The 2019 Outfest Fusion is set to begin on March 1st and will run through the 5th. This film festival remains a showcase to tell stories involvingLGBTQ People of Colorand it has become even more important as we continue to fight against forces that try to abolish our rights and diminish our accomplishments. This fest is a celebration that will bring moving, enlightened and entertaining stories to the big screen.
The Opening Night Film will be "Amateurs", a Swedish feature about two high school students assigned to making a movie about their community. But when it doesn't meet what the town was trying to capture, the students decide to continue with the film on their own terms.
Here are some trailers of a few features that will be playing at the fest:
"Cassandro, The Exotico!" is a documentary on Cassandro, a star of the gender-bending, cross-dressing Mexican wrestlers known as "the Exoticos". After performing for twenty-six years, he has no interest in retiring yet his body has been broken and battered after all that time in the ring. Cassandro must find a way to reinvent himself as he enters his twilight years.
Gregg Araki, a filmmaker who was part of the New Queer Cinema movement back in the '90's has just created his first television series for Starz. "Now Apocalypse" follows Ulysses (Avan Jogia) and his group of sexually adventurous friends as they search for love and fame in Los Angeles. The show captures the wild, youthful energy and surreal comedy of Araki's early feature work. After the screening on March 3rd, Mr. Araki and some of the cast will be on hand for a sure to be interesting conversation.
Outfest Fusion will feature several shorts programs that will focus on South Asian stories, family matters, surreal adventures, sexy experiences and three rarely-screened shorts by Marlon Riggs, the director of "Tongues Untied". There will also be some workshops available during the fest that will cover making a movie with your smartphone, creating a web series, helping to get your idea to a script, a guide to documentary filmmaking and teaching aspiring LGBTQ actors techniques to help them succeed. And the fest will close with a finale party and the One-Minute Movie contest.
For the complete list of films, venues and to purchase tickets, please click below:
The road to this year's Oscar ceremony was paved with controversy, exclusion and poor judgment. There is no need to go back over the largely self-inflicted wounds by the Academy but producers, Glenn Weiss and Donna Gigliotti did manage to pull off a fairly entertaining show despite the many obstacles they faced. With no host and the goal to keep the telecast under three hours failing to happen, The Oscars was still quite a lively and glittering affair.
The idea of having Queen and Adam Lambert kick off the ceremony with a tribute to the movie, "Bohemian Rhapsody" was highly unusual and surprising for the typically staid Oscars but it was great seeing these stars rock out and singing along to "We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions" with the band. It was also wise to have "SNL" vets, Maya Rudolph, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler (who really would have all made terrific hosts) to help set the tone of a hostless event by presenting the first award. This trio of funny ladies perfectly found the humor in the controversies surrounding the show and their witty banter helped move the event forward. And you can always count on Melissa McCarthy to do something outrageous whenever she shows up. While presenting Best Costume Design with Brian Tyree Henry, they both hilariously came out wearing a mash-up of all of the designs from the nominated films.
The inventive pairing (Helen Mirren and Jason Momoa was one of my favorites) and inclusive line-up of presenters (which also featured non-actors, Serena Williams, Trevor Noah and Congressman, John Lewis) was very inspired. But it was the musical numbers of the nominated songs (which ironically were going to be drastically cut from the program) that delivered some truly magical moments to the show. Jennifer Hudson brought dramatic flair with her performance and her dress during "I'll Fight" from "RBG"; nominees, Dave Rawlings and Gillian Welch did a low-key but charming version of their song, "When A Cowboy Trades His Spurs For Wings" from "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs" and Bette Midler soothed with a lovely rendition of the "Mary Poppins Returns" number. But it was Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper who simply rose from their seats in the audience to do an intimate and touching performance of "Shallow" that was the highlight of the evening. The couple brought the searing chemistry they had displayed on screen in their nominated work in "A Star Is Born" right on to the stage.
