Sundance Film Festival 2009

What makes Robert Redford's Utah based festival so different from all the others is the fact that it effectively acts as stepping stone for all the new and interesting film talent out there with as well as giving rise to the more "indie" releases perhaps more so than the rest of the film festivals out there.

Obviously I have not had a chance to see any of the films featured as I was not present at this years festival (just like a lot of journalists it seems). So here are the list of winners with a full synopsis from IMDB where available as they are no doubt worth a look in the future! You may have to wait a fair while though, the four big winners do not yet have a distributor which I guess is all part of Sundance's charm.









Grand Jury Prize, U.S. Dramatic:
Push: Based on the Novel by Sapphire , Lee Daniels.
SYNOPSIS: In Harlem, an overweight, illiterate teen who is pregnant with her second child is invited to enroll in an alternative school in hopes that her life can head in a new direction.

Grand Jury Prize, U.S. Documentary:
We Live In Public, directed by Ondi Timoner
SYNOPSIS: On the 40th anniversary of the Internet, WE LIVE IN PUBLIC tells the story of the effect the web is having on our society as seen through the eyes of "the greatest Internet pioneer you've never heard of", visionary Josh Harris. Award-winning director, Ondi Timoner ("DIG!"), documented his tumultuous life for more than a decade, to create a riveting, cautionary tale of what to expect as the virtual world inevitably takes control of our lives. Josh Harris, often called the "Warhol of the Web" through the infamous dot.com boom of the 1990's, founded Pseudo.com, the first Internet television network and created his vision of the future, an underground bunker in NYC where 100 people lived together on camera for 30 days over the millennium. He proved how in the not-so-distant future of life online, we will willingly trade our privacy for the connection and recognition we all deeply desire. Through his experiments, including a six-month stint living under 24-hour live surveillance online which led him to mental collapse, he demonstrated the price we will all pay for living in public.

World Cinema Jury Prize, Dramatic:
The Maid, directed by Sebastian Silva

World Cinema Jury Prize, Documentary:

Rough Aunties, directed by Kim Longinotto

SYNOPSIS: Fearless, feisty and resolute, the "Rough Aunties" are a remarkable group of women unwavering in their stand to protect and care for the abused, neglected and forgotten children of Durban, South Africa. This newest documentary by internationally acclaimed director Kim Longinotto (SISTERS IN LAW, DIVORCE IRANIAN STYLE) follows the outspoken, multiracial cadre of Thuli, Mildred, Sdudla, Eureka and Jackie, as they wage a daily battle against systemic apathy, corruption and greed to help the most vulnerable and disenfranchised of their communities. Neither politics, nor social or racial divisions stand a chance against the united force of the women. Once again Longinotto has managed to bring us an intimate portrait of change from Africa, this time from post-apartheid South Africa, a nation being transformed with hope and energy into a new democracy.

Audience Award, Dramatic:
Push: Based on the novel by Sapphire, directed by Lee Daniels.

Audience Award, Documentary:
The Cove , directed by Louise Psihoyos

World Cinema Audience Award, Dramatic:
An Education , directed by Lone Scherfig
SYNOPSIS: Jenny (Carey Mulligan) is a bright young girl on the cusp of her 17th birthday who finds herself in a whirlwind romance with a much older David (Peter Sarsgaard). Prior to meeting David, Jenny was trying to excel in her life by going to a prep school to get into Oxford. Once she sees the lifestyle David can provide, one she never imagined might so easily be hers, she is hooked and thoughts of Oxford go out the window. Then, when things are looking pretty good for Jenny with the dashing (yet a little too smooth) David, the truth hits her like a ton of bricks. Jenny goes from being a bright eyed school girl to a sophisticated young lady and then all the way back to questioning if she really knows who she is at all.

World Cinema Audience Award, Documentary:
Afghan Star, directed by Havana Marking
SYNOPSIS: A look at how contestants on the a musical contest program "Pop Idol" in Afghanistan risk their lives to appear on the show.

Excellence in Directing, U.S. Dramatic:
Cary Joji Fukunaga, Sin Nombre
SYNOPSIS: Sin Nombre tracks the fate of three teenagers traveling through Mexico on their way toward the U.S. border. Sayla (Gaitan) is living a hard life in Honduras when her father and uncle decide it's time for the three of them to attempt to cross over into the United States and meet up with dad's "other family" in New Jersey -- full of brothers and sisters her father fathered before he was caught and deported

Excellence in Directing, U.S. Documentary:
Natalia Almada, General, El
SYNOPSIS: The glimpse into the life of Mexican President Plutarco Elias Calles.

