2022 Sundance Film Festival Explained

2022 Sundance Film Festival
Language:	English
Date:	January 20 to 30, 2022
Host:	Sundance Institute
Founded:	1978
Location:	Park City, Utah
Preceded By:	2021 Sundance Film Festival
Followed By:	2023 Sundance Film Festival

The 2022 Sundance Film Festival took place from January 20 to 30, 2022. Due to COVID-19 pandemic protocol, it was initially intended to be an in-person/virtual hybrid festival,^[1] but on January 5, 2022, it was announced that the in-person components would be scrapped in favor of a wholly virtual festival due to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.^[2] The first lineup of competition films was announced on December 9, 2021.^{[3] [4]}

Films

U.S. Dramatic Competition

• Alice, written and directed by Krystin Ver Linden
• blood, directed by Bradley Rust Gray
• Breaking (premiered as 892), directed and co-written by Abi Damaris Corbin
• Cha Cha Real Smooth, written, produced and directed by Cooper Raiff
• Dual, written, produced and directed by Riley Stearns
• Emergency, directed by Carey Williams
• Master, written and directed by Mariama Diallo
• Nanny, written and directed by Nikyatu Jusu
• Palm Trees and Power Lines, directed and co-written by Jamie Dack
• Watcher, written and directed by Chloe Okuno

U.S. Documentary Competition

• Aftershock, produced and directed by Paula Eiselt and Tonya Lewis Lee
• Descendant, directed by Margaret Brown
• The Exiles, directed by Ben Klein and Violet Columbus
• Fire of Love, directed, co-written and co-produced by Sara Dosa
• Free Chol Soo Lee, directed by Julie Ha and Eugene Yi
• I Didn't See You There, directed by Reid Davenport
• The Janes, directed by Tia Lessin and Emma Pildes
• Jihad Rehab, directed by Meg Smaker
• Navalny, directed by Daniel Roher
• TikTok, Boom., directed by Shalini Kantayya

Premieres

• 2nd Chance, directed by Ramin Bahrani
• Am I OK?, directed by Stephanie Allynne and Tig Notaro
• Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power, directed by Nina Menkes
• Call Jane, directed by Phyllis Nagy
• , directed and co-produced by Rory Kennedy
• Emily the Criminal, written and directed by John Patton Ford
• God's Country, directed and co-written by Julian Higgins
• Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, directed by Sophie Hyde
• Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul., written, directed and co-produced by Adamma Ebo
• jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy, directed by Clarence "Coodie" Simmons and Chike Ozah
• La Guerra Civil, produced and directed by Eva Longoria Bastón
• Living, directed by Oliver Hermanus
• Lucy and Desi, directed and co-produced by Amy Poehler
• My Old School, directed by Jono McLeod
• The Princess, directed by Ed Perkins
• Resurrection, written and directed by Andrew Semans
• Sharp Stick, written, directed and co-produced by Lena Dunham
• To the End, directed by Rachel Lears
• We Need to Talk About Cosby, directed by W. Kamau Bell
• When You Finish Saving the World, written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg

World Cinema Dramatic Competition

• Brian and Charles, directed by Jim Archer
• The Cow Who Sang a Song Into The Future, directed by Francisca Alegría
• Dos Estaciones, directed by Juan Pablo González
• Gentle, directed by Anna Eszter Nemes and László Csuja
• Girl Picture, directed by Alli Haapasalo
• Klondike, written, directed and edited by Maryna Er Gorbach
• Leonor Will Never Die, written and directed by Martika Ramirez Escobar
• Marte Um (Mars One), directed by Gabriel Martins
• Utama, directed by Alejandro Loayza Grisi
• You Won't Be Alone, written and directed by Goran Stolevski

World Cinema Documentary Competition

• All That Breathes, directed by Shaunak Sen
• Calendar Girls, directed by Maria Loohufvud and Love Martinsen
• A House Made of Splinters, directed by Simon Lereng Wilmont
• Midwives, directed by Snow Hnin Ei Hlaing
• The Mission, directed by Tania Anderson
• Nothing Compares, directed by Kathryn Ferguson
• Sirens, directed by Rita Baghdadi
• Tantura, directed by Alon Schwarz
• The Territory, directed and co-produced by Alex Pritz
• We Met in Virtual Reality, directed by Joe Hunting