And about those winners? It was great to see such a diverse selection and it was a very rare case when all of the Best Picture nominees each took home at least one award. People of color and women fared very well this year with costume designer, Ruth Carter and production designer, Hannah Beachler were both honored for their work in "Black Panther" and became the first African-American women to win in their categories. Women were some of the big winners as directors and producers in Best Documentary, Best Documentary Short, Best Animated Short and Best Live-Action Short. Now we just need to have more women nominated in some of the major technical categories. In one of the least surprising victories, Alfonso Cuarón took home three trophies for his moving and poetic drama, "Roma" with Best Cinematography, Director and Foreign-Language Film. And while I'm thrilled that Olivia Colman received a well-deserved win for her role in "The Favourite", I am still unsettled by the fact that Glenn Close still does not have a Best Actress Oscar.
"Green Book" was named the Best Picture of 2018 and the reaction to this win was swift and harsh. Some have dismissed this controversial film as nothing more than a racial flip of "Driving Miss Daisy" while others have proclaimed this to be the worst selection since "Crash" inexplicably took the prize back in 2004, beating the still revered, "Brokeback Mountain". Now, out of the eight Best Picture nominees, "Green Book" would definitely not have been my pick (that would have been "The Favourite") but I completely understand why this happened. I think that due to the troubling and scary times we are facing, people were drawn to and comforted by the uplifting ideas of this feel-good movie.
We know it's hard to get an over ninety year old to change it's old-fashioned way of thinking but the Academy Awards is at least making the effort. We just have to be a little more patient and understanding. I believe it will eventually come around.
Here is the complete list of winners of the 2019 Academy Awards:
Best Picture: "Green Book"
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón, "Roma"
Best Adapted Screenplay: Charlie Wachtel & David Rabinowitz and Kevin Willmott & Spike Lee, "BlacKkKlansman"
Best Original Screenplay: Nick Vallelonga, Brian Currie and Peter Farrelly, "Green Book"
Best Actress: Olivia Colman, "The Favourite"
Best Actor: Rami Malek, "Bohemian Rhapsody"
Best Supporting Actress: Regina King, "If Beale Street Could Talk" Best Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali, "Green Book" Best Cinematography: Alfonso Cuarón, "Roma" Best Film Editing: John Ottman, "Bohemian Rhapsody" Best Foreign Language Film: "Roma" (Mexico) Best Documentary Feature: "Free Solo" Best Documentary Short Subject: "Period. End Of Sentence" Best Animated Feature Film: "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" Best Animated Short Film: "Bao" Best Production Design: Hannah Beachler, Production Design and Jay Hart, Set Decoration, "Black Panther" Best Costume Design: Ruth Carter, "Black Panther" Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Greg Cannom, Kate Biscoe and Patricia DeHaney, "Vice" Best Original Song: "Shallow" from "A Star Is Born" Music and Lyric by Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando and Andrew Wyatt
Best Original Score: Ludwig Goransson, "Black Panther" Best Live Action Short Film: "Skin" Best Sound Mixing: Paul Massey, Tim Cavagin and John Casali, "Bohemian Rhapsody" Best Sound Editing: John Warhurst and Nina Hartstone, "Bohemian Rhapsody" Best Visual Effects: Paul Lambert, Ian Hunter, Tristan Myles and J.D. Schwalm, "First Man"
