About 40 percent of the films to screen in Competition at Sundance 2018 were women-directed or co-directed. One hundred percent of its directing prizes went to women. A press release has announced the fest’s winners, and women claimed all four major directing honors.
The Directing Award: U.S. Documentary was received by
Alexandria Bombach for “On Her Shoulders,” a portrait of Nadia Murad, a Yazidi genocide and ISIS sexual slavery survivor.
Sara Colangelo claimed The Directing Award: U.S. Dramatic for “The Kindergarten Teacher,” a Maggie Gyllenhaal-starrer about a kindergarten teacher who becomes fixated on one of her students, who she’s convinced is gifted.
The Directing Award: World Cinema Documentary went to Sandi Tan for “Shirkers,” an investigation of what happened to Tan’s former collaborator and mentor who disappeared after they shot a film together in 1992 — and took the footage with him.
Ísold Uggadóttir took home The Directing Award: World Cinema Dramatic for “And Breathe Normally,” a portrait of the relationship between an Icelandic mother and an asylum seeker from Guinea-Bissau.
Last year Eliza Hittman received The Directing Award: U.S. Dramatic for “Beach Rats,” a look into the life of a Brooklyn teen who is experimenting with drugs and exploring his sexuality. “I think there is nothing more taboo in this country than a woman with ambition, and I am going to work my way through a system that is completely discriminatory towards women,” she said in her acceptance speech. “And Hollywood, I’m coming for you.”
Other Sundance 2018 winners include Desiree Akhavan’s “The Miseducation of Cameron Post,” a coming-of-age story about a teen who is forced to attend gay conversion therapy, and Alexandra Shiva’s “This Is Home,” a doc following four Syrian families as they arrive in Baltimore, Maryland and struggle to adjust. The former was named The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic winner and the latter was given The Audience Award: World Cinema Documentary.
Recent Emmy winner Reed Morano received a U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Excellence in Filmmaking for Elle Fanning post-apocalyptic drama “I Think We’re Alone Now.”
Check out all of the women to claim feature prizes below. List adapted from Sundance.
2018 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL FEATURE FILM AWARDS
The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic was presented to:
The Miseducation of Cameron Post / U.S.A. (Director: Desiree Akhavan, Screenwriters: Desiree Akhavan, Cecilia Frugiuele, Producers: Cecilia Frugiuele, Jonathan Montepare, Michael B. Clark, Alex Turtletaub) — 1993: after being caught having sex with the prom queen, a girl is forced into a gay conversion therapy center. Based on Emily Danforth’s acclaimed and controversial coming-of-age novel. Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Sasha Lane, Forrest Goodluck, John Gallagher Jr., Jennifer Ehle.
The Audience Award: World Cinema Documentary was presented to:
This Is Home / U.S.A., Jordan (Director: Alexandra Shiva, Producers: Lindsey Megrue, Alexandra Shiva) — This is an intimate portrait of four Syrian families arriving in Baltimore, Maryland and struggling to find their footing. With eight months to become self-sufficient, they must forge ahead to rebuild their lives. When the travel ban adds further complications, their strength and resilience are put to the test.
The Directing Award: U.S. Documentary was presented by Ezra Edelman to:
Alexandria Bombach for her film On Her Shoulders / U.S.A. (Director: Alexandria Bombach, Producers: Hayley Pappas, Brock Williams) — Nadia Murad, a 23-year-old Yazidi, survived genocide and sexual slavery committed by ISIS. Repeating her story to the world, this ordinary girl finds herself thrust onto the international stage as the voice of her people. Away from the podium, she must navigate bureaucracy, fame and people’s good intentions.
The Directing Award: U.S. Dramatic was presented to:
Sara Colangelo, for her film The Kindergarten Teacher / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Sara Colangelo, Producers: Talia Kleinhendler, Osnat Handelsman-Keren, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Celine Rattray, Trudie Styler) — When a Staten Island kindergarten teacher discovers what may be a gifted five year-old student in her class, she becomes fascinated and obsessed with the child — spiraling downward on a dangerous and desperate path in order to nurture his talent. Cast: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Parker Sevak, Rosa Salazar, Anna Barynishikov, Michael Chernus, Gael Garcia Bernal.
