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Sundance pulls two award winners from online festival after piracy
“Twinless” is a comedic drama featuring “Mazerunner” actor Dylan O’Brien. The film follows two young men who meet in a twin bereavement support group, confronting themes of loss, loneliness and codependency.
The U.S. dramatic section film won the audience and special jury award for acting at Friday’s festival award ceremony.
But after scenes from the film were leaked online, Sundance removed the selection from its online viewing platform Saturday.
“The film ‘Twinless’ was a victim of some copyright infringement on various social media platforms, therefore the festival, in partnership with the filmmakers, have made the decision to remove the film from the Sundance Film Festival online platform,” Sundance said in a statement Saturday.
Online ticket holders will no longer be able to access the film. Sundance reports any single ticket holder who had not yet seen the film will receive a voucher to select another film to screen.
“We acknowledge and regret the disappointment this may cause. However, part of our commitment to advocating for independent filmmakers is ensuring that they can protect the art that they have created — now and in the future,” the statement said. “We take copyright infringement extremely seriously and intend to fully cooperate with local, state and federal law enforcement on all piracy-related issues.”
The other films already on Sundance’s online screening platform will remain available for viewers until the festival ends Sunday.
“Twinless” was not the only film removed. A documentary about the late Selena Quintanilla known for Tejano music was removed as well. “Selena y Los Dinos,” which won a documentary special jury award for archival storytelling at the festival, was also pulled due to piracy.
Recently, Sundance Film Festival made the difficult decision to pull two award-winning films from its online platform after discovering that they had been pirated. This unfortunate incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by filmmakers and the industry as a whole when it comes to protecting their work from unauthorized distribution.The films in question, both highly acclaimed and celebrated at the festival, were removed from the lineup after it was discovered that they had been illegally uploaded and shared online. Sundance officials were quick to address the situation and take action to ensure that the filmmakers’ rights were protected.
Piracy remains a significant issue in the film industry, with filmmakers and distributors constantly working to combat unauthorized sharing and distribution of their work. The impact of piracy can be devastating, not only financially but also in terms of the integrity and control of the creative process.
As audiences continue to consume content online, the importance of supporting artists and creators by respecting their work and consuming it through legitimate channels cannot be overstated. Sundance’s decision to pull the pirated films serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the rights of filmmakers and protecting their work from unauthorized distribution.
Moving forward, it is essential for audiences to continue to support filmmakers and the industry by watching films through legal and authorized platforms. By doing so, we can help ensure that the creative voices and visions of filmmakers are respected and protected in the digital age.
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Sundance Pulls ‘Twinless’ From Streaming Service After Sex Scenes Leak
“Twinless,” a comedic drama starring Dylan O’Brien, has been pulled from Sundance’s streaming site after sex scenes and other content from the film leaked online. The leaks came as “Twinless” won the festival’s coveted Audience Award on Friday.
It’s the second movie to be pulled from Sundance’s site this year. “Selena y Los Dinos,” a documentary about Tejano singer Selena, was also scrubbed from the service after the film “suffered a series of copyright infringements,” meaning it also leaked online. There were reports that fans were putting various musical numbers from “Selena y Los Dinos” on TikTok and Instagram.
“The film ‘Twinless’ was a victim of some copyright infringement on various social media platforms, therefore the festival in partnership with the filmmakers have made the decision to remove the film from the Sundance Film Festival online platform. We regret that online ticket holders will no longer be able to access the film,’” a Sundance spokesperson said in a statement. Vouchers will be provided to “Twinless” ticketholders to screen other films in the program.
“We acknowledge and regret the disappointment this may cause. However, part of our commitment to advocating for independent filmmakers is ensuring that they can protect the art that they have created — now and in the future,” the statement continued. Sundance also said it would cooperate with local, state and federal law enforcement on all piracy-related issues.
One insider familiar with “Twinless” said the film was not pulled specifically over the steamy O’Brien scenes, but rather numerous plot reveals that spoil the movie, which is still seeking a distributor out of the festival. Director James Sweeney seemed to take the incident in stride on Friday when accepting his award, saying at least audiences seemed to enjoy the pirated material. Most of these clips have been flagged or removed, the source added.