Barry Jenkins and his adaption of James Baldwin's novel, "If Beale Street Could Talk" was the big winner at this year's Independent Spirit Awards receiving Best Director and the top prize of Best Feature. Regina King also won Best Supporting Female for her moving role in the film. The comedy-drama bio, "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" won two awards for Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Male for Richard E. Grant. And three great films from last year that were wrongly overlooked for Oscars were honored with awards here; the trippy comedy, "Sorry To Bother You" took Best First Feature, Bo Burnham received the Best First Screenplay for "Eighth Grade" and "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" won Best Documentary. Winners of the 2019 Independent Spirit Awards:
Best Feature:
"If Beale Street Could Talk" Best Director: Barry Jenkins, "If Beale Street Could Talk" Best Screenplay: Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty, "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" Best Female Lead: Glenn Close, "The Wife" Best Male Lead: Ethan Hawke, "First Reformed" Best Supporting Female: Regina King, "If Beale Street Could Talk" Best Supporting Male: Richard E. Grant, "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" Best First Feature: "Sorry to Bother You" Best First Screenplay: Bo Burnham, "Eighth Grade" Best Documentary: "Won’t You Be My Neighbor?" Best International Film: "Roma" (Mexico) Best Cinematography: Sayombhu Mukdeeprom, "Suspiria" Best Editing:
Joe Bini, "You Were Never Really Here" John Cassavetes Award: "En El Septimo Dia"
Truer Than Fiction Award: Bing Liu, Director of "Minding the Gap"
Someone To Watch Award: Alex Moratto, Director of "Sócrates" Producer's Award: Shrihari Sathe
Over in France, "Custody (Jusqu’à La Garde)" was the big winner for Best Film at the 2019 César Awards. This feature debut from Xavier Legrand tells the story of a family torn apart by divorce and domestic violence and also received awards for Best Original Screenplay for Mr. Legrand and Léa Drucker won Best Actress. Jacques Audiard and his first English-language feature, "The Sisters Brothers" was another major winner and the American western drama took home four awards including Best Director. And Robert Redford received this year's honorary César Award which paid tribute to his long career as an activist, filmmaker and actor.
The list of winners for the 2019 César Awards:
Best Film: "Jusqu’a La Garde (Custody)"
Best Director: Jacques Audiard, "The Sisters Brothers" Best Adapted Screenplay: Andréa Bescond & Eric Métayer, "Les Chatouilles" Best Original Screenplay: Xavier Legrand, "Jusqu’à La Garde (Custody)" Best Actress: Léa Drucker, "Jusqu’à La Garde (Custody)" Best Actor: Alex Lutz, "Guy"
Best Supporting Actress: Karin Viard, "Les Chatouilles" Best Supporting Actor: Philippe Katerine, "Le Grand Bain (Sink or Swim)"
Best Debut Feature: "Shéhérazade" Best Newcomer (Female): Kenza Fortas, "Shérérazade" Best Newcomer (Male): Dylan Robert, "Shérérazade" Best Documentary: "Ni Juge, Ni Soumise" Best Foreign Film: "Shoplifters" (Japan) Best Animated Film: "Dilili A Paris"
Best Cinematographer: Benoît Debie, "The Sisters Brothers" Best Editing: Yorgos Lamprinos, "Jusqu’à La Garde (Custody)"
Best Sound: Brigitte Taillandier, Valérie De Loof and Cyril Holtz, "The Sisters Brothers"
Best Original Score: Vincent Blanchard and Romain Greffe, "Guy" Best Costume Design: Pierre-Jean Larroque, "Mademoiselle De Jonquières" Best Production Design: Michele Bartélémy, "The Sisters Brothers" Best Short Film: "Les Petites Mains" Best Animated Short: "Vilaine Fille" Cesar Du Public (awarded for box office success): "Les Tuches 3"
The Sherlock Holmes spoof, "Holmes & Watson" was the big loser as Worst Picture at the 2019 Razzie Awards. The film took home four awards including Worst Director and a Worst Supporting Actor win for John C. Reilly. Melissa McCarthy was named Worst Actress but also received the rare Redeemer Award for her brilliant work in "Can You Ever Forgive Me?". And our President finally won votes fair and square with him taking two prizes for Worst Actor and shared the prize with his petty nature for Worst Screen Combo.
