotland\u2019s most diverse neighborhood, hundreds of residents rush to the streets to stop the deportation of their neighbors.\u00a0World Premiere. Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n Jury citation: Not your typical social issue film, this documentary utilizes a touch of humor and a wide diversity of perspectives to call upon people to stand up for their neighbors. In a time when xenophobia and authoritarianism are on the rise, the power of collective action here is a global rallying cry.<\/p>\n The\u00a0NEXT Special Jury Award<\/b>\u00a0for Creative Expression\u00a0<\/b>was awarded to\u00a0TheyDream<\/i><\/b>\u00a0\/ U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: William David Caballero, Screenwriters and Producers: Erin Ploss-Campoamor, Elaine del Valle, Producer: Brad Jones) \u2014 After 20 years of chronicling his Puerto Rican family, a director and his mother face devastating losses. Through tears and laughter, they craft animations that bring their loved ones back to life, discovering that every act of creation is also an act of letting go.\u00a0World Premiere. Documentary. Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n Jury citation: For fully exploring multiple filmmaking techniques blending craft and emotion to tell\u00a0a personal story of those often overlooked\u2026more importantly with loving humor and brutal honesty.<\/p>\n<\/ins>\n PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED 2026 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS:<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n Jury prizes for the Short Film Program were announced on January 27 at the Short Film Awards Ceremony & Party presented by Ketel One Vodka at The Park in Park City:<\/p>\n The\u00a0Short Film Grand Jury Prize<\/b>\u00a0was awarded to:\u00a0The Baddest Speechwriter of All<\/i><\/b>\u00a0\/ U.S.A. (Directors and Producers: Ben Proudfoot, Stephen Curry, Producer: Erick Peyton) \u2014 Now 93, Martin Luther King Jr.\u2019s lawyer and speechwriter reflects on the personal cost and surprising truths of making history, offering an intimate insider\u2019s view of the Civil Rights Movement.\u00a0World Premiere. Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n Jury citation: This film implores us to take action with a message that is timeless and timely. Through the eyes of its subject, we find one of the most important moments in modern history has a new perspective.\u00a0 For its portrait of a strong willed, hilarious, compassionate man, and the instrumental role he played in kicking ass, nonviolently, against division and hate, the Short Film Grand Jury Prize goes to\u00a0The Baddest Speechwriter of All<\/i>.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Short Film Jury Award: U.S. Fiction<\/b>\u00a0was awarded to:\u00a0Crisis Actor\u00a0<\/i><\/b>\/ U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Lily Platt, Producers: Sophie Seyd, Alex Bendo, Lexi Preiser) \u2014 Fired from her day job, an impulsive actress crashes a support group and spirals into a chaotic night that forces her to face her addiction to drama.\u00a0Cast: Sarah Steele, Philip Ettinger. World Premiere. Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n Jury citation: This short is uniquely brilliant in its ability to balance laugh-out-loud levity with the emotional pain of honest self-reflection. This film is a succinct display of craft in writing, directing, acting, and a deeply insightful depiction of the distorted state of American values today. The Short Film Jury Award for U.S. Fiction goes to\u00a0Crisis Actor<\/i>.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction<\/b>\u00a0was awarded to:\u00a0Jazz Infernal\u00a0<\/i><\/b>\/\u00a0<\/i>\u00a0Canada (Director and Screenwriter: Will Niava, Screenwriter: Kristelle Laroche, Producers: Zion Lipstein-Saffer, Samuel Caron) \u2014 Koffi, a young Ivorian trumpeter, arrives in Montr\u00e9al with nothing but the legacy of his father to guide him. Lost between the city\u2019s noise and the silence of his past, he must confront his roots to finally find his voice.\u00a0Cast: Ange-Eric N\u2019guessan, Alexis Belhumeur, Kalombo Kasongo. U.S. Premiere. Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n Jury citation: This film deeply resonates in a way that lingers long after viewing, powerfully blending evocative atmosphere, gorgeous cinematography, music, and global storytelling influences into a profoundly singular vision. The Short Film Jury Award for International Fiction goes to\u00a0Jazz Infernal<\/i>.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Short Film Jury Award: Nonfiction<\/b>\u00a0was awarded to:\u00a0The Boys and the Bees<\/i><\/b>\u00a0\/ U.S.A. (Director and Producer: Arielle C. Knight, Producer: Sean Weiner) \u2014 On an idyllic farm in rural Georgia, Black beekeeping parents tenderly share their knowledge of life, love, and nature with their young sons while restoring their homestead.\u00a0Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n Jury citation: This film is a beautiful and bold story, in which we see two young boys as they are taught what it means to be strong without disregarding feelings; to learn about oneself and our place in nature; and ultimately to understand our capacity to reimagine the lineages we pass down to our children. The Short Film Jury Award for Non-Fiction goes to\u00a0The Boys and the Bees<\/i>.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Short Film Jury Award: Animation<\/b>\u00a0was awarded to:\u00a0Living with a Visionary<\/i><\/b>\u00a0\/ U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Stephen P. Neary, Producer: Mireia Vilanova) \u2014 After 50 years of marriage, John must care for his wife while learning to live alongside her vivid hallucinations.\u00a0Cast: James Cromwell, Katherine LaVictoire. World Premiere. Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n Jury citation: With visuals that so beautifully bring this funny, imaginative, and ultimately heartbreaking story to life, we fell easily into the world of two storied lovers dealing with one of life\u2019s greatest challenges. Loss. The detailed yet childlike animation helps bring to life a world only one woman can see and instills levity into this deeply moving story. The Short Film Jury Award for Animation goes to\u00a0Living with a Visionary<\/i>.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Short Film Special Jury Award for Creative Vision\u00a0<\/b>was awarded to:\u00a0Paper Trail\u00a0<\/i><\/b>\/ U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Don Hertzfeldt) \u2014 A life, seen through paper.\u00a0World Premiere.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n Jury citation: This film is a meticulous and brilliantly crafted example of how a single idea, which unfolds with vision and ingenuity, can expand our way of seeing the world around us. Beginning with a simple, crayon-drawn line, this bold film transports us on a roving journey of one man\u2019s life, twisting and turning along the way with moments that are at once playful, banal, sincere, and, in the end, deeply moving. The Short Film Special Jury Award for Creative Vision goes to\u00a0Paper Trail<\/i>.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Short Film Special Jury Award for Acting\u00a0<\/b>was awarded to:\u00a0Noah Roja<\/b>\u00a0and\u00a0Filippo Carrozza\u00a0<\/b>for\u00a0The Liars<\/i><\/b>\u00a0\/ Argentina (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Eduardo Braun Costa, Producers: Manuel Aguer, Natasha Gurfinkel) \u2014 Thrown into adulthood, Mat\u00edas and Jaime try to make sense of the world. One day, Jaime is arrested by a security guard at a mall and Mat\u00edas must ask a stranger to pretend to be their father to free him.\u00a0Cast: Noah Roja, Filippo Carrozza, Esteban Bigliardi, Mariana Chaud, Pablo Fusco. World Premiere. Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n Jury citation: Rarely do you see performances so honest and natural that they blur the line between fiction and nonfiction in their portrayal. For two young actors we look forward to seeing again who have done just that with their performances, we award the Short Film Special Jury Award for Acting to Noah Roja and Filippo Carrozza in\u00a0The Liars<\/i>.