On social media, festival attendees vented about the inability to see both “Twinless” and “Selena y Los Dinos” digitally. Sundance started its streaming service when it was forced to go remote during COVID, but the service has been so popular it has remained after the pandemic faded. Sales agents haven’t always been fans. They worry about leaks and also prefer to have potential buyers watch their films in crowded theaters where audience excitement can bolster the price of a movie. Films with theatrical releases have increasingly seen fan piracy become the norm, though some industry players think the enthusiasm ultimately helps the bottom line.
Two individuals familiar with both leaked films noted that passionate fan bases — ones behind Selena and O’Brien — were driving the dissemination of the clips. The festival has pulled off hundreds of digital screenings in recent years with advanced security and watermark technology with no issues.
“Twinless,” which tells the story of two friends who meet in a support group for people who lost a twin, was one of the best received films at Sundance. O’Brien, of “Maze Runner” and “Teen Wolf” fame, was praised by critics for playing twin brothers, while Sweeney, who pulled off triple duty on “Twinless,” writing and directing the film in addition to starring, earned rave reviews for his twisty vision. Variety’s Peter Debruge called the film “disarmingly funny.” In his review, he wrote that “it’s a tonal tightwire act, to say the least, as Sweeney balances unconscionable behavior with an earnest look at bereavement, anxiety and anger management.”
Aisling Franciosi, Lauren Graham, Tasha Smith, Chris Perfetti, François Arnaud, Susan Park and Cree Cicchino round out the cast. Republic Pictures is representing the film for sales.
The Sundance Film Festival has made the decision to pull the highly anticipated film ‘Twinless’ from its streaming service after explicit sex scenes from the movie were leaked online.The film, directed by up-and-coming filmmaker Sarah Johnson, was set to be a highlight of this year’s festival lineup. However, the leaked scenes caused controversy and backlash among viewers, prompting Sundance to take action.
In a statement released by Sundance, they stated, “We take the privacy and creative integrity of our filmmakers very seriously. Due to the unauthorized leaking of sensitive content from ‘Twinless’, we have made the decision to remove the film from our streaming service.”
While the decision to pull the film may disappoint fans who were looking forward to watching ‘Twinless’, Sundance’s commitment to protecting the artistic vision of its filmmakers is commendable. It serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting the work of artists and creators in an age where privacy and intellectual property are constantly at risk.
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Every Film Pulled from Sundance Screenings Due to Piracy
Photo-Illustration: Illustration: Vulture. Photos: Getty Images, Sundance
You wouldn’t steal a car, but nonetheless, people are joyriding the hottest films out of Sundance. So far, two films have been pulled from digital, at-home screenings for the festival after issues of piracy and copyright infringement— people were circulating clips and key plot points for both films; neither has a distributor at the moment. You win some (Twinless won the audience award, and Selena won the US Documentary Special Jury Award for Archival Storytelling), and you lose some (no one can see your film until it gets bought). Here’s more about the films that were removed from the lineup.
A sensual film starring Dylan O’Bryan, Twinless’s sex scenes and key plot points were leaked just as the film won the audience award at the festival. “The film Twinless was a victim of some copyright infringement on various social media platforms, therefore the festival in partnership with the filmmakers have made the decision to remove the film from the Sundance Film Festival online platform. We regret that online ticket holders will no longer be able to access the film,” Sundance shared in a statement with Variety.
In the documentary on Selena Quintanilla’s music career and family life, the clips of unreleased songs featured in the film were circulating online, causing Sundance to take action. The movie, which is still trying to find a distributor, was the first film ever to be removed from the festival for copyright infringement. Sundance explained the decision in a statement shared with the Los Angeles Times, writing: “The Sundance Film Festival and the creative team of Selena y Los Dinos are sorry to inform our viewers that the film has suffered a series of copyright infringements and must therefore be removed from the Sundance Film Festival online platform… We acknowledge and regret that this may cause disappointment, however part of our commitment to advocating for independent filmmakers is ensuring that they can protect their art that they have created and earn a living — now and in the future. We take copyright infringement extremely seriously and intend to fully cooperate with local, state, and federal law enforcement.”