The complete list of winners for the 2019 Razzie Awards:
Worst Screenplay: Niall Leonard, "Fifty Shades Freed" Worst Actress: Melissa McCarthy, "Happytime Murders" and "Life of the Party"
Razzie Redeemer Award: Melissa McCarthy, "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" Worst Supporting Actress: Kellyanne Conway (As Herself), "Fahrenheit 11/9" Worst Supporting Actor: John C. Reilly, "Holmes & Watson" Worst Actor: Donald J. Trump (As Himself), "Death of a Nation" and "Fahrenheit 11/9" Worst Screen Combo: Donald J. Trump & His Self-Perpetuating Pettiness, "Death of a Nation" and "Fahrenheit 11/9" Worst Remake, Rip-Off or Sequel: "Holmes & Watson"
The Oscars, one of the biggest nights in entertainment and certainly one of the most prestigious awards given in cinema, is almost upon us. Movie fans from all over the world can't wait to tune in to see all the glamour, beautiful stars and who's going to take home awards on Sunday, February 24th. Here are a few links to inform and keep you entertained until the big night.
First up, the point of the Best Picture Oscar is to honor the very best movie of any given year, a film that will endure and represent the finest that cinema has to offer. But what about the other exceptional films that earned a nomination? Vulture has gone back through the past ninety Best Picture winners and then picked a second film (or Best Loser) from the list of nominees of each given year that would have been just as worthy of the the top Oscar prize. This is a fun look back at movies that deserve a second look and reasons why they would have made a perfect companion (or in some cases, a better selection) to the ultimate winner.
This year marks the twenty-fifth year of Vanity Fair Magazine's Hollywood Issue. One of the articles in that issue celebrates twenty-five scenes from movies of the last twenty-five years that would become iconic and influential. Vanity Fair's film critics, Richard Lawson and K. Austin Collins have selected these moments that would go on to change cinema forever.
Finally, what is winning an award without an acceptance speech? There have been many, many given over the last ninety years at the Oscars but Vulture has narrowed down to eight of the very best and memorable words spoken by a winner of an Academy Award:
"Synonyms" received the top prize of Golden Bear for Best Film at the close of the 2019 Berlin Film Festival. This controversial drama from co-writer and director Nadav Lapid (best known for the original 2014 version of "The Kindergarten Teacher") tells the story of a young Israeli man (Tom Mercier in his first movie role) who moves to Paris with the hopes of starting a new life. However things do not go well for him but he's determined to stay as he wants to leave behind his nationality and convinced that becoming French would be far better for his life.
Veteran French filmmaker, François Ozon took the runner-up prize of the Silver Bear with his latest, "Grâce à Dieu (By the Grace of God)". This film covers the real-life events about the Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal involving Philippe Barbarin, the archbishop of Lyon which the trial has currently just begun. And the stars of Wang Xiaoshuai’s Chinese drama "Di jiu tian chang (So Long, My Son)", Wang Jingchun and Yong Mei won the Silver Bear for Best Actor and Best Actress. The film examines two close childhood friends who drift apart and the wonderful and challenging life experiences they each go through as adults.
Here is the list of winners from the 2019 Berlin Film Festival:
Golden Bear for Best Film: "Synonymes (Synonyms)"
Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize: "Grâce à Dieu (By the Grace of God)"
Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize: "Systemsprenger (System Crasher)"
Silver Bear for Best Director: Angela Shanelec, "Ich War Zuhause, Aber (I Was at Home, But)"
Silver Bear Best Screenplay: Mauricio Barucci, Claudio Giovannesi and Roberto Saviano, "La paranza dei bambini (Piranhas)" Silver Bear for Best Actress: Yong Mei, "Di jiu tian chang (So Long, My Son)"
Silver Bear for Best Actor: Wang Jingchun, "Di jiu tian chang (So Long, My Son)"
Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution: Rasmus Videbæk, Cinematographer, "Ut og stjæle hester (Out Stealing Horses)"
Glashutte Original Documentary: "Talking About Trees"
GWFF Best First Feature Award: "Oray"
Golden Bear Best Short Film: "Umbra"
Silver Bear Jury Prize Short Film: "Blue Boy"
Audi Short Film Award: "Rise"
"The Favourite" went in to the 2019 British Academy of Film and Television Arts with the most nominations at twelve and while Yorgos Lanthimos's dark comedy walked away winning the most awards with seven (including Best British Film), it was Alfonso Cuarón's personal family drama that took the top prize of Best Film. Cuarón also received awards for his work as a director, cinematographer and a film not in the English-language. The biggest surprise was director Spike Lee receiving with his co-writers the Best Adapted Screenplay Award for "Blackkklansman".
