Damien Chazelle ‘s Whiplash Wins Grand Jury! 2014 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES FEATURE FILM AWARDS

Damien Chazelle Whiplash Wins Grand Jury! 2014 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES FEATURE FILM AWARDS

Park City, UT — Sundance Institute this evening announced the Jury, Audience and other special awards of the 2014 Sundance Film Festival at the feature film Awards Ceremony, hosted by Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally, in Park City, Utah. Video of the ceremony in its entirety is available at www.sundance.org/live.

Damien Chazelle ‘s Whiplash Wins Grand Jury! 2014 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL FEATURE FILM AWARDS

U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize:
Whiplash / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Damien Chazelle) — Under the direction of a ruthless instructor, a talented young drummer begins to pursue perfection at any cost, even his humanity. Cast: Miles Teller, JK Simmons.

World Cinema Dramatic Grand Jury Prize:
To Kill a Man / Chile, France (Director and screenwriter: Alejandro Fernández Almendras) — When Jorge, a hardworking family man who’s barely making ends meet, gets mugged by Kalule, a neighborhood delinquent, Jorge’s son decides to confront the attacker, only to get himself shot. Even though Jorge’s son nearly dies, Kalule’s sentence is minimal, heightening the friction. Cast: Daniel Candia, Daniel Antivilo, Alejandra Yañez, Ariel Mateluna.

U.S. Documentary Grand Jury Prize:
Rich Hill / U.S.A. (Directors: Andrew Droz Palermo, Tracy Droz Tragos) — In a rural, American town, kids face heartbreaking choices, find comfort in the most fragile of family bonds, and dream of a future of possibility.
World Cinema Documentary Grand Jury Prize:
Return to Homs / Syria, Germany (Director: Talal Derki) — Basset Sarout, the 19-year-old national football team goalkeeper, becomes a demonstration leader and singer, and then a fighter. Ossama, a 24-year-old renowned citizen cameraman, is critical, a pacifist, and ironic until he is detained by the regime’s security forces.

Damien Chazelle ‘s Whiplash Wins 2014 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL FEATURE FILM AWARDS

2014 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL FEATURE FILM AWARDS
U.S. Dramatic Audience Award:
Whiplash / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Damien Chazelle) — Under the direction of a ruthless instructor, a talented young drummer begins to pursue perfection at any cost, even his humanity. Cast: Miles Teller, JK Simmons.
World Cinema Dramatic Audience Award:
Difret / Ethiopia (Director and screenwriter: Zeresenay Berhane Mehari) — Meaza Ashenafi is a young lawyer who operates under the government’s radar helping women and children until one young girl’s legal case exposes everything, threatening not only her career but her survival. Cast: Meron Getnet, Tizita Hagere.

U.S. Documentary Audience Award:
Alive Inside: A Story of Music & Memory / U.S.A. (Director: Michael Rossato-Bennett) — Five million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia—many of them alone in nursing homes. A man with a simple idea discovers that songs embedded deep in memory can ease pain and awaken these fading minds. Joy and life are resuscitated, and our cultural fears over aging are confronted.
World Cinema Documentary Audience Award:
The Green Prince / Germany, Israel, United Kingdom (Director: Nadav Schirman ) — This real-life thriller tells the story of one of Israel’s prized intelligence sources, recruited to spy on his own people for more than a decade. Focusing on the complex relationship with his handler, The Green Prince is a gripping account of terror, betrayal, and unthinkable choices, along with a friendship that defies all boundaries.

Best of NEXT <=> Audience Award:
Imperial Dreams / U.S.A. (Director: Malik Vitthal, Screenwriters: Malik Vitthal, Ismet Prcic) — A 21-year-old, reformed gangster’s devotion to his family and his future are put to the test when he is released from prison and returns to his old stomping grounds in Watts, Los Angeles. Cast: John Boyega, Rotimi Akinosho, Glenn Plummer, Keke Palmer, De’aundre Bonds.

U.S. Dramatic Directing Award:
Fishing Without Nets / U.S.A., Somalia, Kenya (Director: Cutter Hodierne, Screenwriters: Cutter Hodierne, John Hibey, David Burkman) — A story of pirates in Somalia told from the perspective of a struggling, young Somali fisherman. Cast: Abdikani Muktar, Abdi Siad, Abduwhali Faarah, Abdikhadir Hassan, Reda Kateb, Idil Ibrahim.