Midnight

• Babysitter, directed by Monia Chokri
• Fresh, directed by Mimi Cave
• Hatching, directed by Hanna Bergholm
• Meet Me in the Bathroom, directed by Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace
• Piggy, written and directed by Carlota Pereda
• Speak No Evil, directed and co-written by Christian Tafdrup

Next

• The Cathedral, written, directed and edited by Ricky D'Ambrose
• Every Day in Kaimukī by Alika Tengan
• Framing Agnes, directed by Chase Joynt
• A Love Song, written, directed, produced and co-edited by Max Walker-Silverman
• Mija, directed by Isabel Castro
• Riotsville, U.S.A., directed by Sierra Pettengill
• Something in the Dirt, directed by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead

Spotlight

• After Yang, written, directed and edited by Kogonada
• Happening, directed and co-written by Audrey Diwan
• Neptune Frost, directed by Saul Williams
• , directed by Bianca Stigter
• The Worst Person in the World, directed by Joachim Trier

Awards

The following awards were given out:^{[5] [6] [7]}

Grand Jury Prizes

• U.S. Dramatic Competition – Nanny (Nikyatu Jusu)
• U.S. Documentary Competition – The Exiles (Ben Klein and Violet Columbus)
• World Cinema Dramatic Competition – Utama (Alejandro Loayza Grisi)
• World Cinema Documentary Competition – All That Breathes (Shaunak Sen)

Audience Awards

• Festival Favorite – Navalny (Daniel Roher)
• U.S. Dramatic Competition – Cha Cha Real Smooth (Cooper Raiff)
• U.S. Documentary Competition – Navalny (Daniel Roher)
• World Cinema Dramatic Competition – Girl Picture (Alli Haapasalo)
• World Cinema Documentary Competition – The Territory (Alex Pritz)
• NEXT – Framing Agnes (Chase Joynt)

Directing, Screenwriting and Editing

• U.S. Dramatic Competition – Jamie Dack for Palm Trees and Power Lines
• U.S. Documentary Competition – Reid Davenport for I Didn't See You There
• World Cinema Dramatic Competition – Maryna Er Gorbach for Klondike
• World Cinema Documentary Competition – Simon Lereng Wilmont for A House Made of Splinters
• Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award – K.D. Dávila for Emergency
• Jonathan Oppenheim Editing Award: U.S. Documentary – Erin Casper and Jocelyne Chaput for Fire of Love
• NEXT Innovator Prize – Chase Joynt for Framing Agnes

Special Jury Prizes

• U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award: Ensemble Cast – The cast of 892
• U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award: Uncompromising Artistic Vision – Bradley Rust Gray for blood
• U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award: Creative Vision – Margaret Brown for Descendant
• U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award: Impact for Change – Paula Eiselt and Tonya Lewis Lee for Aftershock
• World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award: Acting – Teresa Sánchez for Dos Estaciones
• World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award: Innovative Spirit – Martika Ramirez Escobar for Leonor Will Never Die
• World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award: Excellence in Verité Filmmaking – Snow Hnin Ei Hlaing for Midwives
• World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award: Documentary Craft – Alex Pritz for The Territory

Short Film Awards

• Short Film Grand Jury Prize – The Headhunter's Daughter
• Short Film Jury Award: U.S. Fiction – If I Go Will They Miss Me
• Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction – Warsha
• Short Film Jury Award: Nonfiction – Displaced
• Short Film Jury Award: Animation – Night Bus
• Short Film Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast – A Wild Patience Has Taken Me Here
• Short Film Special Jury Award for Screenwriting – Stranger Than Rotterdam with Sara Driver