Here is a partial list of winners from the 2019 BAFTA Awards:
Best Film: "Roma" Outstanding British Film: "The Favourite" Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón, "Roma" Best Original Screenplay: Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara, "The Favourite" Best Adapted Screenplay: Spike Lee, David Rabinowitz, Charlie Wachtel and Kevin Willmott, "Blackkklansman" Best Leading Actress: Olivia Colman, "The Favourite" Best Leading Actor: Rami Malek, "Bohemian Rhapsody" Best Supporting Actress: Rachel Weisz, "The Favourite" Best Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali, "Green Book" Outstanding Debut By A British Writer, Director Or Producer: Michael Pearce (Writer/Director) and Lauren Dark (Producer), "Beast" Best Film Not In The English Language: "Roma" Best Documentary: "Free Solo" Best Animated Film: "Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse" Best Original Music: Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga and Lukas Nelson, "A Star Is Born" Best Cinematography: Alfonso Cuarón, "Roma" Best Editing: Hank Corwin, "Vice" Best Production Design: Fiona Crombie and Alice Felton, "The Favourite" Best Costume Design: Sandy Powell, "The Favourite" Best Make-Up: Nadia Stacey, "The Favourite" Best Sound: John Casali, Tim Cavagin, Nina Hartstone, Paul Massey and John Warhurst, "Bohemian Rhapsody"
Best Visual Effects: Geoffrey Baumann, Jesse James Chisholm, Craig Hammack and Dan Sudick, "Black Panther"
EE Rising Star: Letitia Wright
"The Kindness of Strangers" by Danish director, Lone Scherfig will open the 69th edition of the Berlin Film Festival. This fest is always the first to showcase new international films and runs this year from February 7th to the 17th. Ms. Scherfig (who won the Silver Bear in 2001 for "Italian For Beginners" and her 2009 feature "An Education" with Carey Mulligan, screened first at the fest before going on to receive three Oscar nominations) will premiere her drama, which will be in competition, about a group of disparate people struggling to get through a tough New York City winter and features Zoe Kazan, Tahar Rahim, Andrea Riseborough, Caleb Landry Jones, Jay Baruchel and Bill Nighy.
Juliette Binoche, the French Oscar-winning actress leads this year’s jury to decide on the winners of prizes. The other jury members are German actress, Sandra Hüller, British producer, Trudie Styler, Chilean director, Sebastián Lelio, Justin Chang, film critic for the Los Angeles Times and the Chief Curator of Film at New York’s Museum of Modern Art, Rajendra Roy.
Some of the films in competition include new works from acclaimed International filmmakers like Fatih Akin (“The Golden Glove”) Wang Xiaoshuai (“"Di jiu tian chang (So Long, My Son)"”), Agnieszka Holland (“Mr. Jones”), François Ozon (“Grâce à dieu (By The Grace of God)”) Denis Côté ("Ghost Town Anthology") and Nora Fingscheidt ("Systemsprenger (System Crasher)"). Netflix invades this fest for the first time in competition with “Elisa & Marcela”, a new black and white drama from Isabel Coixet (“The Bookshop”). The film is based on a true story of two women who got married in Spain in 1901 after one adapts a male identity.