The Directing Award: World Cinema Documentary was presented by Paulina Suarez to:
Sandi Tan, for her film Shirkers / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Sandi Tan, Producers: Sandi Tan, Jessica Levin, Maya Rudolph) — In 1992, teenager Sandi Tan shot Singapore’s first indie road movie with her enigmatic American mentor Georges — who then vanished with all the footage. Twenty years later, the 16mm film is recovered, sending Tan, now a novelist in Los Angeles, on a personal odyssey in search of Georges’ vanishing footprints.
The Directing Award: World Cinema Dramatic was presented by Michael J. Werner to:
Ísold Uggadóttir, for her film And Breathe Normally / Iceland, Sweden, Belgium (Director and screenwriter: Ísold Uggadóttir, Producers: Skúli Malmquist, Diana Elbaum, Annika Hellström, Lilja Ósk Snorradóttir, Inga Lind Karlsdóttir) — At the edge of Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula, two women’s lives will intersect — for a brief moment — while trapped in circumstances unforeseen. Between a struggling Icelandic mother and an asylum seeker from Guinea-Bissau, a delicate bond will form as both strategize to get their lives back on track. Cast: Kristín Thóra Haraldsdóttir, Babetida Sadjo, Patrik Nökkvi Pétursson.
The Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: U.S. Dramatic was presented to:
Christina Choe, for her film NANCY / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Christina Choe, Producers: Amy Lo, Michelle Cameron, Andrea Riseborough) — Blurring lines between fact and fiction, Nancy becomes increasingly convinced she was kidnapped as a child. When she meets a couple whose daughter went missing thirty years ago, reasonable doubts give way to willful belief — and the power of emotion threatens to overcome all rationality. Cast: Andrea Riseborough, J. Smith-Cameron, Steve Buscemi, Ann Dowd, John Leguizamo.
A U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Excellence in Filmmaking was presented by Michael Stulhbarg to:
I Think We’re Alone Now / U.S.A. (Director: Reed Morano, Screenwriter: Mike Makowsky, Producers: Fred Berger, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Fernando Loureiro, Roberto Vasconcellos, Peter Dinklage, Mike Makowsky) — The apocalypse proves a blessing in disguise for one lucky recluse — until a second survivor arrives with the threat of companionship. Cast: Peter Dinklage, Elle Fanning.
A World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award was presented by Billy Luther to:
Stephen Loveridge and M.I.A., for MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A. / Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, U.S.A. (Director: Stephen Loveridge, Producers: Lori Cheatle, Andrew Goldman, Paul Mezey) — Drawn from a never before seen cache of personal footage spanning decades, this is an intimate portrait of the Sri Lankan artist and musician who continues to shatter conventions.
A World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting was presented by Hanaa Issa to:
Valeria Bertuccelli, for The Queen of Fear / Argentina, Denmark (Directors: Valeria Bertuccelli, Fabiana Tiscornia, Screenwriter: Valeria Bertuccelli, Producers: Benjamin Domenech, Santiago Gallelli, Matias Roveda, Juan Vera, Juan Pablo Galli, Christian Faillace) — Only one month left until the premiere of The Golden Time, the long-awaited solo show by acclaimed actress Robertina. Far from focused on the preparations for this new production, Robertina lives in a state of continuous anxiety that turns her privileged life into an absurd and tumultuous landscape. Cast: Valeria Bertuccelli, Diego Velázquez, Gabriel Eduardo “Puma” Goity, Darío Grandinetti.
A World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Ensemble Acting was presented by Hanaa Issa to:
Dead Pigs / China (Director and screenwriter: Cathy Yan, Producers: Clarissa Zhang, Jane Zheng, Zhangke Jia, Mick Aniceto, Amy Aniceto) — A bumbling pig farmer, a feisty salon owner, a sensitive busboy, an expat architect and a disenchanted rich girl converge and collide as thousands of dead pigs float down the river towards a rapidly-modernizing Shanghai, China. Based on true events. Cast: Vivian Wu, Haoyu Yang, Mason Lee, Meng Li, David Rysdahl.
The NEXT Innovator Prize was announced as a tie, and was presented by juror RuPaul Charles to two films:
Night Comes On / U.S.A. (Director: Jordana Spiro, Screenwriters: Jordana Spiro, Angelica Nwandu, Producers: Jonathan Montepare, Alvaro R. Valente, Danielle Renfrew Behrens) — Angel LaMere is released from juvenile detention on the eve of her 18th birthday. Haunted by her past, she embarks on a journey with her 10 year-old sister that could destroy their future. Cast: Dominique Fishback, Tatum Hall, John Earl Jelks, Max Casella, James McDaniel.