Special Prizes

• Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize – After Yang
• Sundance Institute/Amazon Studios Producers Award for Nonfiction – Su Kim for Free Chol Soo Lee
• Sundance Institute/Amazon Studios Producers Award for Fiction – Amanda Marshall for God's Country
• Sundance Institute/Adobe Mentorship Award for Editing Nonfiction – Toby Shimin
• Sundance Institute/Adobe Mentorship Award for Editing Fiction – Dody Dorn
• Sundance Institute/NHK Award – Hasan Hadi for The President's Cake

Acquisitions

• 2nd Chance: Showtime Documentary Films (North American distribution)^[8]
• A Love Song: Stage 6 Films and Bleecker Street (worldwide distribution); Cinetic Media (North American sales); Films Boutique (International sales)^[9]
• Aftershock: Onyx Collective and ABC News^[10]
• Alice: Vertical Entertainment and Roadside Attractions (North American distribution)^[11]
• Am I OK?: Warner Bros. Pictures and HBO Max^[12]
• Breaking: Bleecker Street (US distribution)^[13]
• Brian And Charles: Focus Features (worldwide rights; US distribution); Universal Pictures (International distribution)^[14]
• Calendar Girls: Juno Films (North American distribution)^[15]
• Call Jane: Roadside Attractions (US distribution)^[16]
• Cha Cha Real Smooth: Apple TV+^[17]
• Descendant: Netflix and Higher Ground Productions^[18]
• Dual: RLJE Films (US distribution)^[19]
• Emily the Criminal: Vertical Entertainment and Roadside Attractions (US distribution); Universal Pictures (International distribution)^{[20] [21]}
• Fire of Love: National Geographic Documentary Films^[22]
• Free Chol Soo Lee: MUBI (select territories including North America)^{[23] [24]}
• Fresh: Searchlight Pictures and Hulu^[25]
• God's Country: IFC Films (North American distribution)^[26]
• Good Luck To You, Leo Grande: Searchlight Pictures and Hulu (US distribution)^[27]
• Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul: Focus Features, Peacock and Monkeypaw Productions^[28]
• Leonor Will Never Die: Music Box Films (North American distribution)^[29]
• Living: Sony Pictures Classics (select territories including North America)^[30]
• Mars One: Magnolia Pictures (international sales)^[31]
• My Old School: Magnolia Pictures (North American distribution)^[32]
• Nanny: Amazon Studios and Blumhouse Productions^[33]
• Navalny: Warner Bros. Pictures (North American theatrical distribution)^[34]
• Neptune Frost: Kino Lorber^[35]
• Nothing Compares: Showtime Documentary Films^[36]
• Piggy: Magnet Releasing (US distribution); Filmax (distribution in Spain)^{[37] [38]}
• Resurrection: IFC Films and Shudder (North American distribution)^[39]
• Sharp Stick: Utopia (US distribution)^[40]
• Speak No Evil: Shudder (select territories including North America)^[41]
• The Cathedral: MUBI (North American distribution)^[42]
• The Territory: National Geographic Documentary Films^[43]
• Utama: Kino Lorber (US distribution)^[44]
• Watcher: IFC Midnight and Shudder (North American distribution); Focus Features and Universal Pictures (International distribution)^[45]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Hipes. Patrick. May 13, 2021. Sundance Film Festival Sets Dates For Hybrid 2022 Edition . May 13, 2021. Deadline Hollywood. en-US.
2. Web site: D'Alessandro. Anthony. 2022-01-05. Sundance Scraps In-Person Program For Full Virtual Festival Due To Omicron Surge. live. 2022-01-07. Deadline. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20220105200219/https://deadline.com/2022/01/sundance-film-festival-2022-omicron-in-person-edition-cancelled-virtual-festival-1234904837/ . January 5, 2022 .