It would not be a film festival without Special Screenings and this will include the German premiere of Adam McKay's Oscar-nominated look at former Vice-President, Dick Cheney in "Vice"; the European premiere of the restored Aretha Franklin documentary,"Amazing Grace"; the latest from legendary French filmmaker, André Téchiné with "L'adieu à la nuit (Farewell to the Night)" which stars Catherine Deneuve and makes it's world premiere; the documentary, "Peter Lindbergh: Women Stories" by Jean Michel Vecchiet which focuses on the longtime fashion photographer; British actor, Chiwetel Ejiofor's first film as a director with "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" and French film making icon, Agnès Varda has made another documentary whose subject is herself with "Varda by Agnès". And the fest will premiere a new restoration by the Academy Film Archive of Gregory Nava's 1984 feature, "El Norte (The North)". This timely drama tells the story of two Guatemalan youths (played by Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez and David Villalpando) who try to escape the turmoil of their country due to a Civil War in the 1980's as they make an arduous journey through Mexico to reach Los Angeles.
British actress, Charlotte Rampling will receive this year's Honorary Golden Bear and the fest will screen some highlights from her incredible career including "The Damned", "The Night Porter", "The Verdict", "Swimming Pool" and "Stardust Memories". She headed the festival’s jury back in 2006 and won the Silver Bear for Best Actress for "45 Years" in 2015. Finally, the fest’s longtime director, Dieter Kosslick will be leaving his post after eighteen years with Berlinale. The former director of the Locarno Film Festival, Carlo Chatrian will take over Berlin next year.
Where & When: Arclight Cinemas, Hollywood, CA. January 27, 2019 5:45 PM
With two Oscar-winning leads, a solid supporting cast and a filmmaker who has written a script that earned him an Academy Award nomination all on board, you would think that the feature, "Serenity" should be at least entertaining. But Steven Knight, who wrote "Dirty Pretty Things", "Eastern Promises" and "Locke", has attempted to put a modern twist on a classic noir thriller and the result is dull, confusing and completely absurd.
Matthew McConaughey plays Baker Dill, a rugged fishing tour boat captain who sails on his ship named “Serenity” out of Plymouth Island off the Florida coast. Baker is not on steady ground financially and struggling to keep his business afloat. He is also struggling to forget his troubled past involving his former wife and young son but finds some comfort by consuming a large amount of booze. With his trusty first mate, Duke (Djimon Hounsou) by his side, Baker has become obsessed with capturing a large tuna to help solve his money troubles and while he has come close, the fish remains elusive.
Just when Baker thinks his situation couldn't get any worse, it does with the arrival of his ex-wife, Karen played by Anne Hathaway in full blonde, femme fatale mode. She has tracked him down with a small favor in mind; aware that her former husband is in a tight financial bind, Karen offers him millions of dollars to kill her current husband. Loud, boorish and very wealthy, Frank (Jason Clarke) is also physically and emotionally abusive to her and Baker's teenage son, Patrick.
Unable to just leave him for reasons that are not fully explained or questioned, Karen is desperate but Baker turns her offer down. However, Karen is very determined and uses her mind and body to convince him it's a good idea for everyone involved. Baker eventually agrees to do the plan which involves taking Frank out on the boat in a drugged-out state and for him to have a tragic fishing accident where he's dragged out in to the sea.
And then there is a strange man (Jeremy Strong) who has been anxiously following Baker and finally catches up to him on a rainy night. The man simply wants him to test a fish detector but he also inadvertently brings to Baker's attention that what he's been experiencing (and what we have been seeing) is not at all what it may appear to be.
I won't even try to explain what unfolds in the third act because, to be perfectly honest, I'm not sure that I can. Mr. Knight's attempt to deconstruct the film noir genre could have been interesting and enjoyable yet with "Serenity" he failed to apply basic logic and consistency to his story. The crazy twists and turns of the plot do not connect by the time we reach the conclusion of the film, leaving a hole big enough for a naked McConaughey to easily swim right through (which his exposed body is featured prominently on land and underwater here and may be enough incentive for some to actually see this mess).
