And just like that, it’s awards day! We’re here at The Ray Theatre in Park City, Utah, for the much-anticipated 2025 Sundance Film Festival Awards Ceremony. We’re so excited to share the results as voted by our illustrious jurors, as well as the winners of the audience awards.
Join us in congratulating these exceptional artists on their amazing contributions to independent film!
GRAND JURY PRIZES
The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic was presented to Atropia
Jury citation: For its singular directing, writing, and vision, this timely and timeless first feature was both hilarious and damning in its portrayal of the theater of war. Its biting criticism of American imperialism and boundary-pushing storytelling led all three of the jurors to unanimously award the U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic to Atropia by Hailey Gates.
The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary was presented to Seeds
Jury citation: It is our great honor to award the U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary to a truly special film that evokes and illustrates all that we come to Sundance to discover — a new voice with something powerful, rich, and poignant to say. From its directing, cinematography, and dreamlike immersion, this film takes us deep inside an essentially overlooked pocket of our country, whose residents struggle to hold onto their heritage as their way of life has come under threat. The fact that this is the filmmaker’s feature debut speaks to the arrival of an exciting new talent in documentary. The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary goes to Seeds.
The World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic was presented to Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears)
Jury citation: This is the great modern love story. To say it’s an honor to award this tender film is an understatement. We cried, we laughed, and we wished to be loved in the same way. It is exactly what the world needs right now. This authentic point of view opens the door to an intimate language we all understand. We feel the humming heartbeat of the main character’s inner life, and when it bursts, it wraps us with its sweetness. We award the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic to Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears).
The World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Documentary was presented to Cutting Through Rocks (اوزاک یوللار)
Jury citation: This beautiful and nuanced portrait shows us a fearless eccentric who confronts male-dominated society when she runs for office in a remote Iranian village. Her determination, warmth, and humor and the way her story is told left us in awe. We are proud to present the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Documentary to Cutting Through Rocks (اوزاک یوللار).
The NEXT Innovator Award Presented by Adobe was awarded to Zodiac Killer Project
Jury citation: I really loved each of these totally original films, but one truly stood out in its innovation, its structure, its wild pivot from its original inspiration, the brilliant and hilarious 16mm panning and zooming location shots, and its funny and insightful commentary on the very kind of film it was originally meant to be. There is no film like it, and with that, I am thrilled to present the NEXT Innovator Award to Zodiac Killer Project.
AUDIENCE AWARDS
The Audience Award: U.S. Dramatic, Presented by Acura was awarded to Twinless
The Audience Award: U.S. Documentary, Presented by Acura was awarded to André is an Idiot
The Audience Award: World Cinema Dramatic, Presented by United Airlines was awarded to DJ Ahmet
The Audience Award: World Cinema Documentary, Presented by United Airlines was awarded to Prime Minister
The Audience Award: NEXT, Presented by Adobe was awarded to East of Wall
JURY AWARDS FOR DIRECTING, SCREENWRITING, and EDITING
The Directing Award: U.S. Documentary was presented to Geeta Gandbhir for The Perfect Neighbor
Jury citation: The Directing award goes to a filmmaker of remarkably disciplined vision who turns creative constraints into cinematic power, creating a searing indictment of “stand your ground laws.” The Directing Award: U.S. Documentary goes to Geeta Gandbhir for The Perfect Neighbor.
The Directing Award: U.S. Dramatic was presented to Rashad Frett for Ricky
Jury citation: For holding the audience’s hand through each of the intimate and compelling moments of a young man navigating the first days out of the byzantine U.S. prison system, we award the Directing Award: U.S. Dramatic to Rashad Frett for Ricky.
The Directing Award: World Cinema Documentary was presented to Mstyslav Chernov for 2000 Meters to Andriivka
Jury citation: For his extraordinarily brave and sensitive film about a single battle in the Russia-Ukraine war, a film with images of shocking and unforgettable beauty and delicate character portraits, the Directing Award: World Cinema Documentary goes to Mstyslav Chernov for 2000 Meters to Andriivka.
The Directing Award: World Cinema Dramatic was presented to Alireza Khatami for The Things You Kill
Jury citation: We could not stop talking about this film. It made us curious and deeply invested in the characters and their rich journey. This effortless, streamlined film does not sacrifice its depth of subject even while dealing with toxic masculinity and the everyday darkness of the soul. This director was masterful in their precision, they were profound yet restrained, and their robust vision pushes us to want more, think more, and do more to be better humans. For this reason we award the Directing Award: World Cinema Dramatic to Alireza Khatami for The Things You Kill.
The Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: U.S. Dramatic was presented to Eva Victor for Sorry, Baby
Jury citation: For its stunning honesty, moving sense of humor, and an authentic portrait of a young woman living in the aftermath of her sexual assault, we award the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award to Eva Victor for Sorry, Baby.
The Jonathan Oppenheim Editing Award: U.S. Documentary was presented to Parker Laramie for André is an Idiot
Jury citation: The nuanced edit of this film allows the audience to see the beauty and humor of our final years. With its larger-than-life protagonist, André is an Idiot allows you to laugh, breathe, and travel through a long and emotional journey with melody, rhythm, and grace. The Jonathan Oppenheim Editing Award: U.S. Documentary goes to Parker Laramie for André is an Idiot.
SPECIAL JURY AWARDS
A U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting was presented to Dylan O’Brien for Twinless
Jury citation: For portraying two roles in one fearless performance, coupled with an immersive and seamless character study of a set of twins, we award Dylan O’Brien the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting in Twinless.
