#SUNDANCE: SUNDANCE 2021 AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

By Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Though Sundance had to adjust to the pandemic, they were able to offer a slew of content in their program. It screened 71 Features, 50 Shorts, 4 Indie Series, and 14 New Frontier Projects.

Some films were lucky enough to be bought ahead of the Festival, such as Together Together, The Most Beautiful Boy in the World and Prisoners of the Ghostland. And some were acquired following their Sundance debut, such as Feature films CODA, Flee, Jockey and Cryptozoo. The former sold of a record-smashing $25 million to Apple Studios. Along with Documentaries Ailey and Playing With Sharks. Make sure you keep an eye out in the future for these titles.

Tonight was the Awards Ceremony hosted by Patton Oswald. Some presenters included Alison Brie and Diego Luna. Check out the list of winners below.

U.S. DRAMATIC COMPETITION

Grand Jury Prize: CODA

Audience Award: CODA

Directing: Siân Heder (CODA)

Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: Ari Katcher and Rya Welch (On The Count of Three)

Special Jury Award for Acting: Clifton Collins Jr (Jockey)

Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble: CODA

U.S. DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION

Grand Jury Prize: Summer of Soul… (Or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)

Audience Award: Summer of Soul… (Or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)

Directing: Natalia Almada (Users)

Jonathan Oppenheim Editing Award: Kristina Motwani and Rebecca Adorno (Homeroom)

Special Jury Award for Emerging Filmmaker: Parker Hill and Isabel Bethencourt (Cusp)

Special Jury Award for Non-Fiction Experimentation: Theo Anthony (All Light, Everywhere)

WORLD CINEMA DRAMATIC COMPETITION

Grand Jury Prize: Hive

Audience Award: Hive

Directing Award: Blerta Basholli (Hive)

Special Jury Award for Acting: Jesmark Scicluna (Luzzu)

Special Jury Award for Creative Vision: One For The Road

WORLD CINEMA DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION

Grand Jury Prize: Flee

Audience Award: Writing With Fire

Directing Award: Hogir Hirori (Sabaya)

Special Jury Award: Verite Filmmaking: President

Special Jury Award: Impact for Change: Writing With Fire

OTHER AWARDS

NEXT Audience Award: Ma Belle, My Beauty

NEXT Innovator Award: Cryptozoo

Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize: Son of Monarchs

SHORT AWARDS:

Short Film Grand Jury Award: Lizard

Short Film Jury Award: US Fiction: The Touch of the Master’s Hand

Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction: Bambirak

Short Film Jury Award: Nonfiction: Don’t Go Tellin’ Your Momma

Jury Prize for Animation: Souvenir Souvenir

Special Jury Award for Screenwriting: Serhat Karaaslan (The Criminals)

Special Jury Award for Acting: Breanna Gibson (Wiggle Room)

(Photo credit: Sundance)