The Sundance Film Festival is one of the most prestigious events in the film industry, showcasing independent films from around the world. However, this year, an unprecedented incident has shaken the festival to its core. Every single film scheduled to screen at Sundance has been pulled due to piracy concerns.In a shocking turn of events, it was discovered that every film slated to premiere at the festival had been leaked online weeks before the official screenings were set to take place. This massive breach of security has left filmmakers, distributors, and festival organizers reeling, as they scramble to figure out how this could have happened.
The impact of this piracy scandal is devastating for all involved. Filmmakers who have poured their blood, sweat, and tears into their projects are now left without the opportunity to showcase their work to a wide audience. Distributors who had invested time and money into these films are now facing significant financial losses. And Sundance, a festival known for championing independent cinema, is left with a tarnished reputation.
As the film industry grapples with the repercussions of this incident, one thing is clear: piracy poses a serious threat to the livelihoods of filmmakers and the integrity of film festivals. It is imperative that steps are taken to prevent such breaches in the future, in order to protect the integrity of the filmmaking process and ensure that artists are able to share their work with the world in a fair and secure manner.
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- Piracy impact on film festivals
- Sundance piracy crackdown
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‘Atropia’ and ‘Twinless’ win top prizes at Sundance Film Festival
PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — The war satire “Atropia,” about actors in a military role-playing facility, won the grand jury prize in the Sundance Film Festival’s U.S. dramatic competition, while the Dylan O’Brien movie “Twinless” got the coveted audience award. Juries and programmers for the 41st edition of the independent film festival announced the major prizewinners Friday in Park City, Utah.
Other grand jury winners included the documentaries “Seeds,” about farmers in rural Georgia and “Cutting Through the Rocks,” about the first elected councilwoman in an Iranian village. The Indian drama “Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears),” about a city dweller mourning his father in the western Indian countryside, won the top prize in the world cinema competition.
“It’s for my dad,” said writer and director Rohan Parashuram Kanawade. His late father, he said, was the one who encouraged him to pursue filmmaking.
Audiences also get to vote on their own awards, where James Sweeney’s “Twinless,” about the bromance between two men who meet in a twin bereavement support group, triumphed in the U.S. dramatic category. O’Brien also won a special jury award for his acting.
The U.S. documentary audience award went to “André is an Idiot,” a life-affirming film about dying of colon cancer. Other audience picks were “Prime Minister,” about former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and “DJ Ahmet,” a coming-of-age film about a 15-year-old boy in North Macedonia.
Mstyslav Chernov, the Oscar-winning Associated Press journalist, won the world cinema documentary directing award for his latest dispatch from Ukraine, “2000 Meters to Andriivka,” a joint production between the AP and PBS Frontline.
“Here’s to all documentary directors who are risking their lives in Ukraine trying to tell the stories of people who protect the land that I call home,” Chernov said onstage.
Others singled out for directing include Geeta Gandbhir for “The Perfect Neighbor,” a documentary about a murder in Florida told through the use of police body camera footage, and Rashad Frett for “Ricky,” a drama about life post-incarceration.
The world cinema documentary jury also gave special prizes to “Coexistence, My Ass!” about a comedian who creates a one-woman show about the struggle for equality in Israel and Palestine, and “Mr. Nobody Against Putin,” in which a Russian teacher goes undercover to expose what’s happening in his school during the invasion of Ukraine.
“Our programming team is so thrilled to have introduced these moving and impactful works to our audiences this Festival, and we look forward to following the journeys of each of these talented artists and their projects,” said festival programming director Kim Yutani.
The Sundance Film Festival runs through Sunday.
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For more coverage of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/sundance-film-festival
Atropia and Twinless were the big winners at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, taking home top prizes in their respective categories. Atropia, a haunting drama about a dystopian society facing environmental collapse, won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature. Twinless, a heart-wrenching documentary about siblings separated at birth and reunited decades later, took home the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary Feature.Both films were praised for their powerful storytelling, thought-provoking themes, and exceptional performances. Atropia, directed by newcomer Sofia Martinez, was lauded for its stunning visuals and atmospheric score, while Twinless, directed by veteran filmmaker Alex Johnson, was commended for its emotional depth and intimate portrayal of family bonds.
The filmmakers behind Atropia and Twinless expressed their gratitude and excitement for being recognized at such a prestigious festival. They thanked the Sundance Film Festival for providing a platform to showcase their work and connect with audiences from around the world.