2014 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL FEATURE FILM AWARDS

World Cinema Dramatic Directing Award:
52 Tuesdays / Australia (Director: Sophie Hyde, Screenplay and story by: Matthew Cormack, Story by: Sophie Hyde) — Sixteen-year-old Billie’s reluctant path to independence is accelerated when her mother reveals plans for gender transition, and their time together becomes limited to Tuesdays. This emotionally charged story of desire, responsibility, and transformation was filmed over the course of a year—once a week, every week, only on Tuesdays. Cast: Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Del Herbert-Jane, Imogen Archer, Mario Späte, Beau Williams, Sam Althuizen.

U.S. Documentary Directing Award:
The Case Against 8 / U.S.A. (Directors: Ben Cotner, Ryan White) — A behind-the-scenes look inside the case to overturn California’s ban on same-sex marriage. Shot over five years, the film follows the unlikely team that took the first federal marriage equality lawsuit to the U.S. Supreme Court.
World Cinema Documentary Directing Award:

20,000 Days On Earth / United Kingdom (Directors: Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard) — Drama and reality combine in a fictitious 24 hours in the life of musician and international culture icon Nick Cave. With startlingly frank insights and an intimate portrayal of the artistic process, this film examines what makes us who we are and celebrates the transformative power of the creative spirit.

Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award:
The Skeleton Twins / U.S.A. (Screenwriters: Craig Johnson, Mark Heyman) — When estranged twins Maggie and Milo feel that they’re at the end of their ropes, an unexpected reunion forces them to confront why their lives went so wrong. As the twins reconnect, they realize the key to fixing their lives may just lie in repairing their relationship. Cast: Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Luke Wilson, Ty Burrell, Boyd Holbrook, Joanna Gleason.

Damien Chazelle ‘s Whiplash Among winners 2014 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL FEATURE FILM AWARDS

World Cinema Dramatic Screenwriting Award:
Blind / Norway, Netherlands (Director and screenwriter: Eskil Vogt) — Having recently lost her sight, Ingrid retreats to the safety of her home—a place she can feel in control, alone with her husband and her thoughts. But Ingrid’s real problems lie within, not beyond the walls of her apartment, and her deepest fears and repressed fantasies soon take over. Cast: Ellen Dorrit Petersen, Henrik Rafaelsen, Vera Vitali, Marius Kolbenstvedt.

U.S. Dramatic Cinematography Award:
Low Down / U.S.A. (Cinematographer: Christopher Blauvelt) — Based on Amy-Jo Albany’s memoir, Low Down explores her heart-wrenching journey to adulthood while being raised by her father, bebop pianist Joe Albany, as he teeters between incarceration and addiction in the urban decay and waning bohemia of Hollywood in the 1970s. Cast: John Hawkes, Elle Fanning, Glenn Close, Lena Headey, Peter Dinklage, Flea.

World Cinema Dramatic Cinematography Award:
Lilting / United Kingdom (Cinematographer: Ula Pontikos) — The world of a Chinese mother mourning the untimely death of her son is suddenly disrupted by the presence of a stranger who doesn’t speak her language. Lilting is a touching and intimate film about finding the things that bring us together. Cast: Ben Whishaw, Pei-Pei Cheng, Andrew Leung, Peter Bowles, Naomi Christie, Morven Christie.
U.S. Documentary Cinematography Award:
E-TEAM / U.S.A. (Cinematographers: Rachel Beth Anderson, Ross Kauffman ) — E-TEAM is driven by the high-stakes investigative work of four intrepid human rights workers, offering a rare look at their lives at home and their dramatic work in the field.

World Cinema Documentary Cinematography Award:
Happiness / France, Finland (Cinematographers: Thomas Balmès & Nina Bernfeld) — Peyangki is a dreamy and solitary eight-year-old monk living in Laya, a Bhutanese village perched high in the Himalayas. Soon the world will come to him: the village is about to be connected to electricity, and the first television will flicker on before Peyangki’s eyes.

U.S. Documentary Editing Award:
Watchers of the Sky / U.S.A. (Editors: Jenny Golden, Karen Sim) — Five interwoven stories of remarkable courage from Nuremberg to Rwanda, from Darfur to Syria, and from apathy to action.

World Cinema Documentary Editing Award:
20,000 Days On Earth / United Kingdom (Editor: Jonathan Amos) — Drama and reality combine in a fictitious 24 hours in the life of musician and international culture icon Nick Cave. With startlingly frank insights and an intimate portrayal of the artistic process, this film examines what makes us who we are and celebrates the transformative power of the creative spirit.

