“In The Summers” and “Porcelain War” Headline Sundance 2024 Awards

The 2024 Sundance Film Festival, known for its support of independent artists and new stories, announced its award winners in a ceremony at The Ray Theatre in Park City, Utah. This year's festival, marking its 40th edition, showcased a diverse array of films from across the globe, spanning from January 18-28.

In the U.S. Dramatic Competition, 'In The Summers' emerged as the Grand Jury Prize winner. This film, directed and written by Alessandra Lacorazza, explores the challenging but loving relationship between two sisters and their father during their summer visits to Las Cruces, New Mexico.

The U.S. Documentary Competition saw 'Porcelain War' receive the Grand Jury Prize. This documentary, a co-creation of Brendan Bellomo and Slava Leontyev, delves into the resilience of Ukrainian artists amidst war, capturing their struggle and passion for living despite the surrounding chaos.

'Girls Will Be Girls,' a narrative from India, France, and Norway, directed by Shuchi Talati, secured the Audience Award in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition. The film portrays a 16-year-old's journey of self-discovery in a strict boarding school.

The World Cinema Documentary Competition's Audience Award went to 'Ibelin' from Norway, directed by Benjamin Ree. This poignant story unveils the impact of online communities in remembering a young gamer who passed away, revealing a life richer and more connected than his parents had known.

The festival also recognized 'Little Death' with the NEXT Innovator Award presented by Adobe. Directed by Jack Begert, this film presents a unique narrative weaving together the lives of a middle-aged filmmaker, two kids, and a dog.

Notable among the awards was the Festival Favorite, which went to 'Daughters', a U.S. documentary directed by Angela Patton and Natalie Rae. This film poignantly captures a fatherhood program in a Washington, D.C., jail, focusing on a special dance event for incarcerated fathers and their daughters.

Additionally, 'Dìdi' (弟弟), a U.S. dramatic entry by Sean Wang, and 'Daughters' in the U.S. documentary category, both won the Audience Awards presented by Acura.

Sundance Institute CEO Joana Vicente remarked on the significance of this year's festival, emphasizing its role in celebrating the festival's legacy while looking forward to future storytelling and artistic innovations.

The jurors for the festival included a diverse group of respected figures in the film industry, such as Debra Granik, Shane Boris, Anita Gou, Mandy Chang, Christina Oh, and Zal Batmanglij, among others.

The 2024 Sundance Film Festival, through its awards, highlighted a wide range of powerful stories and innovative filmmaking, continuing its tradition of fostering and celebrating independent cinema.

Complete List of 2024 Sundance Film Festival Winners:

Grand Jury Prizes:

1. U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - 'In The Summers' (U.S.A.)
2. U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - 'Porcelain War' (U.S.A., Ukraine)
3. World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - 'Sujo' (Mexico, U.S.A., France)
4. World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - 'A New Kind of Wilderness' (Norway)

NEXT Innovator Award Presented by Adobe:

• 'Little Death' (U.S.A.)

Festival Favorite Award:

• 'Daughters' (U.S.A.)

Audience Awards:

1. U.S. Documentary (Presented by Acura) - 'Daughters' (U.S.A.)
2. U.S. Dramatic (Presented by Acura) - 'Dìdi (弟弟)' (U.S.A.)
3. World Cinema Documentary (Presented by United Airlines) - 'Ibelin' (Norway)
4. World Cinema Dramatic (Presented by United Airlines) - 'Girls Will Be Girls' (India, France, Norway)
5. NEXT Audience Award (Presented by Adobe) - 'Kneecap' (Ireland, U.K.)

Directing, Screenwriting & Editing Awards:

1. Directing Award: U.S. Documentary - Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie for 'Sugarcane' (U.S.A., Canada)
2. Directing Award: U.S. Dramatic - Alessandra Lacorazza for 'In The Summers' (U.S.A.)
3. Directing Award: World Cinema Documentary - Benjamin Ree for 'Ibelin' (Norway)
4. Directing Award: World Cinema Dramatic - Raha Amirfazli and Alireza Ghasemi for 'In The Land Of Brothers' (Iran, France, Netherlands)
5. Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: U.S. Dramatic - Jesse Eisenberg for 'A Real Pain' (U.S.A., Poland)
6. Jonathan Oppenheim Editing Award: U.S. Documentary - Carla Gutiérrez for 'FRIDA' (U.S.A., Mexico)

Special Jury Awards:

1. U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Sound - 'Gaucho Gaucho' (U.S.A., Argentina)
2. U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for the Art of Change - 'Union' (U.S.A.)
3. U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award: Ensemble - Cast of 'Dìdi (弟弟)' (U.S.A.)
4. U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Performance - Nico Parker for 'Suncoast' (U.S.A.)
5. World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Craft - 'Nocturnes' (India, U.S.A.)
6. World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Cinematic Innovation - Johan Grimonprez for 'Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat' (Belgium, France, Netherlands)
7. World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Original Music - Peter Raeburn for 'Handling the Undead' (Norway)
8. World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting - Preeti Panigrahi for 'Girls Will Be Girls' (India, France, Norway)
9. Special Jury Award for NEXT presented by Adobe - 'Desire Lines' (U.S.A.)

Short Film Awards:

1. Short Film Grand Jury Prize - Alex Lora Cercos for 'The Masterpiece' (Spain)
2. Short Film Jury Award: U.S. Fiction - Kate Jean Hollowell for 'Say Hi After You Die' (U.S.A.)
3. Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction - An Chu for 'The Stag' (Taiwan)
4. Short Film Jury Award: Nonfiction - Jack Dunphy for 'Bob’s Funeral' (U.S.A)
5. Short Film Jury Award: Animation - Phoebe Jane Hart for 'Bug Diner' (U.S.A.)
6. Short Film Special Jury Prize for Directing - Masha Ko for 'The Looming' (U.S.A.)
7. Short Film Special Jury Prize for Directing - Makoto Nagahisa for 'Pisko the Crab Child is in Love' (Japan)

Previously Granted Awards:

1. Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize - 'Love Me' (U.S. Dramatic Competition)
2. Sundance Institute | Amazon MGM Studios Producers Award for Nonfiction - Toni Kamau for 'The Battle for Laikipia' (Kenya, U.S.A.)
3. Sundance Institute | Amazon MGM Studios Producers Award for Fiction - Brad Becker-Parton for 'Stress Positions' (U.S.A.)
4. Sundance Institute | Adobe Mentorship Award for Nonfiction - Kristina Motwani
5. Sundance Institute | Adobe Mentorship Award for Fiction - Pamela Martin
6. Sundance Institute | NHK Award - Saim Sadiq for 'We Are Never Going to Die'

This comprehensive list represents the diverse and talented group of filmmakers and their works celebrated at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.