2009 Sundance Winners

Among the top winners at Sundance 2009 were Grand Jury and Audience: U.S. Dramatic winner Push: Based on a Novel by Sapphire (as opposed to the upcoming sci-fi thriller Push, starring Dakota Fanning and Chris Evans). Directed by Lee Daniels and adapted by Damien Pearl, Push follows an overweight, pregnant teenager living in Harlem who must struggle to find her place in the world. Mo’Nique, as the young woman’s ruthless mother, received a special acting award.

Directed by Ondi Timoner (above), Grand Jury Prize: U.S. Documentary winner We Live in Public depicts the impact the Internet has had on human interactions by focusing on web artist Josh Harris‘ experimental public art projects.

World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic winner [...]

Sundance Awards 2009

2009 Sundance Film Festival Awards
2009 Sundance Film Festival: January 15-25, 2009
 

Grand Jury Prize: U.S. Dramatic:
Push: Based on the Novel by Sapphire, directed by Lee Daniels

Grand Jury Prize: U.S. Documentary:
We Live in Public, directed by Ondi Timoner

World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic:
The Maid (La Nana), directed by Sebastián Silva
World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Documentary:
Rough Aunties, directed by Kim Longinotto

Directing Award: U.S. Documentary:
Natalia Almada, El General
Directing Award: U.S. Dramatic:
Cary Joji Fukunaga, Sin Nombre
World Cinema Directing Award: Documentary:
Havana Marking, Afghan Star
World Cinema Directing Award: Dramatic:
Oliver Hirschbiegel, Five Minutes of Heaven
Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award:
Nicholas Jasenovec and Charlyne Yi, Paper Heart
World Cinema Screenwriting Award:
Oliver Hirschbiegel, Five Minutes of Heaven
U.S. Documentary Editing Award:
Karen Schmeer, Sergio, directed by Greg Barker
World Cinema Documentary Editing [...]

Sundance 2009: Gay Themes

Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor in I Love You, Phillip Morris

Gay boycott or no, Sundance 2009 has several films dealing — at least to some extent — with gay characters.
The most publicized gay-focused film at Sundance is I Love You, Phillip Morris, about a scary-looking ex-cop (Jim Carrey) who becomes a criminal and is arrested. While in jail, he falls for a fellow inmate (Ewan McGregor). Based on a book by Steve McVicker, I Love You, Phillip Morris was written and directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, whose writing credits include Bad Santa and Bad News Bears.

Peter Bratt’s La Mission portrays the difficult relationship between a San Francisco gay teen (Jeremy Ray [...]