<\/p>\n The\u00a02026 Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize<\/b>\u00a0for an outstanding feature film with science and technology themes or characters was awarded to\u00a0In The Blink of An Eye\u00a0<\/i><\/b>directed by Andrew Stanton and written by Colby Day, screening in the Premieres category. The filmmakers received a $25,000 cash award from Sundance Institute with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Sundance Institute Producers Award for Nonfiction<\/b>, presented by Amazon MGM Studios, went to\u00a0Dawne Langford<\/b>\u00a0for\u00a0Who Killed Alex Odeh?<\/i><\/b>\u00a0\/ U.S.A. (Directors: Jason Osder, William Lafi Youmans, Producers: Dawne Langford, William Lafi Youmans, Jason Osder, Daniel J. Chalfen) \u2013\u2013 The assassination of a beloved Palestinian American activist in Southern California ignites a 40-year quest for justice, revealing the roots of a dangerous political movement that thrives today.\u00a0World Premiere. Available online for public.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n The\u00a0Sundance Institute Producers Award for Fiction<\/b>, presented by Amazon MGM Studios, went to\u00a0Apoorva Guru Charan<\/b>\u00a0for\u00a0Take Me Home<\/i><\/b>\u00a0\/ U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Liz Sargent, Producers: Apoorva Guru Charan, Minos Papas) \u2014 Anna, a 38-year-old Korean adoptee with a cognitive disability, cares for her aging parents in a fragile balance of meeting one another\u2019s needs. When a Florida heat wave shatters their family and Anna\u2019s routine, her future is uncertain until she creates a world where she can thrive.\u00a0Cast: Anna Sargent, Victor Slezak, Ali Ahn, Marceline Hugot, Shane Harper. World Premiere. Available online for public.\u00a0<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n The\u00a0Sundance Institute | Adobe Mentorship Award for Nonfiction<\/b>\u00a0went to\u00a0Flavia de Souza<\/b>, and the\u00a0Sundance Institute | Adobe Mentorship Award for Fiction<\/b>\u00a0went to\u00a0Mollie Goldstein<\/b>.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Sundance Institute | NHK Award<\/b>\u00a0went to\u00a0Leo Aguirre<\/b>\u00a0for\u00a0Verano<\/i><\/b>\u00a0(U.S.A.).<\/p>\n Sundance Institute<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n As a champion and curator of independent stories, the nonprofit Sundance Institute provides and preserves the space for artists across storytelling media to create and thrive. Founded in 1981 by Robert Redford, the Institute\u2019s signature labs, granting, and mentorship programs, dedicated to developing new work, take place throughout the year in the U.S. and internationally.\u00a0Sundance Collab<\/span><\/a>, a digital community platform, brings a global cohort of working artists together to learn from Sundance Institute advisors and connect with each other in a creative space, developing and sharing works in progress. The Sundance Film Festival and other public programs connect audiences and artists to ignite new ideas, discover original voices, and build a community dedicated to independent storytelling. Through the Sundance Institute artist programs, we have supported such projects as\u00a0Beasts of the Southern Wild<\/i>,\u00a0The Big Sick<\/i>,\u00a0Bottle Rocket<\/i>,\u00a0Boys Don\u2019t Cry<\/i>,\u00a0Boys State<\/i>,\u00a0Call Me by Your Name<\/i>,\u00a0Clemency<\/i>,\u00a0CODA<\/i>,\u00a0D\u00ecdi (<\/i>\u5f1f\u5f1f)<\/i>,\u00a0Drunktown\u2019s Finest<\/i>,\u00a0The Farewell<\/i>,\u00a0Fire of Love<\/i>,\u00a0Flee<\/i>,\u00a0Fruitvale Station<\/i>,\u00a0Half Nelson<\/i>,\u00a0Hedwig and the Angry Inch<\/i>,\u00a0Hereditary<\/i>,\u00a0The Infiltrators<\/i>,\u00a0The Last Black Man in San Francisco<\/i>,\u00a0Little Woods<\/i>,\u00a0Love & Basketball<\/i>,\u00a0Me and You and Everyone We Know<\/i>,\u00a0Mudbound<\/i>,\u00a0Nanny<\/i>,\u00a0One Child Nation<\/i>,\u00a0Pariah<\/i>,\u00a0Raising Victor Vargas<\/i>,\u00a0RBG<\/i>,\u00a0Requiem for a Dream<\/i>,\u00a0Reservoir Dogs<\/i>,\u00a0Sin Nombre<\/i>,\u00a0Sorry to Bother You<\/i>,\u00a0Strong Island<\/i>,\u00a0Summer of Soul (\u2026Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)<\/i>,\u00a0Swiss Army Man<\/i>,\u00a0A Thousand and One<\/i>,\u00a0Top of the Lake<\/i>,\u00a0Won\u2019t You Be My Neighbor?