The
jury and audience award-winners of the 2007 Sundance Film
Festival were announced on 28th January at the Festival’s
closing Awards Ceremony in Park City, Utah. The films receiving
jury awards were selected by distinguished jurors from films
screening in the Independent Film Competition and the World
Cinema Competition. Awards were given to both dramatic and
documentary films screening in the four competitive categories:
Documentary Competition, Dramatic Competition, World Cinema
Documentary Competition, and World Cinema Dramatic Competition.
The films in these categories were also eligible for the
2007 Sundance Film Festival Audience Awards as selected by
Film Festival audiences. The premier showcase for U.S. independent
film, the Film Festival is an important new platform for
international independent film and screens films that embody
risk-taking, diversity, and aesthetic innovation. In addition, the Shorts Jury awarded a Jury Prize in Short
Filmmaking to a U.S. and international filmmaker. Other awards
recognized at the ceremony include the recipient of the Alfred
P. Sloan Prize, awarded to a film which excels in addressing
compelling topics in science or technology and the recipients
of the Sundance/NHK International Filmmakers Award, created
to honor and support emerging filmmakers with their next
screenplays. “The films in this year’s program have opened
up the possibilities of what independent film can be and
will be in the future,” said Geoffrey Gilmore, Director
of the Sundance Film Festival. “The 2007 Sundance Film
Festival award-winners reflect the talent, diversity, and
evolution of independent film and exemplify the artistic
power of film to illuminate and explore issues that are prevalent
in our global society.” The Independent Film Competition is the heart and soul of
the Sundance Film Festival program. It has introduced audiences
to many of the best American and international independent
films and filmmakers of the past 24 years. Films selected
to screen in the Dramatic and Documentary Competitions were
eligible for a number of jury awards. The 2007 Sundance Film Festival Award-Winners are: The Grand Jury Prize:
Documentary was given to MANDA BALA (SEND A BULLET), directed
by Jason Kohn. In Brazil, known
as one of the world's most corrupt and violent countries,
MANDA BALA follows a politician who uses a frog farm to steal
billions of dollars, a wealthy businessman who spends a small
fortune bulletproofing his cars, and a plastic surgeon who
reconstructs the ears of mutilated kidnapping victims. The Grand Jury Prize:
Dramatic was given to PADRE NUESTRO, directed by Christopher
Zalla. Fleeing a criminal past, Juan
hops a truck transporting illegal immigrants from Mexico
to New York City, where he meets Pedro, who is seeking his
rich father. The World Cinema Jury
Prize: Documentary was given to ENEMIES OF HAPPINESS (VORES
LYKKES FJENDER)/Denmark, directed by Eva Mulvad and Anja
Al Erhayem. In ENEMIES OF HAPPINESS,
Malalai Joya, a 28-year-old Afghani woman, redefines the
role of women and elected officials in her country with her
historic 2005 victory in Afghanistan's first democratic parliamentary
election in over 30 years. The World Cinema Jury
Prize: Dramatic was given to SWEET MUD (ADAMA MESHUGAAT)/Israel,
directed by Dror Shaul. On
a kibbutz in southern Israel in the 1970's, Dvir Avni realizes
that his mother is mentally ill. In this closed community,
bound by rigid rules, Dvir must navigate between the kibbutz
motto of equality and the stinging reality that his mother
has, in effect, been abandoned by the community. The Audience Awards are given to both a dramatic and documentary
film in the Independent Film Competition as voted by Sundance
Film Festival audiences. The 2007 Sundance Film Festival
Audience Awards for the Independent Film Competition are
presented by Volkswagen of America, Inc. The Audience Award:
Documentary was given to HEAR AND NOW, directed by Irene
Taylor Brodsky. Brodsky tells a deeply personal story about her deaf parents
and their radical decision–after
65 years living together in silence–to undergo cochlear
implant surgery, a procedure that could give them the ability
to hear. The Audience Award:
Dramatic was given to GRACE IS GONE, directed by James
C. Strouse. After learning that his wife
has been killed in Iraq, a father finds the courage to tell
his daughters the news during a quixotic road trip to an
amusement park. The World Cinema Audience Awards are given to both a dramatic
and documentary film in the World Cinema Competition as voted
by Sundance Film Festival audiences. The World Cinema Audience