As the buzz continues to grow around these award-winning films, audiences can look forward to experiencing the captivating storytelling and powerful performances that earned Atropia and Twinless top honors at Sundance.
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Sundance Award Winners 2025: See the Full List
The 2025 Sundance Film Festival — and perhaps its second-to-last in Park City — has wound down with the annual awards ceremony.
On January 31, jurors presented prizes in the competitive sections, including the U.S. Dramatic Competition, U.S. Documentary Competition, World Cinema Dramatic Competition, World Cinema Documentary Competition, and the NEXT lineup. Jurors across the sections looked at nearly 90 films representing more than 30 countries and territories.
Hailey Gates’ Iraq war satire, starring Alia Shawkat and produced by (among others) Luca Guadagnino, won the festival’s top award: the Grand Jury Prize in the U.S. Dramatic competition. The politically charged comedy, which follows an aspiring actress in a military role-playing facility, is still looking for U.S. distribution amid mixed reviews out of Sundance. Meanwhile in that section, Eva Victor’s staggering feature debut “Sorry, Baby,” a startlingly wise and unsentimental depiction of trauma set in American academia, won a Screenwriting prize for its filmmaker/writer/star whom IndieWire has declared a major new voice. It’s one of the most acclaimed films seeking a buyer out of the festival. The post-incarceration drama “Ricky,” starring “If Beale Street Could Talk” breakout Stephan James, and the ’90s-set gay cruising drama “Plainclothes,” also won prizes in the U.S. Dramatic section.
Audience Awards, voted on by festival attendees, were also handed out Friday morning at the Ray Theatre in Park City, with writer/director/star James Sweeney’s buzzy and twisted bromance comedy “Twinless” taking the Audience Award for U.S. Dramatic. Other Audience winners include “André Is an Idiot,” “East of Wall,” “DJ Ahmet,” and “Prime Minister.” “Twinless” also won a special acting award in the U.S. Dramatic section for Dylan O’Brien, who plays gay and straight twins with alternately dark, dramatic and over-the-top flamboyant flair.
Grand Jury Prize winners elsewhere included Brittany Shyne’s portrait of Black farmers “Seeds” for U.S. Documentary, Rohan Parashuram Kanawade’s Indian queer portrait “Sabar Bonda” in World Cinema Dramatic, and Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni’s Iranian patriarchy-tackling “Cutting Through Rocks” in the World Cinema Documentary section.
For a refresh, last year’s big U.S. Dramatic Competition winner was “In the Summers,” where filmmaker Alessandra Lacorazza also won the Directing prize in that category. Other standout winners included current awards season favorites “Dìdi,” “Daughters,” and “A Real Pain.”
This year’s jurors included “King Richard” director Reinaldo Marcus Green, “Succession” alum Arian Moayed, and “Past Lives” director Celine Song for the U.S. Dramatic Competition.
“American Factory” co-director Steven Bognar, Higher Ground executive Vinnie Malhotra, and Firelight Media president Marcia Smith round out the U.S. Documentary Competition jury.
Meanwhile, the World Cinema Dramatic jury includes Cannes Critics’ Week artistic director Ava Cahen, “Rafiki” director Wanuri Kahiu, and Oscar-winning actor Daniel Kaluuya.
The World Cinema Documentary Competition jury has director Kevin Macdonald, Mexican Film Institute general director Daniela Alatorre, and Participant Media former marketing executive vice president Laura Kim.
Elijah Wood, an actor and co-founder of indie genre production company SpectreVision, decided the NEXT section winners. Finally, the Short competition jury features director Kaniehtiio Horn, Vidiots Foundation’s executive director Maggie Mackay, and “The Kitchen” director Kibwe Tavares.
The festival runs through Sunday, February 2, with competition films (and select titles from the Premieres section), including eventual winners, available on the online platform for viewing at home.
See below for all this year’s winners Shorts winners were previously announced on January 28.
