PARK CITY, Utah — The 41st Sundance Film Festival celebrated its winners on Friday, highlighting notable films in both the U.S. dramatic and documentary categories. Among the standout films, the satirical war piece “Atropia,” which portrays actors engaged in military training scenarios, received the prestigious grand jury prize. Meanwhile, “Twinless,” featuring Dylan O’Brien, captured the audience award, reflecting its popularity among festivalgoers.
Among the other films that received grand jury distinctions were the documentaries “Seeds,” which explores the lives of farmers in rural Georgia, and “Cutting Through the Rocks,” focusing on the first female council member in an Iranian village. The world cinema competition’s top honor went to “Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears),” a poignant Indian drama that follows a man grieving for his father while navigating life in the countryside of western India. Director Rohan Parashuram Kanawade expressed his heartfelt gratitude by dedicating the award to his late father, who inspired his filmmaking journey.
In addition to the grand jury winners, audiences voted for their favorites, with James Sweeney’s “Twinless” earning accolades in the U.S. dramatic category for its exploration of a friendship formed between two men through a twin bereavement support group. O’Brien was also recognized with a special jury award for his performance in the film. The U.S. documentary audience award went to “André is an Idiot,” a reflective film centered on the experiences of living with terminal colon cancer. Noteworthy audience selections included “Prime Minister,” which chronicles former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s tenure, and “DJ Ahmet,” a story of identity and maturity revolving around a 15-year-old boy in North Macedonia.
Another significant highlight was Mstyslav Chernov, who won the world cinema documentary directing award for his work “2000 Meters to Andriivka,” a poignant feature that depicts the ongoing challenges in Ukraine. In his acceptance speech, Chernov honored documentary filmmakers who courageously document the realities of life in war-torn regions.
Recognized for their directing skills were Geeta Gandbhir for “The Perfect Neighbor,” which investigates a murder in Florida through body camera footage, and Rashad Frett for his drama “Ricky,” highlighting the aftermath of incarceration. The world cinema documentary jury also presented special awards to “Coexistence, My Ass!” for its examination of a comedian’s pursuit of equality in the Israel-Palestine conflict, and “Mr. Nobody Against Putin,” showcasing a Russian teacher’s mission to reveal harsh truths within the education system during the invasion of Ukraine.
Festival programming director Kim Yutani expressed her enthusiasm for showcasing these powerful films, emphasizing the festival’s commitment to supporting the creative journeys of these remarkable artists. The Sundance Film Festival is set to continue until Sunday, allowing audiences to experience a diverse array of independent films.
