Sunday 28 January 2007
The 2007 Sundance Film Festival The 2007 Sundance Film Festival Award-Winners are:

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 Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic was given to PADRE NUESTRO, directed by Christopher Zalla.

Fleeing a criminal past, Juan hops a truck transporting illegal immigrants from Mexico to New York City, where he meets Pedro, who is seeking his rich father.

The World Cinema Jury Prize: Documentary was given to ENEMIES OF HAPPINESS (VORES LYKKES FJENDER)/Denmark, directed by Eva Mulvad and Anja Al Erhayem.

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.

The World Cinema Jury Prize: Dramatic was given to SWEET MUD (ADAMA MESHUGAAT)/Israel, directed by Dror Shaul. On a kibbutz in southern Israel in the 1970's, Dvir Avni realizes that his mother is mentally ill. In this closed community, bound by rigid rules, Dvir must navigate between the kibbutz motto of equality and the stinging reality that his mother has, in effect, been abandoned by the community. The Audience Awards are given to both a dramatic and documentary film in the Independent Film Competition as voted by Sundance Film Festival audiences.

The Audience Award: Documentary was given to HEAR AND NOW, directed by 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 Audience Award: Dramatic was given to GRACE IS GONE, directed by James C. Strouse. After learning that his wife has been killed in Iraq, a father finds the courage to tell his daughters the news during a quixotic road trip to an amusement park.

The World Cinema Audience Awards are given to both a dramatic and documentary film in the World Cinema Competition as voted by Sundance Film Festival audiences.

The World Cinema Audience Award: Documentary was given to IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON/United Kingdom, directed by David Sington.

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.

The World Cinema Audience Award: Dramatic was given to ONCE/Ireland, directed by John Carney.

ONCE is a modern day musical set on the streets of Dublin. Featuring Glen Hansard and his Irish band "The Frames," the film tells the story of a busker and an immigrant during an eventful week as they write, rehearse and record songs that reveal their unique love story.

The Directing Awards recognize excellence in directing for dramatic and documentary features.

The Directing Award: Documentary went to Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine, directors of WAR/DANCE.

The Shorts Jury presented the Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking to

EVERYTHING WILL BE OK directed by Don Hertzfeldt.

The Jury Prize in International Short Filmmaking was given to

THE TUBE WITH A HAT/Romania, directed by Radu Jude. The Shorts Jury awarded Honorable Mentions in Short Filmmaking to

DEATH TO THE TINMAN, directed by Ray Tintori; THE FIGHTING CHOLITAS, directed by Mariam Jobrani; MEN UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER BETTER (MARDHA HAMDIGAR RA BEHTAR MIFAHMAND)/Iran, directed by Marjan Alizadeh; MOTODROM/Germany, directed by Joerg Wagner; SPITFIRE 944 directed by William Lorton; and t.o.m./United Kingdom, directed by Tom Brown and Daniel Gray. 9:26:19 PM  comment []  

"Once" wins at Sundance

Rounding off a great week for David Collins, John Carney, Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova and all the team at Samson Films - "Once" has won the World Cinema Audience Award (Dramatic) at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. This is a fantastic achievement for the Irish film. Congrats from all of us at Wildwave and the Wildlight Channel, well done, you guys deserve it and it was great that we were there at Sundance to see it. For those of you not lucky enough to be there to see it, make sure you catch it when it arrives at your local cinema! 8:22:36 PM  comment []  

YouTube to share revenues?

In move that looks set to reverse the trend of "give us all your content while we make billions of dollars", video sharing site YouTube is saying that it will share revenues with its content uploaders/creators. While hobnobbing in Davos, Chad Hurley told the BBC that YouTube will scan the videos and only pay producers of original content - one wonders if this will include short film, made for web drama and other creative endeavours or is it just cats on bicycles? Time will tell - but I think at least it is a step forward. Let's see. 8:00:04 PM  comment []