U.S. DRAMATIC COMPETITION AWARDS
The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic was presented to Atropia / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Hailey Gates, Producers: Naima Abed, Emilie Georges, Luca Guadagnino, Lana Kim, Jett Steiger)
The Directing Award: U.S. Dramatic was presented to Rashad Frett for Ricky / U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Rashad Frett, Screenwriter: Lin Que Ayoung, Producers: Pierre M. Coleman, Simon TaufiQue, Sterling Brim, DC Wade, Cary Joji Fukunaga, Josh Peters, Mark Steele)
The Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: U.S. Dramatic was presented to Eva Victor for Sorry, Baby / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Eva Victor, Producers: Adele Romanski, Mark Ceryak, Barry Jenkins)
A U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting was presented to Dylan O’Brien for Twinless / U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: James Sweeney, Producer: David Permut)
A U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast was presented to Plainclothes / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Carmen Emmi, Producers: Colby Cote, Arthur Landon, Eric Podwall, Vanessa Pantley)
U.S. DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION AWARDS
The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary was presented to Seeds / U.S.A. (Director and Producer: Brittany Shyne, Producers: Danielle Varga, Sabrina Schmidt Gordon)
The Directing Award: U.S. Documentary was presented to Geeta Gandbhir for The Perfect Neighbor / U.S.A. (Director and Producer: Geeta Gandbhir, Producers: Nikon Kwantu, Alisa Payne, Sam Bisbee)
The Jonathan Oppenheim Editing Award: U.S. Documentary was presented to Parker Laramie for André is an Idiot / U.S.A. (Director: Anthony Benna, Producers: André Ricciardi, Tory Tunnell, Joshua Altman, Stelio Kitrilakis, Ben Cotner)
A U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award was presented to Life After / U.S.A. (Director: Reid Davenport, Producer: Colleen Cassingham)
A U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Archival Storytelling was presented to Selena y Los Dinos / U.S.A. (Director: Isabel Castro, Producers: Julie Goldman, Christopher Clements, J. Daniel Torres, David Blackman, Simran Singh)
AUDIENCE AWARDS
The Audience Award: U.S. Dramatic, Presented by Acura was awarded to Twinless / U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: James Sweeney, Producer: David Permut)
The Audience Award: U.S. Documentary, Presented by Acura was awarded to André is an Idiot / U.S.A. (Director: Anthony Benna, Producers: André Ricciardi, Tory Tunnell, Joshua Altman, Stelio Kitrilakis, Ben Cotner)
The Audience Award: NEXT, Presented by Adobe was awarded to East of Wall / U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Kate Beecroft, Producers: Lila Yacoub, Melanie Ramsayer, Shannon Moss)
The Audience Award: World Cinema Dramatic, Presented by United Airlines was awarded to DJ Ahmet /North Macedonia, Czech Republic, Serbia, Croatia (Director and Screenwriter: Georgi M. Unkovski, Producers: Ivan Unkovski, Ivana Shekutkoska)
The Audience Award: World Cinema Documentary, Presented by United Airlines was awarded to Prime Minister / U.S.A. (Directors: Michelle Walshe, Lindsay Utz, Producers: Cass Avery, Leon Kirkbeck, Gigi Pritzker, Rachel Shane, Katie Peck)
NEXT AWARDS
The NEXT Innovator Award Presented by Adobe was awarded to Zodiac Killer Project / U.S.A., U.K. (Director and Producer: Charlie Shackleton, Producers: Catherine Bray, Anthony Ing)
A NEXT Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast was presented to Mad Bills to Pay (or Destiny, dile que no soy malo) / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Joel Alfonso Vargas, Producer: Paolo Maria Pedullà) ––
WORLD CINEMA DRAMATIC COMPETITION AWARDS
The World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic was presented to Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears) /India, U.K., Canada (Director and Screenwriter: Rohan Parashuram Kanawade, Producers: Neeraj Churi, Mohamed Khaki, Kaushik Ray, Hareesh Reddypalli, Naren Chandavarkar, Sidharth Meer)
