Push
After ten days of movie watching and sixty four films in the competition categories the 2009 Sundance Film Festival has come to an end and it's Push that walks away the big winner.
The film, which is based on the novel by Sapphire follows an overweight teenage girl growing up in Harlem who is neglected and abused by her parents.
With three jury prizes, including The Grand Jury and Audience prizes Push is the independent movie to watch this year and could follow in the footsteps of Little Miss Sunshine and Napoleon Dynamite as a real find for the festival.
Chilean drama The Maid (La Nana) was a double award winner as it scooped the Grand jury, world cinema drama and a special jury prize for actress Catalina Saavedra.
Another double award winner was Five Minutes of Heaven starring Liam Neeson as a former Irish Protestant killer. Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel the film won took both directing and screenplay prizes.
There was also some British success at the festival as the international audience prize was given to An Education.
Set in the 1960s sixteen year old Jenny is stifled by the tedium of adolescent routine; she can’t wait for adult life to begin.
One rainy day her suburban existence is upended by the arrival of a much older suitor, David. Urbane and witty, David instantly charms Jenny and introduces her to a glittering new world of classical concerts, art auctions, smoky bars, and late-night suppers with his attractive friends.
He replaces Jenny’s traditional education with his own more-dangerous version. Just as the family’s long-held dream of getting their brilliant daughter into Oxford has seemed within reach, Jenny is tempted by another kind of life.
Despite the festival, which is celebrating it's twenty fifth anniversary, being overshadowed by the inauguration of Barack Obama and the economy facing uncertain times movies such as Brooklyn's Finest, Moon and Taking Chance have all bee picked up.
Full List of winners:
Grand jury, U.S. drama: "Push: Based on the novel by Sapphire"
Audience, U.S. drama: "Push: Based on the novel by Sapphire"
Grand jury, U.S. documentary: "We Live in Public"
Audience, U.S. documentary: "The Cove"
Grand jury, world cinema drama: "The Maid (La Nana)"
Audience, world cinema drama: "An Education"
Grand jury, world cinema documentary: "Rough Aunties"
Audience, world cinema documentary: "Afghan Star"
Waldo Salt screenwriting award: Nicholas Jasenovec and Charlyne Yi, "Paper Heart"
Directing, U.S. drama: Cary Joji Fukunaga, "Sin Nombre"
Directing, U.S. documentary: Natalia Almada, "El General"
Directing, world cinema drama: Oliver Hirschbiegel, "Five Minutes of Heaven"
Directing, world cinema documentary: Havana Marking, "Afghan Star"
Screenwriting, world cinema drama: Guy Hibbert, "Five Minutes of Heaven"
Editing, U.S. documentary: Karen Schmeer, "Sergio"
Editing, world cinema documentary: Janus Billeskov Jansen and Thomas Papapetros, "Burma VJ"
Cinematography, U.S. drama: Adriano Goldman, "Sin Nombre"
Cinematography, U.S. documentary: Bob Richman, "The September Issue"
Cinematography, world cinema drama: John De Borman, "An Education"
Cinematography, world cinema documentary: John Maringouin, "Big River Man"
Special jury prize for originality, world cinema drama: "Louise-Michel," directed by Benoit Delepine and Gustave de Kervern
Special jury prize, world cinema documentary: "Tibet in Song," Ngawang Choephel, director
Special jury prize for acting, world cinema: Catalina Saavedra, "The Maid (La Nana)"
Special jury prize, U.S. documentary: "Good Hair," Jeff Stilson, director
Special jury prize for spirit of independence: "Humpday"
Special jury prize for acting: Mo'Nique, "Push: Based on the novel by Sapphire"
Jury prize, U.S. short filmmaking: "Short Term 12," Destin Daniel Cretton, director
Jury prize, international short filmmaking: "Lies," Jonas Odell, director
Alfred P. Sloan prize: "Adam," Max Mayer, director
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw