❅ Sundance Film Festival ❅

FESTIVAL OVERVIEW

The annual Sundance Film Festival, held each January in Park City, Utah, is widely recognized as the premier showcase for American and international independent film. Inclusive and eclectic in its programming approach, the festival has grown to include film culture events, panel discussions, youth programs, online exhibition, and live music. Attended by more than 45,000 people from around the world each year and with an online audience exceeding 1,000,000 users, the Sundance Film Festival creates a vibrant, unique community of artists and audiences that extends well beyond the mountains of Park City, Utah.

FESTIVAL DATES

The Sundance Film Festival takes place over ten days each January in and around Park City, Utah.

The 2012 Sundance Film Festival is scheduled for January 19-29, 2012.

The Winners...
- Grand Jury Prize - Dramatic : Beasts of the Southern Wild, directed by Benh Zeitlin
- Grand Jury Prize - Documentary : The House I Live In, directed by Eugene Jarecki
- U.S. Directing Award for Documentary Film : Lauren Greenfield, director of The Queen of Versailles
- U.S. Directing Award for Dramatic Film : Middle of Nowhere, director Ava DuVernay
- U.S. Documentary Special Jury Prize for Grace Under Pressure : Love Free or Die, directed by Macky Alston
- U.S. Documentary Special Jury Prize for Spirit of Defiance : Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry, directed by Alison Klayman
- Excellence in Cinematography Award for U.S. Documentary Filmmaking : Chasing Ice, Jeff Orlowski
- Excellence in Cinematography Award - Dramatic to : Beasts of the Southern Wild, Ben Richardson
- U.S. Documentary Editing Award to : Detropia, edited by Enat Sidi
- U.S. Documentary Competition Audience Award, presented by Acura : The Invisible War, directed by Kirby Dick.
- U.S. Dramatic Competition Audience Award, presented by Acura : The Surrogate, directed by Ben Lewin.
- Best of NEXT Audience Award : Sleepwalk with Me, directed by comedian and writer Mike Birbiglia
- World Cinema Audience Award for Documentary Film : Searching for Sugar Man, directed by Malik Bendjelloul (Sweden)
- World Cinema Audience Award for Dramatic Film : Valley of Saints, directed by Musa Syeed (India/U.S.A.).
- World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Prize for Artistic Vision : Can, directed by Rasit Celikezer (Turkey)
- World Cinema Cinematography Award, Dramatic : My Brother the Devil, cinematography by David Raedeker (UK)
- World Cinema Screenwriting Award, Dramatic : Young & Wild, written by Marialy Rivas, Camila Gutierrez, Pedro Peirano (Chile)
- World Cinema Directing Award, Dramatic : Teddy Bear, directed by Mads Matthiesen (Denmark)
- World Cinema Grand Jury Prize, Dramatic : Violeta Went to Heaven (Violeta se Fue a Los Cielos), directed by Andres Wood (Chile/Argentina/Brazil/Spain)
- World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Prize for its Celebration of the Artistic Spirit : Searching for Sugar Man, directed by Malik Bendjelloul (Sweden/UK)
- World Cinema Cinematography Award for Documentary Film-making : Putin’s Kiss, cinematography by Lars Skree (Denmark)
- World Cinema Documentary Editing Award : Indie Game: The Movie, edited by Lisanne Pajot and James Swirsky. (Canada)
- World Cinema Documentary Directing Award : 5 Broken Cameras, directed by Emad Burnat (Palestine/Israel/France)
- World Cinema Grand Jury Prize in Documentary : The Law in These Parts (Shilton Ha Chok), directed by Ra’anan Alexandrowicz (Israel)

HISTORY & PAST FESTIVALS

In 1978, the United States Film Festival was created in Salt Lake City, Utah. During its early years, the film festival focused primarily on the presentation of retrospective films and filmmaker seminars. However, from its inception, the Film Festival featured a national competition aimed at drawing attention to new American films made outside the Hollywood system. In 1981, the Festival grew to include documentaries along with its program of dramatic features, and moved to Park City, Utah, the mountain town that continues to be the hub of Festival activity. The following year, short films were added to the Festival's program.

In 1985, the Film Festival added international films to its programming and, under the aegis of founder Robert Redford became a part of Sundance Institute. The move provided the Festival with year-round administration, backing, and a network of contacts, and Sundance Institute gained a powerful vehicle for the presentation of new work by American and international independent filmmakers. In 1991, the Festival was officially renamed the Sundance Film Festival. It celebrated its 25th year in 2009.

PAST FESTIVALS

2006

The 2006, the Festival presented a total of 194 films including features QUINCEANERA, STEPHANIE DALEY, and LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, and documentaries AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, GOD GREW TIRED OF US, and THIS FILM IS NOT YET RATED. In the second year of its World Cinema Competition, Sundance screened 43 international feature films representing 32 countries. While attendance at Festival theatres in Utah reached record levels, so did the Festival's official website with users downloading more than 1,000,000 short films and original content episodes from the site.

2007

In 2007, the Sundance Film Festival expanded its New Frontier program and introduced the New Frontier on Main venue. Films included AWAY FROM HER, CHICAGO 10, GRACE IS GONE, and ONCE as well as documentaries MANDA BALA (SEND A BULLET), NO END IN SIGHT, and WAR/
DANCE.

2008

In 2008, the Sundance Film Festival showcased films from 35 countries, including CAPTAIN ABU RAED, the first independent feature film from Jordan. Films inlcuded FROZEN RIVER, SUGAR, and THE WACKNESS along with
documentaries AMERICAN TEEN, MAN ON WIRE, and TROUBLE THE WATER.

2009

In 2009, the Sundance Film Festival celebrated its 25th year. The 2009 Grand Jury Prize in the Drama category went to Lee Daniels' PUSH: BASED ON THE NOVEL BY SAPPHIRE. The film tells the story of Precious Jones, a young girl in Harlem. The movie was later released through Lions Gate Entertainment under the name Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire. Ondi Timoner's WE LIVE IN PUBLIC bested 15 other Documentaries to win that category.

2010

In 2010, the big winner for the coveted Audience Award was HappyThankYouMorePlease. The Grand Jury Price Dramatic winner was Winter's Bone and THe Grand Jury Price Documentary winner was Restrepo. 9 of the 15 films went on to garner Oscar Nominations.

2011

In 2011, the 27th annual event, How to Die in Oregon and Like Crazy both earned Grand Jury Prices. The Audience favorites included Buck and Circumstance.

TICKETS

Ranging from comprehensive ticket packages that are purchased months in advance to individual tickets that become available just hours before Festival screenings, there are myriad ways to purchase tickets to films at the Sundance Film Festival. Specific information about purchasing packages and individual tickets is available beginning in September on the Sundance Film Festival website. Be sure to check the site early and often for important dates and new ticket buying opportunities! Also check out great deals on Park City hotels and accommodations.