A U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast was presented to Plainclothes
Jury citation: For their complex performances that stayed with us until the riveting final frames and for painting the delicate tale of a police officer hiding his sexuality in the ’90s, we award the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast to Plainclothes.
A U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Archival Storytelling was presented to Selena y Los Dinos
Jury citation: This award goes to a film that transported us to a specific time and place, evoking themes of family, heritage, love, and adolescence. The power of the story speaks to the essential nature of the archive — employed in this film to chart the emergence of a once-in-a-generation talent. The winner of the U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Archival Storytelling goes to Selena y Los Dinos.
A U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award was presented to Life After
Jury citation: This Special Jury Award goes to a film that asks profound, unsettling questions about life and death, individual autonomy vs public policy, and what defines — and who determines — the quality of an individual life. The filmmaker’s unflinching approach forces us to examine our assumptions about a person’s right to die… and live. The U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award goes to Life After.
A World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Creative Vision was presented to Georgi M. Unkovski for DJ Ahmet
Jury citation: World cinema gives us access to a depth of emotion, diversity of characters, and meaningful journeys that are not limited by borders. Our guiding principle was hope and light, and the films in this section have a strong sense of courage and vulnerability. We found all this and more in this film’s progressive characters and distinct tone. For this reason we have chosen to award the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Creative Vision to Georgi M. Unkovski for DJ Ahmet.
A World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Writing was presented to Two Women
Jury citation: For its courageous exploration of female desire, its joyful and comedic tone, and its fearless, complex characters with awakened sexuality — this film exudes freshness, rhythmic editing, and impossible wit. We award the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Writing to Chloé Robichaud and Catherine Léger for Two Women.
A World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award was presented to Mr. Nobody Against Putin
Jury citation: For the courageous act of documenting the insidious origins of propaganda in Russian schools and for showing us how easy it is to use misinformation to manipulate, the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award goes to Mr. Nobody Against Putin.
A World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Freedom of Expression was presented to Coexistence, My Ass!
Jury citation: For showing us how to have a challenging conversation with humor and humanity and for having the courage to say things others cannot, the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Freedom of Expression goes to Coexistence, My Ass!.
A NEXT Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast was presented to Mad Bills to Pay (or Destiny, dile que no soy malo)
Jury citation: I’d like to acknowledge a film with characters that really drew me in, who are filled with heart and fire: a hopeless central character who can’t seem to get his shit together, a young teen who embraces an unexpected pregnancy, a sister who can’t deal with her brother’s idiocy, and a mother who fiercely loves her family. These actors brought the reality, comedy, and love of these characters to delightful, vibrant life, so it’s my pleasure to bestow the NEXT Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast to Mad Bills to Pay (or Destiny, dile que no soy malo).
The Short Film Grand Jury Prize was awarded to: Theo Panagopoulos for The Flowers Stand Silently, Witnessing
Jury citation: For a timely, urgent, and beautiful examination of colonialism and a moving reclaiming of history through the use of archival footage, the Short Film Grand Jury Prize goes to The Flowers Stand Silently, Witnessing, directed by Theo Panagopoulos.
The Short Film Jury Award: U.S. Fiction was awarded to: Jazmin Garcia for Trokas Duras
Jury citation: For a visionary perspective and a stunning visual narrative approach that creates an unequivocally empowering and intimate portrait, the Short Film Jury Award for U.S. Fiction goes to Trokas Duras, directed by Jazmin Garcia.
The Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction was awarded to: Chheangkea for Grandma Nai Who Played Favorites
Jury citation: For the perfect execution of a truly hilarious and relatable exploration of self- and family acceptance within a fantastical framework, we give the Short Film Jury Award for International Fiction to Grandma Nai Who Played Favorites, directed by Chheangkea.
The Short Film Jury Award: Nonfiction was awarded to: Christopher Radcliff for We Were The Scenery
Jury citation: For a wholly unique, witty, joyful perspective on art-making, the impact of film, and how they intersect with real lives, the Short Film Jury Award for Nonfiction goes to We Were The Scenery, directed by Christopher Radcliff.
The Short Film Jury Award: Animation was awarded to: Natalia León for Como si la tierra se las hubiera tragado
Jury citation: For an immersive and deeply intimate approach to a tragic epidemic, using the craft of animation in surprising and poignant ways, the Short Film Jury Award for Animation goes to Como si la tierra se las hubiera tragado, directed by Natalia León.
The Short Film Special Jury Award for Animation Directing was awarded to: May Kindred-Boothby for The Eating of an Orange
Jury citation: For the intricate crafting of a deeply emotional tale told without dialogue and traditional narrative structure, and for a fresh take on female empowerment, the Short Film Special Jury Award for Animation Directing goes to The Eating of an Orange, directed by May Kindred-Boothby.
The Short Film Special Jury Award for Directing was awarded to: Loren Waters for Tiger
Jury citation: For the inspired direction and innovative vision that tells the moving story of a family’s cultural and artistic legacy, the Short Film Special Jury Award for Directing goes to Tiger, directed by Loren Waters.
The 2025 Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize for an outstanding feature film about science or technology was awarded to SALLY
The Sundance Institute | Amazon MGM Studios Producers Award for Nonfiction went to Danielle Varga for Seeds
The Sundance Institute | Amazon MGM Studios Producers Award for Fiction went to Joe Pirro for The Wedding Banquet
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