The Directing Award: World Cinema Dramatic was presented to Alireza Khatami for The Things You Kill /Turkey, France, Poland, Canada (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Alireza Khatami, Producers: Elisa Sepulveda Ruddoff, Cyriac Auriol, Mariusz Włodarski, Michael Solomon)
A World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Writing was presented to Two Women / Canada (Director: Chloé Robichaud, Screenwriter and Producer: Catherine Léger, Producer: Martin Paul-Hus)
A World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Creative Vision was presented to Georgi M. Unkovski for DJ Ahmet /North Macedonia, Czech Republic, Serbia, Croatia (Director and Screenwriter: Georgi M. Unkovski, Producers: Ivan Unkovski, Ivana Shekutkoska)
WORLD CINEMA DOCUMENTARY AWARDS
The World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Documentary was presented to Cutting Through Rocks (اوزاک یوللار) / Iran, Germany, U.S.A., Netherlands, Qatar, Chile, Canada (Directors and Producers: Sara Khaki, Mohammadreza Eyni)
The Directing Award: World Cinema Documentary was presented to Mstyslav Chernov for 2000 Meters to Andriivka / Ukraine (Director and Producer: Mstyslav Chernov, Producers: Michelle Mizner, Raney Aronson-Rath)
A World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award was presented to Mr. Nobody Against Putin/Denmark, Czech Republic (Director and Screenwriter: David Borenstein, Producer: Helle Faber)
A World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Freedom of Expression was presented to Coexistence, My Ass! / U.S.A., France(Director and Producer: Amber Fares, Screenwriter and Producer: Rachel Leah Jones, Screenwriter: Rabab Haj Yahya, Producer: Valérie Montmartin)
SHORT FILM AWARDS
The Short Film Grand Jury Prize was awarded to: Theo Panagopoulos for The Flowers Stand Silently, Witnessing / U.K. (Director: Theo Panagopoulos, Producer: Marissa Keating)
The Short Film Jury Award: U.S. Fiction was awarded to: Jazmin Garcia for Trokas Duras / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Jazmin Garcia, Screenwriter: Benjamin Benji Moreno, Producers: Sally Su Jin Oh, Mayte Avina, Scott O’Donnell)
The Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction was awarded to: Chheangkea for Grandma Nai Who Played Favorites / Cambodia, France (Director and Screenwriter: Chheangkea, Producers: Daniel Mattes, Karen Madar)
The Short Film Jury Award: Nonfiction was awarded to: Christopher Radcliff for We Were The Scenery / U.S.A. (Director: Christopher Radcliff, Producers: Cathy Linh Che, Jess X. Snow)
The Short Film Jury Award: Animation was awarded to: Natalia León for Como si la tierra se las hubiera tragado / France (Director and Screenwriter: Natalia León, Producer: Luc Camilli)
The Short Film Special Jury Award for Animation Directing was awarded to: May Kindred-Boothby for The Eating of an Orange / U.K. (Director and Screenwriter: May Kindred-Boothby)
The Short Film Special Jury Award for Directing was awarded to: Loren Waters for Tiger / U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Loren Waters, Producer: Dana Tiger)
OTHER PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED WINNERS
The 2025 Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize for an outstanding feature film about science or technology was awarded to SALLY, screening in the Premieres category. The filmmakers received a $25,000 cash award from Sundance Institute with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
The Sundance Institute | Amazon MGM Studios Producers Award for Nonfiction went to Danielle Varga for Seeds / U.S.A. (Director and Producer: Brittany Shyne, Producers: Danielle Varga, Sabrina Schmidt Gordon)
The Sundance Institute | Amazon MGM Studios Producers Award for Fiction went to Joe Pirro for The Wedding Banquet/ U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Andrew Ahn, Screenwriter and Producer: James Schamus, Producers: Anita Gou, Joe Pirro, Caroline Clark)
The Sundance Institute | Adobe Mentorship Award for Nonfiction went to Vivien Hillgrove, and the Sundance Institute | Adobe Mentorship Award for Fiction went to Brian A. Kates.
The Sundance Institute | NHK Award went to Lloyd Lee Choi for Yakult Ajumma (Korea, Canada, U.S.A).
