2025 Slamdance Film Festival Announces Award Winners

Posted on February 26, 2025 by admin

The 31st Slamdance Film Festival this evening announced the winners of their annual Sparky Awards in Audience and Jury categories for 2025. The festival also announced the recipient of their AGBO Fellowship from Slamdance alumni Joe and Anthony Russo, a curated Acting Award, and the second annual Summer Chastant Episodic Award. All winners were announced during the in-person awards ceremony on February 26th at the DGA Theater Complex in Los Angeles, CA.

“Our first year in Los Angeles hasn’t just been a new chapter—it’s been a breakthrough,” said Taylor Miller, Slamdance Director. “These award-winning films don’t just stake a claim; they redefine what cinema can be. These filmmakers have cemented their place in the future of cinema, proving that Slamdance isn’t just moving—it’s evolving. And we’re just getting started.”

A celebration of emerging filmmaking talent from around the world, this year’s lineup consisted of 146 films – 21 of which are World Premiere features. The fully accessible lineup included 33 features, 104 shorts, and five episodics. For the second year in a row, Slamdance continues to champion female filmmakers, with women directing 55% of this year’s lineup – marking a powerful shift in independent filmmaking. The full Slamdance lineup is still available online on the Slamdance Channel through March 7th.
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“Under The Burning Sun” Premiere At 2025 Slamdance Film Festival

Posted on February 17, 2025 by admin

“Under The Burning Sun” is written and directed by Yun Xie. Produced by Aaron Linjun Yu and Jera Wang. Cinematography by Tianyi Wang. Edited by Bowei Yue and Christopher Ma. Music by Dong Liu. A Narval Films production.

Says the film’s synopsis: In a barren, desolate land where abortion is outlawed, Mowanza struggles with an unwanted pregnancy. When she hears of a distant land with a lenient abortion policy, Mowanza, armed with only a half-empty water bottle and a battered car, embarks on a journey across the desert towards the lush land of Iropus.

“Our protagonist, Mowanza, never had the agency to make choices about her own body,” says Yu Xie.

“She is trapped in a cycle of anguish and anger, with freedom always just out of reach—like a distant oasis she can never quite grasp. Through Mowanza’s journey, the world we’ve crafted, and the struggles she endures, I hope we can inch closer to understanding the complex realities of womanhood—ones that remain unresolved, but deserve to be told.”

“Under The Burning Sun” is set to have its world premiere at 2025 Slamdance Film Festival where it plays on these dates:
Saturday Feb 22 – 1:30pm at LA Times Theater – Quixote Studios
Monday Feb 24 – 3:45pm at LA Times Theater – Quixote Studios

Berlinale: World Premiere of PUNKU by J.D. Fernández Molero

Posted on February 5, 2025 by admin

Punku, the latest film by Peruvian Rotterdam Tiger Award-winning writer-director J.D. Fernández Molero [Videophilia (and Other Viral Syndromes)], will have its world premiere in the Forum section of the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, running from February 13 to 23, 2025. This one-of-a-kind, playfully genre-blending film was shot in 16mm, Super 8, and digital formats, and it will be screened on 35mm in its world premiere at the Berlinale.

Set deep in the Peruvian Amazon lowlands and the tropical city of Quillabamba in the Cusco region of Peru, Punku—which means “gateway” in Quechua—follows an unlikely pair on a foreboding journey that artfully threads together the fantasy and Surrealism of fairy tales with the harsh shadow of trauma in a shared search for belonging and safety.

Meshia, a Matsigenka Indigenous teenager, finds a young boy, Ivan, who vanished two years ago and was presumed dead. Determined to rescue him, she leads him on a journey upriver into the mountains toward the city for a surgery urgently needed to stop the infection that is progressively consuming his sight.
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Come See Me in the Good Light Wins Festival Favorite Award at 2025 Sundance Film Festival

Posted on February 2, 2025 by admin

2026 Sundance Film Festival Dates Also Revealed.

Today the Sundance Film Festival announced its final award for the 2025 edition: Come See Me in the Good Light in the Premieres category received the Festival Favorite Award, voted for by the audiences from all the new feature films presented at the 2025 Festival. Other award winners were previously announced at a ceremony at The Ray Theatre in Park City, Utah, on January 31.

Looking ahead to next year, Sundance Institute also announced today the dates for the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, taking place in person in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, from January 22–February 1, 2026.

“The past 11 days of the Festival have been a meaningful opportunity to connect as a community in support of independent storytelling,” said Amanda Kelso, Acting CEO, Sundance Institute. “We look forward to being reunited with audiences, artists, industry, and press next January for another edition of the Festival.”
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2025 Sundance Film Festival Award Winners Announced

Posted on January 31, 2025 by admin

Today the 2025 Sundance Film Festival awards were presented at a ceremony for the jury and audience award–winning films at The Ray Theatre in Park City, where independent storytelling was celebrated ahead of the Festival’s conclusion. The 2025 Festival, taking place now through February 2, has featured premieres, screenings, talks, events, and more in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah. All feature award-winning films are available online nationwide now through February 2. Select award-winning films will screen in person for ticketholders and passholders. Tickets can be purchased at festival.sundance.org/tickets.

Grand Jury Prizes went to Atropia (U.S. Dramatic Competition), Seeds (U.S. Documentary Competition), Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears) (World Cinema Dramatic Competition), and Cutting Through Rocks (اوزاک یوللار) (World Cinema Documentary Competition). The NEXT Innovator Award presented by Adobe was given to Zodiac Killer Project.

