2020 Sundance Film Festival Awards were announced. Top Prizes go to Minari, Boys State, Epicentro, and Yalda, a Night for Forgiveness (MIA|Film Co-production Market 2017).
After 10 days and 128 feature films, the 2020 Sundance Film Festival’s Awards Ceremony has taken place, with jurors presenting 28 prizes for feature filmmaking. Bold, intimate, and humanizing stories prevailed across categories, with Grand Jury Prizes awarded to Minari (U.S. Dramatic), Boys State (U.S. Documentary), Epicentro (World Cinema Documentary) and Yalda, a Night for Forgiveness (World Cinema Dramatic).
Of the 28 prizes awarded to 25 films – comprising the work of 29 filmmakers – 12 (48%) were directed by one or more women; 10 (40%) were directed by one or more people of color; and 2 (8%) were directed by a person who identifies as LGBTQ+.
“At Sundance, we believe art can break through noise and polarization. In volatile times like these, democracy and storytelling aren’t separate – they’re inextricably linked,” said Keri Putnam,’s Executive Director. “Congratulations to each and every one of tonight’s winners, and to all the extraordinary artists who joined us at the Festival.
The World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic was presented to Massoud Bakhshi, for Yalda, a Night for Forgiveness.
Iran, France, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg
Director and screenwriter: Massoud Bakhshi, Producers: Jacques Bidou, Marianne Dumoulin
Maryam accidentally killed her husband Nasser and is sentenced to death. The only person who can save her is Mona, Nasser’s daughter. All Mona has to do is appear on a TV show and forgive Maryam. But forgiveness proves difficult when they are forced to relive the past.
Cast: Sadaf Asgari, Behnaz Jafari, Babak Karimi, Fereshteh Sadr Orafaee, Forough Ghajebeglou, Fereshteh Hosseini.