Award: Documentary was given to IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON/United
Kingdom, directed by David Sington. One of the defining passages of American history,
the Apollo Space Program literally brought the aspirations
of a nation to another world. Awe-inspiring footage and candid
interviews with the astronauts who visited the moon provide
unparalleled perspective on the precious state of our planet. The World Cinema Audience
Award: Dramatic was given to ONCE/Ireland, directed by
John Carney. ONCE
is a modern day musical set on the streets of Dublin. Featuring
Glen Hansard and his Irish band "The Frames," the
film tells the story of a busker and an immigrant during
an eventful week as they write, rehearse and record songs
that reveal their unique love story. The Directing Awards recognize excellence in directing for
dramatic and documentary features. The Directing Award: Documentary went to Sean Fine and Andrea
Nix Fine, directors of WAR/DANCE. The Directing Award: Dramatic was presented to Jeffrey Blitz,
director of ROCKET SCIENCE. The Excellence in Cinematography Awards honor exceptional
photography in both a dramatic and documentary film at the
Festival. Heloisa Passos for
MANDA BALA (SEND A BULLET) from the Documentary
Competition and Benoit Debie for JOSHUA from the Dramatic
Competition received the 2007 Cinematography Awards. The Independent Film Competition Documentary Jury presented
the Documentary Editing Award to editors Hibah Sherif Frisina,
Charlton McMillan, and Michael Schweitzer for their work
on the film NANKING. The Jury for the Independent Film Dramatic Competition presents
the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award for outstanding achievement
in writing. The 2007 prize was given to James C. Strouse
for GRACE IS GONE. The Documentary Jury presented a Special
Jury Prize to NO END IN SIGHT, directed
by Charles Ferguson, “in
recognition of the film as timely work that clearly illuminates
the misguided policy decisions that have led to the catastrophic
quagmire of the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq.” The Jury for the Independent Film Dramatic Competition also
presented two special Jury Prizes. Special Jury Prizes for Acting were
presented to Jess Weixler in TEETH “for a juicy and jaw-dropping performance” and
to Tamara Podemski in FOUR SHEETS TO
THE WIND “for
a fully realized physical and emotional turn.” The Jury also presented a Special Jury Prize for Singularity
of Vision to Chris Smith, director of THE POOL. The World Cinema Documentary Competition Jury presented
a Special Jury Prize to HOT HOUSE/Israel, directed by Shimon
Dotan. The World Cinema Dramatic Competition
Jury presented a Special Jury Prize to THE
LEGACY (L’HERITAGE)/France directed
by Géla Babluani and Temur Babluani. The Shorts Jury presented the Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking
to EVERYTHING WILL BE OK directed by Don Hertzfeldt. The Jury Prize in International Short Filmmaking was given
to THE TUBE WITH A HAT/Romania, directed by Radu Jude. The Shorts Jury awarded Honorable Mentions in Short Filmmaking
to DEATH TO THE TINMAN, directed by
Ray Tintori; THE FIGHTING CHOLITAS, directed by Mariam Jobrani;
MEN UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER BETTER (MARDHA HAMDIGAR RA BEHTAR
MIFAHMAND)/Iran, directed by Marjan Alizadeh; MOTODROM/Germany,
directed by Joerg Wagner; SPITFIRE 944 directed by William
Lorton; and t.o.m./United Kingdom, directed by Tom Brown
and Daniel Gray. The 2007 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Awards are presented
by Adobe Systems Incorporated. The Shorts Jury also presented a Special Jury Prize to the
documentary short film FREEHELD, directed by Cynthia Wade. The 2007 Independent Film Competition Documentary Jurors
are Alan Berliner, Lewis Erskine, Lauren Greenfield, Julia
Reichert, and Carlos Sandoval. The 2007 Independent Film Competition Dramatic Jurors are Catherine Hardwicke, Dawn Hudson, Pamela Martin, Elvis Mitchell
and Sarah Polley. The 2007 World Cinema Competition Documentary Jurors are
Raoul Peck, Juan Carlos Rulfo, and Elizabeth Weatherford. The 2007 World Cinema Competition Dramatic Jurors are Carlos
Bolado, Lynne Ramsay, and U-Wei Bin Haji Saari. The 2007 Shorts Jurors presenting awards to U.S. and international
short films are Jared Hess, Daniela Michel, and Mark Elijah
Rosenberg. The Alfred P. Sloan Prize carries a $20,000 cash award and
celebrates the work of emerging independent feature filmmakers
tackling compelling ideas and issues in science and technology.
