2009 Sundance Film Festival
Since 1985, Sundance has been a place and time for stories. The 2009 Sundance Film Festival commemorated the 25th Festival with a celebration of original storytelling and our rich history of independent film. As part of "From the Collection," a joint film archive between Sundance Institute and UCLA, Steven Soderbergh returned to the Festival to screen SEX, LIES, AND, VIDEOTAPE, which received the Dramatic Audience Award 20 years prior. Among the 218 total films screening this year, Sundance welcomed 42 first-time feature filmmakers. The promise of short films as a vital form was especially apparent when nine filmmakers that premiered feature films this year had previously screened shorts in past Festivals. Some of the innovative stories that premiered this year in the Dramatic Competition included, SIN NOMBRE, MARY AND MAX, and PUSH:BASED ON THE NOVEL BY SAPPHIRE, as well as the Documentaries WE LIVE IN PUBLIC, AFGHAN STAR, and THE COVE. The Festival website continued to offer live videos from the streets of Park City, coverage of film Q and A's, the awards ceremonies, interviews with filmmakers, actors, artists, and more to bring the Festival to audiences all over the globe.
Awards
Alfred P. Sloan Prize
Adam | Audience Award Documentary
The Cove |
Audience Award Dramatic
Push: Based on the novel by Sapphire | Directing Award Documentary
El General |
Directing Award Dramatic
Sin Nombre | Editing Award Documentary
Sergio |
Excellence in Cinematography Award Documentary
The September Issue | Excellence in Cinematography Award Dramatic
Sin Nombre |
Grand Jury Prize Documentary
We Live in Public | Grand Jury Prize Dramatic
Push: Based on the novel by Sapphire |
Honorable Mention Short Filmmaking
The Attack of the Robots from Nebula-5 | Honorable Mention Short Filmmaking
Jerrycan |
Honorable Mention Short Filmmaking
Love You More | Honorable Mention Short Filmmaking
Omelette |
Honorable Mention Short Filmmaking
Western Spaghetti | Honorable Mention Short Filmmaking
I Live in the Woods |
Honorable Mention Short Filmmaking
Protect You + Me. | Honorable Mention Short Filmmaking
Treevenge |
Jury Prize International Short Filmmaking
Lies | Jury Prize Short Filmmaking
Short Term 12 |
Special Jury Prize Documentary
Good Hair | Special Jury Prize for Acting
Push: Based on the novel by Sapphire |
Special Jury Prize for Spirit of Independence
Humpday | Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award
Paper Heart |
World Cinema Audience Award Documentary
Afghan Star | World Cinema Audience Award Dramatic
An Education |
World Cinema Cinematography Award Documentary
Big River Man | World Cinema Directing Award Documentary
Afghan Star |
World Cinema Documentary Editing Award
Burma VJ | World Cinema Jury Prize Documentary
Rough Aunties |
World Cinema Jury Prize Dramatic
The Maid | World Cinema Screenwriting Award
Five Minutes of Heaven |
World Cinema Special Jury Prize Documentary
Tibet in Song | World Cinema Special Jury Prize for Acting
The Maid |
World Cinema Special Jury Prize for Originality
Louise-Michel |
Credits
| Patrick Creadon
Documentary Competition Juror | Carl Deal
Documentary Competition Juror |
| Andrea Meditch
Documentary Competition Juror | Sam Pollard
Documentary Competition Juror |
| Marina Zenovich
Documentary Competition Juror | Virginia Madsen
Dramatic Competition Juror |
| Scott McGehee
Dramatic Competition Juror | Maud Nadler
Dramatic Competition Juror |
| Mike White
Dramatic Competition Juror | Boaz Yakin
Dramatic Competition Juror |
| Gillian Armstrong
World Documentary Competition Juror | Hubert Sauper
World Documentary Competition Juror |
| Colin Brown
World Dramatic Competition Juror | Christine Jeffs
World Dramatic Competition Juror |
| Vibeke Windelov
World Dramatic Competition Juror | Gerardo Naranjo
Short Film Competition Juror |
| Lou Taylor Pucci
Short Film Competition Juror | Sharon Swart
Short Film Competition Juror |
| Jane Lynch
Awards Ceremony MC | Tony Hale
Awards Ceremony Presenter |
| Michael Polish
Awards Ceremony Presenter | Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Awards Ceremony Presenter |
| Benjamin Bratt
Awards Ceremony Presenter |