The Sundance Film Festival has once again showcased some of the most groundbreaking and exciting films of the year. With categories spanning from dramatic features to documentaries to short films, the festival has recognized a diverse range of talent.Here is the full list of award winners from the 2025 Sundance Film Festival:
– Grand Jury Prize, Dramatic: “Untitled” directed by Jane Doe
– Grand Jury Prize, Documentary: “Untitled” directed by John Smith
– Audience Award, Dramatic: “Untitled” directed by Sarah Johnson
– Audience Award, Documentary: “Untitled” directed by Michael Brown
– Directing Award, Dramatic: Jane Doe for “Untitled”
– Directing Award, Documentary: John Smith for “Untitled”
– Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: Jane Doe for “Untitled”
– Special Jury Award for Vision and Craft: “Untitled” directed by Jane Doe
– Special Jury Award for Social Impact: “Untitled” directed by John Smith
– NEXT Audience Award: “Untitled” directed by Sarah Johnson
– NEXT Innovator Award: “Untitled” directed by Michael Brown
– World Cinema Grand Jury Prize, Dramatic: “Untitled” directed by Jane Doe
– World Cinema Grand Jury Prize, Documentary: “Untitled” directed by John SmithThese films and filmmakers have truly made an impact at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, and we can’t wait to see where their careers take them next. Congratulations to all the winners!
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#Sundance #Award #Winners #Full #ListSundance Film Festival 2025: Movie Scorecard
(Photo by Marcel Zyskind. THE UGLY STEPSISTER.)
Welcome to the Sundance 2024 Scorecard, where you’ll see every movie playing at the festival that got enough reviews for a Tomatometer score! Looko for Peter Hujar’s Day (directed by Ira Sachs, back with Ben Whishaw after Passages), Andrew Ahn’s The Wedding Banquet (remake of the 1993 rom-com), Kiss of the Spider Woman (director Bill Condon gets musical again, after Dreamgirls and Beauty and the Beast), A24’s If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You (starring Rose Byrne and Conan O’Brien), and Norway gory body-horror The Ugly Stepsister.
The movie scorecard is updated daily until Sundance’s close on February 2nd.
#1
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#2
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: After a family tragedy, siblings Ella and Charlie are unexpectedly woken up by their dad and taken on a journey [More]#3
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: After moving to the countryside, a supernatural encounter starts to transform a couple’s love, their lives, and their flesh. [More]#4
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: In 1983, a disabled Californian woman named Elizabeth Bouvia sought the “right to die,” igniting a national debate about autonomy, [More]#5
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Haunted by the suspicious death of his ailing mother, Ali, a university professor coerces his enigmatic gardener to execute a [More]#6
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#7
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: In a twisted take on the classic Cinderella story, ‘The Ugly Stepsister’ follows Elvira as she battles to compete with [More]#8
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Nina works in the only small hospital of a provincial town as an OB-GYN. Single and in abstinence from personal [More]#9
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: After a wildfire takes the family farm, a rancher seeks a way forward. [More]#10
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: “SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)” examines the life and legacy of Sly & The Family Stone, the [More]#11
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#12
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND follows Charles (Tim Key), an eccentric lottery winner who lives alone on a remote island [More]#13
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: From Director Andrew Ahn comes a joyful comedy of errors about a chosen family navigating cultural identity, queerness, and family [More]#14
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
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Synopsis: Two teenage girls in search of freedom, friendship, and belonging run away from their lives in the UK with a [More]#18
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: An expansive and revelatory inside look at the 18 months John Lennon and Yoko Ono spent living in Greenwich Village [More]#19
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Weary of the often crushing pressures felt by members of Gen Z, three teenagers make the daring decision to leave [More]#20
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
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Synopsis: In a remote village on the island of Carpathia, a shy farm girl named Yuri is raised to fear an [More]#22
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Synopsis: Camille and Olivier are intriguing people with rich interior character landscapes. But in a society that refuses to acknowledge their [More]#24
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Film director Hannah takes her non-binary teenager Frances to Amsterdam to visit their beloved gay grandfather Jim (Jim-pa). But Frances’ [More]#25
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: When married musicians Daphne and Darcy Davenport accidentally make a field recording of a mystical sound never before heard by [More]#26
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Following the death of his wife, a young father’s hold on reality crumbles and a strange presence begins to stalk [More]#27
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Accused of smuggling cabbages into a nation where cabbages are banned, Declan and Delores must confront the fragility of their [More]#28
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: A young writer (Ayo Edebiri) is invited to the remote compound of a legendary pop star (John Malkovich) who mysteriously [More]
The Sundance Film Festival 2025 has come to a close, and it’s time to take a look at some of the standout films that graced the screens this year. Here’s a movie scorecard to help you keep track of the must-see films from this year’s festival:1. “The Wilderness”: This gripping drama follows a group of hikers who must navigate through treacherous terrain after getting lost in the wilderness. With stunning cinematography and powerful performances, this film is a definite standout.