<\/i>, and\u00a0Zola.<\/i>\u00a0Through year-round artist programs, the Institute also nurtured the early careers of such artists as Paul Thomas Anderson, Gregg Araki, Darren Aronofsky, Lisa Cholodenko, Nia DaCosta, Ryan Coogler, The Daniels, Robert Eggers, Rick Famuyiwa, David Gordon Green, Sterlin Harjo, Marielle Heller, Miranda July, Nikyatu Jusu, James Mangold, John Cameron Mitchell, Kimberly Peirce, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Boots Riley, A.V. Rockwell, Ira Sachs, Walter Salles, Quentin Tarantino, Erica Tremblay, Taika Waititi, Lulu Wang, and Chlo\u00e9 Zhao. Support Sundance Institute in our commitment to uplifting bold artists and powerful storytelling globally by making a donation at\u00a0sundance.org\/donate<\/span><\/a>. Join\u00a0Sundance Institute<\/span><\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0Facebook<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0Instagram<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0TikTok<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0YouTube<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0X<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0and\u00a0Bluesky<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n Sundance Film Festival\u00ae<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n The Sundance Film Festival, a program of the nonprofit Sundance Institute, is the preeminent gathering of original storytellers and audiences seeking new voices and fresh perspectives. Since 1985, hundreds of films launched at the Festival have gone on to gain critical acclaim and reach new audiences worldwide. The Festival has introduced some of the most groundbreaking films and episodic works of the past decades, including\u00a0Kiss of the Spider Woman<\/i>,\u00a0Prime Minister<\/i>,\u00a0Pee-wee as Himself<\/i>,\u00a0D\u00ecdi (<\/i>\u5f1f\u5f1f)<\/i>,\u00a0A Real Pain<\/i>,\u00a0Daughters<\/i>,\u00a0Thelma<\/i>,\u00a0Will & Harper<\/i>,\u00a0Past Lives<\/i>,\u00a020 Days in Mariupol<\/i>,\u00a0The Eternal Memory<\/i>,\u00a0Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie<\/i>,\u00a0A Thousand and One<\/i>,\u00a0Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields<\/i>,\u00a0Rye Lane<\/i>,\u00a0Navalny<\/i>,\u00a0Fire of Love<\/i>,\u00a0Flee<\/i>,\u00a0CODA<\/i>,\u00a0Passing<\/i>,\u00a0Summer of Soul (\u2026Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)<\/i>,\u00a0Minari<\/i>,\u00a0Clemency<\/i>,\u00a0Never Rarely Sometimes Always<\/i>,\u00a0Zola<\/i>,\u00a0O.J.: Made in America<\/i>,\u00a0On the Record<\/i>,\u00a0Boys State<\/i>,\u00a0The Farewell<\/i>,\u00a0Honeyland<\/i>,\u00a0One Child Nation<\/i>,\u00a0The Souvenir<\/i>,\u00a0The Infiltrators<\/i>,\u00a0Sorry to Bother You<\/i>,\u00a0Top of the Lake<\/i>,\u00a0Won\u2019t You Be My Neighbor?<\/i>,\u00a0Hereditary<\/i>,\u00a0Call Me by Your Name<\/i>,\u00a0Get Out<\/i>,\u00a0The Big Sick<\/i>,\u00a0Mudbound<\/i>,\u00a0Fruitvale Station<\/i>,\u00a0Whiplash<\/i>,\u00a0Brooklyn<\/i>,\u00a0Precious<\/i>,\u00a0The Cove<\/i>,\u00a0Little Miss Sunshine<\/i>,\u00a0An Inconvenient Truth<\/i>,\u00a0Napoleon Dynamite<\/i>,\u00a0Hedwig and the Angry Inch<\/i>,\u00a0Reservoir Dogs<\/i>, and\u00a0sex, lies, and videotape<\/i>. The program consists of fiction and nonfiction features and short films, series and episodic content, innovative storytelling, and performances, as well as conversations and other events. The 2026 Festival will be held January 22\u2013February 1, 2026 in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, and online January 29\u2013February 1, 2026 across the country. Be a part of the Festival at\u00a0festival.sundance.org<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and follow the Festival on\u00a0Facebook<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0Instagram<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0TikTok<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0YouTube<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0X<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0and\u00a0Bluesky<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n