Audience awards for films in competition were presented by Acura to Twinless (U.S. Dramatic Competition) and André is an Idiot (U.S. Documentary Competition) and presented by United Airlines to DJ Ahmet (World Cinema Dramatic Competition) and Prime Minister (World Cinema Documentary Competition). East of Wall won the audience award for NEXT presented by Adobe. Awards for the Short Film Program Presented by Vimeo were announced at a ceremony on January 28 at The Park in Park City, Utah.
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20th Annual GEMFest Kicks Off With Premiere Screening Of “One Must Wash Eyes”

Posted on January 30, 2025 by admin

Gender Equity in Media Society Vancouver Announces Iranian-Canadian filmmaker Sepideh Yadegar’s One Must Wash Eyes as the Opening Night Film for the 20th Annual GEMFest.

Gender Equity in Media Society Vancouver (GEMS) has announced the Opening Night Film for the 20th annual GEMFest, set to take place in-person at VIFF Centre in Vancouver from March 5-9, 2025. GEMFest kicks off with the premiere screening of One Must Wash Eyes, Iranian-Canadian filmmaker Sepideh Yadegar’s feature film debut, inspired by the Woman, Life, Freedom movement. This year’s festival, celebrating two decades of championing women and gender-diverse filmmakers, features a robust schedule of feature films, panels, networking events, and special programming designed to advance gender equity in the film industry, which will be announced in full on February 5th.

The hometown premiere of the award-winning One Must Wash Eyes at GEMFest on March 5th, follows a successful festival run and marks the first time B.C. audiences can see the film. The screening will be followed by an exclusive panel and Q&A session with some of the filmmaking team including writer/director Sepideh Yadegar, moderated by GEMS Board President, Iranian-Canadian filmmaker Ghazal Elhaei.

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2025 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Program Award Winners Announced

Posted on January 28, 2025 by admin

Tonight the nonprofit Sundance Institute awarded the prizes for the 2025 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Program at the Short Film Awards Ceremony & Party Presented by Vimeo. Filmmakers from across all 57 shorts selected for the 2025 Sundance Film Festival gathered at The Park in Park City, Utah, for a private event celebrating short-form storytelling. Most award-winning short films are available online nationwide January 30 through February 2 for audiences to view from home. Visit festival.sundance.org for all details. The 2025 Festival, taking place now through February 2, has featured world premieres, screenings, talks, events, and more in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Grand Jury Prize went to The Flowers Stand Silently, Witnessing (International Nonfiction). Short Film Jury Awards were presented to Trokas Duras (U.S. Fiction), Grandma Nai Who Played Favorites (International Fiction), We Were The Scenery (Nonfiction), and Como si la tierra se las hubiera tragado (Animation).

Two Special Jury Awards were also presented: Short Film Special Jury Award for Animation Directing to The Eating of an Orange (Animation) and Short Film Special Jury Award for Directing to Tiger (Nonfiction).
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“Sorry Baby” Sundance Premiere

Posted on January 27, 2025 by admin

“Sorry, Baby” premieres at 2025 Sundance Film Festival with the cast and crew in attendance.

Written and directed by Eva Victor, the film premiered at 2025 Sundance Film Festival on Monday, Jan 27, 2025. “Sorry, Baby” stars Eva alongside Naomi Ackie, Lucas Hedges, John Carroll Lynch, Louis Cancelmi, and Kelly McCormack. The A24 film is produced by Barry Jenkins.

“Something bad happened to Agnes. But life goes on… for everyone around her, at least,” the film’s logline says.

Photos: aipimaging.com

Jennifer Lopez At :Kiss of Spider Woman” Sundance Premiere

Posted on January 26, 2025 by admin

Kiss of the Spider Woman premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 26, 2025, where it received a standing ovation. It was held at the Eccles Center Theatre in Park City, with star Jennifer Lopez and director Bill Condon in attendance.

Lopez, in attendance, sparkled in a bedazzled see-through black long-sleeve gown in the shape of a spider web.

In “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” Lopez stars in the titular role, alongside Diego Luna and Tonatiuh. She plays Aurora, a mysterious and enchanting actress. The films is directed by Bill Condon.

It’s based on the 1976 novel of the same name by Manuel Puig. It was first adapted for the screen in 1985 which starred William Hurt, Raul Julia and Sonia Braga, wherein Hurt won the Oscar for best supporting actor. It was also turned into a Tony-winning Broadway musical in 1993.

The film’s synopsis reads: “Lopez is an astonishing scene-stealer in a career-highlight performance as Luna/Aurora, with showstopping musical numbers that underscore the exuberant prowess of her dancing and voice. Diego Luna delivers unrelenting revolutionary conviction as Valentín, and Tonatiuh gives his Molina a tenderhearted power and theatrical flair.”

Photos: aipimaging.com

Horror Film “The Ugly Stepsister” Premieres At Sundance 2025

Posted on January 24, 2025 by admin

Director Emilie Blichfeldt

2025 comedy horror film “The Ugly Stepsister” premiered on Thurs, Jan 23, 2025, day one of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

Co-written and directed by Emilie Blichfeldt in her directorial debut, the film reimagines the Cinderella fairytale.

The film’s synopsis says: “In a fairy-tale kingdom where beauty is a brutal business, Elvira battles to compete with her incredibly beautiful stepsister, and she will go to any length to catch the prince’s eye.”

Leading to its premiere, the “tongue-in-cheek body horror” has been one of the festival’s buzziest titles.

The film’s cast includes Lea Myren, Thea Sofie Loch Næss, Ane Dahl Torp, Flo Fagerli, Isac Calmroth, and Malte Gårdinger.

Photos: aipimaging.com