The 2007 Alfred P. Sloan Prize was presented to DARK MATTER,
directed by Chen Shi-Zhen. The 2007 Alfred P. Sloan Jurors are Darren Aronofsky, Ann
Druyan, Dr. Brian Greene, Howard Suber, and John Underkoffler. Now in its eleventh year, the Sundance/NHK
International Filmmakers Award was created to honor and
support emerging filmmakers with their next screenplays–one each from
the United States, Japan, Europe and Latin America–who
possess the originality, talent and vision to be celebrated
as we look to the future of international cinema. The winning
filmmakers and projects are: Lucía Cedrón,
AGNUS DEI from Argentina; Caran Hartsfield, BURY ME STANDING
from the United States; Tomoko Kana, TWO BY THE RIVER from
Japan; and Dagur Kári, THE GOOD HEART from Iceland.
2007 Sundance Film Festival Sponsors
The 2007 Sundance Film Festival Sponsors help sustain Sundance
Institute's year-round programs to support independent artists,
inspire risk-taking and encourage diversity in the arts.
This year's Festival Sponsors include: Presenting Sponsors—Entertainment
Weekly, Volkswagen of America, Inc., HP, Adobe Systems Incorporated,
and AOL; Leadership Sponsors—American Express, Delta
Air Lines, and DIRECTV; Sustaining Sponsors—ABSOLUT®,
Aquafina, Blockbuster Inc., CESAR® Canine Cuisine, KRUPS,
L’Oreal Paris, The New York Times, Ray-Ban, Sony Electronics,
Inc., Stella Artois®, Turning Leaf Vineyards, and the
Utah Film Commission.
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is the premier showcase for U.S.
and international independent film. Held each January in
Park City, Sundance Resort, Salt Lake City, and Ogden,
Utah, the Festival is a core program of Sundance Institute,
a nonprofit cultural organization founded by Robert Redford
in 1981.
Presenting 125 dramatic and documentary feature–length
films in nine distinct categories and over 70 short films
each year, the Sundance Film Festival has introduced American
audiences to some of the most innovative films of the past
two decades. The official website of the Sundance Film Festival, www.sundance.org
shares the Festival experience beyond the streets of Park
City with a global audience through the streaming of short
films, filmmaker interviews, and current news and box office
information. Sundance Institute Dedicated year–round to the development
of artists of independent vision and to the exhibition of
their new work, Sundance Institute celebrated its 25th anniversary
in 2006. Founded by Robert Redford in 1981, the Institute
has grown into an internationally recognized resource for
thousands of independent artists through its Film Festival
and artistic development programs for filmmakers, screenwriters,
composers, playwrights and theatre artists. The original
values of independence, creative risk–taking, and discovery
continue to define and guide the work of Sundance Institute,
both with U.S. artists and, increasingly, with artists from
other regions of the world.
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