2014 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL FEATURE FILM AWARDS

U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Use of Animation :
Watchers of the Sky / U.S.A. (Director: Edet Belzberg) — Five interwoven stories of remarkable courage from Nuremberg to Rwanda, from Darfur to Syria, and from apathy to action.

U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Intuitive Filmmaking:
The Overnighters / U.S.A. (Director: Jesse Moss) — Desperate, broken men chase their dreams and run from their demons in the North Dakota oil fields. A local Pastor’s decision to help them has extraordinary and unexpected consequences.
U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Musical Score:
The Octopus Project for Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter / U.S.A. (Director: David Zellner, Screenwriters: David Zellner, Nathan Zellner) — A lonely Japanese woman becomes convinced that a satchel of money buried in a fictional film is, in fact, real. Abandoning her structured life in Tokyo for the frozen Minnesota wilderness, she embarks on an impulsive quest to search for her lost mythical fortune. Cast: Rinko Kikuchi.

Damien Chazelle ‘s Whiplash Among Winners at 2014 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL FEATURE FILM AWARDS

U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Talent:
Dear White People / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Justin Simien) — Four black students attend an Ivy League college where a riot breaks out over an “African American” themed party thrown by white students. With tongue planted firmly in cheek, the film explores racial identity in postracial America while weaving a story about forging one’s unique path in the world. Cast: Tyler Williams, Tessa Thompson, Teyonah Parris, Brandon Bell.
World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for the Delightful Ensemble Performance, and How the Director Brought His Own Unique Universe into Cinema:
God Help the Girl / United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: Stuart Murdoch) — This musical from Stuart Murdoch of Belle & Sebastian is about some messed up boys and girls and the music they made. Cast: Emily Browning, Olly Alexander, Hannah Murray, Pierre Boulanger, Cora Bissett.
World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Cinematic Bravery:
We Come as Friends / France, Austria (Director: Hubert Sauper) — We Come as Friends is a modern odyssey, a science fiction–like journey in a tiny homemade flying machine into the heart of Africa. At the moment when the Sudan, Africa’s biggest country, is being divided into two nations, a “civilizing” pathology transcends the headlines—colonialism, imperialism, and yet-another holy war over resources.
Short Film Audience Award:  Chapel Perilous / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Matthew Lessner)
Short Film Grand Jury Prize:  Of God and Dogs / Syrian Arab Republic (Director: Abounaddara Collective)
Short Film Jury Award, U.S. Fiction:  Gregory Go Boom / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Janicza Bravo).
Short Film Jury Award, International Fiction:  The Cut / Canada (Director and screenwriter: Geneviève Dulude-Decelles).
Short Film Jury Awardm Non-fiction:  I Think This Is the Closest to How the Footage Looked / Israel (Directors: Yuval Hameiri, Michal Vaknin).
Short Film Jury Award, Animation:  Yearbook / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Bernardo Britto).
Short Film Special Jury Award for Unique Vision:  Rat Pack Rat / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Todd Rohal).
A Short Film Special Jury Award for Non-fiction:  Love. Love. Love. / Russia (Director: Sandhya Daisy Sundaram).
A Short Film Special Jury Award for Direction and Ensemble Acting:  Burger / United Kingdom, Norway (Director and screenwriter: Magnus Mork).
Winners of the Sundance Institute | Mahindra Global Filmmaking Awards:  Hong Khaou, Monsoon (Vietnam/UK); Tobias Lindholm, A War (Denmark); Ashlee Page, Archive (Australia); and Neeraj Ghaywan, Fly Away Solo (India).

Sundance Institute/NHK Award:  Mark Rosenberg, director of the upcoming film, Ad Inexplorata.
2014 Red Crown Producer’s Award:  Elisabeth Holm, producer of Obvious Child.
2014 Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize:   I Origins, directed and written by Mike Cahill.
The 2014 Festival presented 121 feature-length films, representing 37 countries and 54 first-time filmmakers, including 35 in competition. These films were selected from 12,218 submissions (72 more than for 2013), including 4,057 feature-length films and 8,161 short films. Of the feature film submissions, 2,014 were from the U.S. and 2,043 were international. 100 feature films at the Festival were world premieres.

Damien Chazelle Whiplash Wins Grand Jury! 2014 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES FEATURE FILM AWARDS