With a dark, heavy-handed script which the actors are required to perform with complete seriousness, the film is in desperate need for a few moments of lightness. The only one who comes closest to enjoying themselves is Mr. McConaughey who still manages to deliver a touch of his easy-going, laid-back style to the brooding boat captain. The gifted Ms Hathaway may be able to do many things but she's not exactly persuasive as a vamp. Lacking a sultry confidence that people like Barbara Stanwyck or Kathleen Turner could provide with little effort, the actress appears uneasy and lost most of her time on screen. And once again, poor Diane Lane is wasted in a thankless role. She plays Constance, a horny neighbor that Baker occasionally provides stud service for when he needs some extra cash. Ms Lane should have actually switched parts with Ms Hathaway. She's actually closer in age to Mr. McConaughey and would have been a far more convincing seductress.
"Serenity" may feature committed performances and a great-looking production but it's all wasted on a film that is unsettled on what exactly it's trying to be. There are moments when we are in the middle of a tense, sexy thriller before shifting to a dysfunctional family drama and finally spinning in to a surreal puzzle. Yet ultimately none of it works together, leaving "Serenity" drifting lost at sea.
"Clemency" from writer/director Chinonye Chukwu received the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize atthe 2019 Sundance Film festival. This drama focuses on a female prison warden (Alfre Woodard) who begins to face a personal crisis regarding the death penalty. The feature film debut by Joe Talbot, "The Last Black Man in San Francisco" took the Director Prize and a Special Jury Prize for Creator Collaboration. The film centers on a lonely, young skateboarder (Jimmie Fails) who can't shake the idea of his family losing their Victorian house years ago that his grandfather had built. When the current owners seemed to have moved, he attempts to recreate a home his family once had. And The U.S. Documentary Prize was awarded to Nanfu Wang and Jialing Zhang for their feature, "One Child Nation" which deals with China’s controversial one-child-per-family policy.
Here is a partial list of winners from the 2019 Sundance Film Festival:
U.S. Dramatic Jury Winners:
Grand Jury Prize: "Clemency"
Directing Award: Joe Talbot, "The Last Black Man in San Francisco"
Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: Pippa Bianco, "Share"
Special Jury Award (Vision and Craft): Alma Har’el, "Honey Boy"
Special Jury Award (Creator Collaboration): Joe Talbot, "The Last Black Man in San Francisco"
Special Jury Award (Acting): Rhianne Barreto, "Share"
U.S. Documentary Jury Winners:
Grand Jury Prize: "One Child Nation"
Directing Award: Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert, "American Factory"
Special Jury Award (Emerging Filmmaker): Liza Mandelup, "Jawline"
Special Jury Award (Moral Urgency): "Always in Season"
Special Jury Award (Editing): Todd Douglas Miller, "Apollo 11"
Special Jury Award (Cinematography): Luke Lorentzen, "Midnight Family"
Audience Awards:
U.S. Dramatic: "Brittany Runs a Marathon"
U.S. Documentary: "Knock Down the House"
World Cinema Dramatic: "Queen of Hearts"
World Cinema Documentary: "Sea of Shadows"
NEXT Audience Award: "The Infiltrators"
World Cinema Awards:
Dramatic Grand Jury Prize: "The Souvenir"
Directing Award: Lucia Garibaldi, "The Sharks"
Dramatic (Special Jury Award): "Monos"
Special Jury Award for Originality: Makoto Nagahisa, "We Are Little Zombies"
Special Jury Prize (Acting): Krystyna Janda, "Dolce Fine Giornata"
Documentary Grand Jury Prize: "Honeyland"
Documentary Directing Award: Mads Brugger, "Cold Case Hammarskjold"
Documentary Special Jury Award (No Borders): "Midnight Traveler"
Documentary Special Jury Prize (Impact for Change): "Honeyland"
Documentary Special Jury Award (Cinematography): Fejmi Daut and Samir Ljuma, "Honeyland"