Excellence in Directing, World Dramatic:
Oliver Hirschbiegel, Five Minutes of Heaven
(This Film Stars Liam Neeson, I'm sold)

Excellence in Directing, World Documentary:
Havana Marking, Afghan Star

Excellence in Cinematography, U.S. Dramatic:
Adriano Goldman, Sin Nombre

Excellence in Cinematography, U.S. Documentary:
Bob Richman, The September Issue
SYNOPSIS: The September 2007 issue of Vogue magazine weighed nearly five pounds, and was the single largest issue of a magazine ever published. With unprecedented access, this film tells the story of legendary Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour and her larger-than-life team of editors creating the issue and ruling the world of fashion.

Excellence in Cinematography, World Dramatic:
John De Borman, An Education

Excellence in Cinematography, World Documentary:
John Maringouin, Big River Man
SYNOPSIS: To be titled "Big River Man", the film will follow Strel as he attempts to cover 3,375 miles in what is being billed as the world's longest swim. Strel, who hails from Slovenia, previously completed record swims in the Danube, Mississippi and Yangzte rivers and holds several Guiness World Records.

Excellence in Editing, U.S. Documentary:
Karen Schmeer, Sergio
SYNOPSIS: Charismatic, charming and complex, Sergio Vieira de Mello was the world's go-to guy, a man who could descend into the most dangerous places, charm the worst war criminals, and somehow protect the lives of the ordinary people to whom he'd devoted his life. SERGIO tells the gripping, inspiring story of his most treacherous mission ever...a mission in which his own life hangs in the balance.

Excellence in Editing, World Documentary:
Janus Billeskov, Big River Man

Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award:
Nicholas Jasenovec and Charlyne Yi for Paper Heart
SYNOPSIS: A look at the relationship between two young actors.
(Michael Cera's latest starring role is probably all you need to know)

World Cinema Screenwriting Award:
Guy Hibbert, Five Minutes of Heaven

Special Jury Prize for “Spirit of Independence”:
Humpday, directed by Lynn Shelton
SYNOPSIS: When Andrew unexpectedly shows up on Ben's doorstep late one night, the two old college friends immediately fall into their old dynamic of heterosexual one-upmanship. To save Ben from domestication, Andrew invites Ben to a party at a sex-positive commune. Everyone there plans on making erotic art films for the local amateur porn festival and Andrew wants in. They run out of booze and ideas, save for one: Andrew should have sex with Ben, on camera. It's not gay; it's beyond gay. It's not porn; it's an art project. The next day, they find themselves unable to back down from the dare. And there's nothing standing in their way - except Ben's wife Anna, heterosexuality, and certain mechanical questions.

Special Jury Prize For Acting:
Mo’Nique, in Push: Based in a novel by Sapphire

Special Jury Prize For U.S. Documentary:
Good Hair, directed by Jeff Stilson
(A documentary starring Chris Rock apparently!)

World Cinema Special Jury Prize, Dramatic:
Catalina Saavedra for her performance in The Maid

World Cinema Special Jury Prize, Dramatic:
Louise-Michel, directed by Benoit Delepine and Gustave de Kervern, for its “originality”

World Cinema Special Jury Prize, Documentary:
Tibet in Song, directed by Ngawang Choephel
SYNOPSIS: A look at the life and struggles of the Tibetan people and their culture told through music.

The Alfred P. Sloan Prize For a Feature Film:
Adam, directed by Max Mayer.
SYNOPSIS: A lonely, autistic man, Adam, develops a relationship with his upstairs neighbor, Beth.

Sundance/NHK International Filmmakers Awards
Diego Lerman, Ciencias Morales (Moral Sciences)
David Riker, The Girl
Qurata Kenji, Speed Girl
Lucile Hadzihalilovic, Evolution

Jury Prize in International Short Filmmaking:
Lies, directed by Jonas Odell.
SYNOPSIS: Three perfectly true stories about lying. In three episodes based on documentary interviews we meet the burglar who, when found out, claims to be a moonlighting accountant, the boy who finds himself lying and confessing to a crime he didn't commit and the woman whose whole life has been a chain of lies.

Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking:
Short Term 12, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton.
SYNOPSIS: A Film about kids and the grownups that hit them

The film Push it seems will be worth looking out for in the future having picked up no less than three major awards. Also as a massive fan of Nick Hornby books I am looking forward to his latest filmed screenplay; An Education