Movies

Sundance’s top prizes go to ‘Atropia’ and ‘Seeds’

BBG News

During a ceremony held in Park City, Utah, on Friday, the Sundance Film Festival unveiled its 2025 awards. Hailey Gates’ film “Atropia,” a darkly comedic look at the connection between war and performance, was crowned winner of the U.S. dramatic competition’s grand prize. Meanwhile, Brittany Shyne’s “Seeds,” a deeply personal portrayal of Black farmers in the Southern region, took home the top award in the U.S. documentary competition.

As a cinephile, I can’t wait to delve into the sharp satire titled “Atropia,” nestled within a military simulation center. Starring Alia Shankar, Callum Turner, and Chloë Sevigny, this captivating narrative follows my journey as an aspiring actor who becomes entangled in love with a soldier portraying an insurgent. The complexities of our relationship compel us to confront the murky boundaries between acting and authenticity. Critics have lauded Gates’ directorial debut for its double-edged sword wit, describing it as “both sidesplittingly funny and piercing in its depiction of war theater.”

Moreover, I am deeply moved by the profound and intensely personal film, “Seeds,” which sheds light on the resilience of Black farmers battling to safeguard their land and legacy. The cinematic masterpiece has garnered recognition for its poetic portrayal.

In the realm of cinematic categories, the dramatic grand jury prize was bestowed upon “Sabar Bonda” (Cactus Pears), a joint production between India, the U.K., and Canada, helmed by director Rohan Parashuram Kanawade. This film narrates the tale of an urbanite who journeys back to his countryside hometown for a period of mourning, where he unexpectedly forms a connection with a local farmer. The documentary grand jury prize was given to “Cutting Through Rocks,” directed by Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Reza Eyni, which chronicles the journey of an innovative councilwoman in a remote Iranian village as she battles against deeply ingrained patriarchal traditions.

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Once again, we find ourselves on Main Street, capturing the influential personalities behind the scenes – actors, writers, directors, and their respective subjects – who are driving the cultural dialogue. Don’t miss out on our stunning portraits from the Sundance Portrait Gallery!

The NEXT Innovator Award, which honors a movie in the festival that showcases daring and non-traditional narratives, was bestowed upon Charlie Shackleton’s “Zodiac Killer Project.” This film is an exploration of the true crime genre using 16mm footage from locations the director had to leave behind when his rights for a novel option expired.

A dramedy titled “Twinless,” which revolves around two men connecting through a support group for those who have lost their twins, received the U.S. dramatic audience award. Meanwhile, the U.S. documentary category recognized “André Is an Idiot,” a darkly humorous documentary exploring a man’s struggle with his own mortality.

At the world cinema competition, “DJ Ahmet,” a film depicting a North Macedonian teenager’s journey through family pressures and his passion for music, was awarded the audience prize in the drama category. On the other hand, “Prime Minister,” a film showcasing an inside look at the life of Jacinda Ardern, the former New Zealand prime minister, received the award in the documentary category.

The “NEXT” audience prize was given to the movie titled “East of Wall,” which is a modern Western story that focuses on a defiant horse trainer and a troupe of misfit teenagers.

In the U.S. competitions, the directing prize in the dramatic category was given to Rashad Frett for “Ricky,” a story depicting a man’s struggles with life after prison, and the documentary directing award was bestowed upon Geeta Gandbhir for “The Perfect Neighbor,” which delves into Florida’s contentious “stand your ground” laws. The Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award was granted to Eva Victor for “Sorry, Baby,” a humorous take on a young woman dealing with trauma.

In the awards ceremony, Dylan O’Brien was given a special acting award for his role in “Twinless,” and the ensemble cast of “Plainclothes” received recognition for their work in a drama set in the 1990s about an undercover officer targeting gay men. In the documentary category, “Selena y Los Dinos” was honored with a special prize for its archival storytelling about the late Tejano superstar Selena Quintanilla, and “Life After” won a special award for its insightful exploration of a significant right-to-die case.

This year’s festival saw fewer deals being made, but the awardees aspire to mirror the success of recent Sundance award recipients who later achieved Oscar recognition. Notable examples include “CODA,” “20 Days in Mariupol,” “Summer of Soul,” and “Minari.

The 41st edition of the festival concludes on Sunday.

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2025-01-31 22:01

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