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Sundance - Winners Announced

The Sundance Film Festival drew to a close this weekend, with its annual awards ceremony. The full list of documentary winners is below.

The Grand Jury Prize: Documentary was given to Manda Bala (Send a Bullet), directed by Jason Kohn. In Brazil, known as one of the world's most corrupt and violent countries, Manda Bala follows a politician who uses a frog farm to steal billions of dollars, a wealthy businessman who spends a small fortune bulletproofing his cars, and a plastic surgeon who reconstructs the ears of mutilated kidnapping victims.

The World Cinema Jury Prize: Documentary was given to Enemies of Happiness (Vores Lykkes Fjender) directed by Eva Mulvad and Anja Al Erhayem, Denmark. In Enemies of Happiness, Malalai Joya, a 28-year-old Afghani woman, redefines the role of women and elected officials in her country with her historic 2005 victory in Afghanistan's first democratic parliamentary election in over 30 years.

Other winners:
  • Audience Award: Documentary - Hear and Now, Dir. Irene Taylor Brodsky.
Brodsky tells a deeply personal story about her deaf parents and their radical decision–after 65 years living together in silence–to undergo cochlear implant surgery, a procedure that could give them the ability to hear.
  • The World Cinema Audience Award: Documentary - In the Shadow of the Moon, Dir. David Sington, United Kingdom.
One of the defining passages of American history, the Apollo Space Program literally brought the aspirations of a nation to another world. Awe-inspiring footage and candid interviews with the astronauts who visited the moon provide unparalleled perspective on the precious state of our planet.
  • Directing Award: Documentary - Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine, directors of War/Dance.
  • The Excellence in Cinematography Award: Documentary - Heloisa Passos for Manda Bala (Send a Bullet) 
  • Independent Film Competition Documentary Jury Documentary Editing Award - Hibah Sherif Frisina, Charlton McMillian, and Michael Schweitzer for their work on the film Nanking.
  • The Documentary Jury presented a Special Jury Prize to No End in Sight, directed by Charles Ferguson, “in recognition of the film as timely work that clearly illuminates the misguided policy decisions that have led to the catastrophic quagmire of the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq.”
  • The World Cinema Documentary Competition Jury presented a Special Jury Prize to Hot House, directed by Shimon Dotan, Israel.

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