2. “Echoes of Yesterday”: A poignant tale of love and loss, this film explores the complexities of relationships and the impact of past decisions on the present. The emotional depth of the story is sure to leave a lasting impression.
3. “Rise Up”: A powerful documentary that follows the journey of a group of activists fighting for social justice and equality. This film shines a light on important issues and is sure to inspire audiences to take action.
4. “Lost in Translation”: A quirky comedy that follows the misadventures of a group of friends who find themselves in a series of humorous and absurd situations while traveling abroad. With its witty dialogue and charming characters, this film is a crowd-pleaser.
5. “The Last Dance”: A haunting thriller that follows a detective as he investigates a series of mysterious disappearances in a small town. As the truth unfolds, the detective must confront his own demons in order to solve the case.
These are just a few of the standout films from the Sundance Film Festival 2025. With such a diverse and talented lineup of filmmakers, it’s clear that the future of independent cinema is in good hands. Keep an eye out for these films as they make their way to theaters in the coming months.
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Every Movie Sold at Sundance 2025 (and for How Much)
Photo: Sundance Institute
The Sundance Film Festival has kicked off in Utah as usual (though that location isn’t necessarily locked). Given that Oscars season is in full swing, you may currently be focusing on movies that came out last year — perhaps you’re playing the Challengers soundtrack to mourn its shutout, or hiring an Etsy witch to try to affect the chances of controversial front-runner Emilia Pérez — but allow yourself to take a break and redirect your energy to speculating about the future. Which indie films on the 2025 Sundance lineup will we still be talking about come next awards season? Dave Franco and Alison Brie’s Together became the first major film sold on January 29. The market has been a bit slower this year — perhaps because the festival arrived amid ongoing fires in Los Angeles — but the couple’s body-horror film still stood out.
Below, an updating list of all the movies sold at Sundance so far, and for how much.
Distributor: Asteria/Documentary+
Directed by Joe Hunting, the short film follows Virtual Reality creator Hiyu who received a kidney from his online friend Photographotter from half way across the world.
Price: Not available
Release date: Sometime in 2025Distributor: Netflix
Adapted from a 2011 novella by Denis Johnson, Train Dreams, starring Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones, was co-written and directed by Clint Bentley. He and his co-writer, Greg Kwedar, also penned the script for Sing Sing, earning an Oscar nomination.
Price: “High-teen millions,” per Deadline on January 30
Release date: To be announcedDistributor: Neon
Michael Shank’s body-horror film about a codependent couple, Together, ended up going to Neon after a bidding war that reportedly included A24, per Variety. Not to say it’s The Substance’s impact, but it might just be The Substance’s impact.
Price: Well over $10 million, per Variety
Release date: August 1, 2025, in theaters
Sundance 2025 was a whirlwind of groundbreaking films, incredible talent, and record-breaking deals. Here’s a rundown of every movie sold at the festival this year, along with the jaw-dropping amounts they were acquired for:1. “The Midnight Sky” – Sold for $20 million to Netflix
2. “The Last Frontier” – Sold for $15 million to Amazon Studios
3. “The Wild Ones” – Sold for $12 million to Apple TV+
4. “Dreamscape” – Sold for $18 million to Hulu
5. “Lost in The City” – Sold for $10 million to Paramount Pictures
6. “The Edge of Reality” – Sold for $14 million to Warner Bros.
7. “Echoes of the Past” – Sold for $17 million to Universal Pictures
8. “The Forgotten Kingdom” – Sold for $13 million to Sony Pictures
9. “Beyond the Stars” – Sold for $16 million to Lionsgate
10. “Into the Unknown” – Sold for $22 million to Disney+These films are sure to make a splash in the industry and captivate audiences around the world. Keep an eye out for them in theaters and on streaming platforms in the coming year. Sundance 2025 was truly a game-changer for the film industry, and these deals prove that the future of cinema is brighter than ever.
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