Sundance 2026 crowns final winners in Park City celebration

The 2026 Sundance Film Festival announced its award winners at a ceremony held at The Ray Theatre in Park City, Utah, marking the conclusion of the festival's last edition in the mountain town. The ceremony took place ahead of the festival's final day on February 1st, bringing together juries and artists to recognize outstanding achievements across multiple categories spanning drama, documentary, international cinema, and short films.

The festival, which ran programming across Park City and Salt Lake City, featured premieres, screenings, and events that honored Robert Redford's vision and legacy in independent filmmaking. The award announcements reflected the breadth of storytelling represented at this year's edition, with recognition given to films exploring military history, personal identity, and cultural narratives.

Background

Sundance has long served as a launching pad for independent filmmakers and a platform where emerging voices find audiences and industry attention. This year's festival carried particular significance as it marked the final edition held in Park City, the Utah mountain town that has hosted the festival since its founding. The festival's move from Park City represents a major shift in the independent film landscape, as Sundance prepares for a new chapter in its history.

The 2026 edition featured a diverse slate of films competing across multiple categories, from U.S. dramatic and documentary competitions to world cinema categories that showcased international perspectives. The festival maintained its tradition of honoring not just finished films but also emerging talent, with awards recognizing debut features, screenwriting, and mentorship opportunities for upcoming filmmakers.

Key Details

In the U.S. dramatic competition, "Josephine," directed by Beth de Araújo, won the audience award, a recognition voted by festival attendees. The film emerged as a standout among U.S. dramatic entries competing for top honors.

The U.S. documentary competition saw "Soul Patrol," directed by J.M. Harper, win the directing award. The documentary tells the story of the first all-Black special operations unit to serve during the Vietnam War, uncovering a largely untold chapter of American military history.

Other major documentary honors included "The Lake," directed by Abby Ellis, which received the special jury award for impact for change. In the documentary competition, "Nuisance Bear" also received recognition, while "American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez," directed by David Alvarado, won the audience award for U.S. documentary.

Drama and Writing Awards

"The Friend's House Is Here," a U.S.-Iran co-production directed by Hossein Keshavarz and Maryam Ataei, earned the special jury award for ensemble cast. "Bedford Park," directed by Stephanie Ahn, won the special jury award for debut feature, recognizing first-time filmmakers bringing fresh perspectives to cinema.

The Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award went to "Take Me Home," written and directed by Liz Sargent, honoring excellence in original screenwriting.

International and World Cinema

In the world cinema dramatic competition, "Shame and Money," a co-production from Germany, Kosovo, Slovenia, Albania, North Macedonia, and Belgium directed by Visar Morina, won the grand jury prize. "Filipiñana," directed by Rafael Manuel and produced across Singapore, the United Kingdom, Philippines, France, and the Netherlands, won the special jury award for creative vision.

"HOLD ONTO ME," a Cyprus, Denmark, and Greece co-production directed by Myrsini Aristidou, won the world cinema dramatic audience award. In world cinema documentary, "One In A Million," directed by Itab Azzam and Jack MacInnes from the United Kingdom, won both the audience award and the directing award.

Short Films and Special Recognition

The shorts program awards recognized excellence across multiple formats. "The Baddest Speechwriter of All," directed by Ben Proudfoot and Stephen Curry, won the short film grand jury prize. "Paper Trail," directed by Don Hertzfeldt, won the special jury award for creative vision.

Special awards included the Sundance Institute Producers Award for Nonfiction, which went to Dawne Langford for "Who Killed Alex Odeh?" The Sundance Institute NHK Award went to Leo Aguirre for "Verano."

What This Means

The 2026 awards demonstrate that independent cinema continues to thrive despite significant changes in the entertainment landscape. The recognition of films exploring overlooked historical narratives, such as the story behind "Soul Patrol," shows that audiences and juries remain invested in stories that expand understanding of American history and experience.

The strong showing of international co-productions and world cinema entries reflects how filmmaking has become increasingly global, with creative partnerships spanning continents. Directors from multiple countries collaborated on films that competed for top honors, suggesting that independent cinema transcends national borders in meaningful ways.

The festival's continued emphasis on debut features and emerging voices signals commitment to nurturing the next generation of filmmakers who will shape cinema in coming years.

The diversity of winning films—spanning documentaries about military history, dramas exploring personal relationships, and international narratives—indicates that Sundance audiences and juries value varied storytelling approaches. This final edition in Park City concludes an era while the festival prepares to evolve and continue its mission of supporting independent artists in new locations.