3. Web site: D'Alessandro. Anthony. Patten. Dominic. 2021-12-09. Sundance 2022: Hybrid Festival Sees Princess Diana, Michael Kenneth Williams, Dakota Johnson, Bill Cosby, NYC Rock'n'Roll & Regina Hall Fill Lineup. live. 2021-12-09. Deadline. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20211209200942/https://deadline.com/2021/12/sundance-film-festival-2022-lineup-films-competition-midnight-spotlight-kids-next-full-list-1234886826/ . December 9, 2021 .
4. Web site: 2021-12-27. Your Guide to All the Women- and Non-Binary-Helmed Projects at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival – sundance.org. live. 2022-01-08. Sundance.org. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20211228000936/https://www.sundance.org/blogs/your-guide-to-all-the-women-and-non-binary-helmed-projects-at-the-2022-sundance-film-festival/ . December 28, 2021 .
5. Web site: 2022 Sundance Film Festival Awards Announced – sundance.org. 2022-01-29. en-US.
6. https://mubi.com/notebook/posts/the-current-debate-highlights-from-the-second-virtual-sundance The Current Debate: Highlights from the Second Virtual Sundance on Notebook|MUBI
7. Web site: Debruge . Peter . 2022-01-28 . Sundance 2022 Winners: From 'Nanny' and 'Navalny' to Crowd-Pleaser 'Cha Cha Real Smooth,' Indie Fest Spreads the Wealth . 2022-05-11 . Variety . en-US.
8. https://deadline.com/2022/01/2nd-chance-sundance-showtime-acquisition-1234922281/ '2nd Chance' Documentary Acquired By Showtime Out of Sundance — Deadline
9. https://variety.com/2022/film/global/sundance-love-song-films-boutique-world-sales-1235154375/ Sundance-Bound 'A Love Song' With Wes Studi Acquired by Films Boutique (EXCLUSIVE) - Variety
10. https://www.indiewire.com/2022/01/sundance-2022-acquisitions-festival-deals-1234686428/ Sundance 2022 Deals: The Complete List of Festival Acquisitions|IndieWire
11. Web site: Vertical Entertainment And Roadside Attractions Land Domestic Rights To Keke Palmer-Common Pic 'Alice' Prior To Sundance Premiere. Deadline Hollywood. Justin. Kroll. December 16, 2021. December 16, 2021.
12. https://deadline.com/2022/01/sundance-mubi-free-chol-soo-leewarner-bros-am-i-ok-sundance-deal-hbo-max-dakota-johnson-tig-notaro-stephanie-allynne-1234922532/ Warner Bros acquires Tig Notaro Directed Sundance Am I Ok? For - Deadline
13. https://deadline.com/2022/02/892-bleecker-street-acquires-john-boyega-michael-k-williams-thriller-1234924091/ Bleecker Street Nabs U.S. Rights To Thriller ‘892’ Starring John Boyega & The Late Michael K. Williams – Sundance
14. https://www.screendaily.com/news/focus-features-bankside-strike-worldwide-deal-on-uk-sundance-selection-brian-and-charles/5167048.article?referrer=RSS Focus Features, Bankside strike worldwide deal on UK Sundance selection 'Brian And Charles'|Screen Daily
15. https://www.indiewire.com/2022/01/sundance-2022-acquisitions-festival-deals-1234686428/ Sundance 2022 Deals: The Complete List of Festival Acquisitions|IndieWire
16. Web site: Call Jane: Sundance Women's Rights Drama Starring Elizabeth Banks, Sigourney Weaver Acquired By Roadside Attractions. February 4, 2022. Anthony. D'Alessandro. Deadline Hollywood. February 5, 2022.
17. Web site: Fleming . Mike Jr. . Apple Lands Cooper Raiff-Directed Cha Cha Real Smooth In $15M World Rights Deal . . 27 January 2022 . January 27, 2022.
18. https://variety.com/2022/film/festivals/descendant-netflix-higher-ground-1235166645/ Netflix, Higher Ground Acquires Sundance Award Winner ‘Descendant’
19. https://deadline.com/2022/01/dual-rlje-film-acquire-karen-gillan-sundance-sci-fi-thriller-1234919545/ 'Dual': RLJE Film Acquire Karen Gillan's Sundance Sci-Fi Thriller — Deadline
20. Web site: 'Emily The Criminal': Roadside Attractions & Vertical Entertainment Win Rights To Aubrey Plaza Thriller – Sundance. February 2, 2022. Matt. Grobar. Deadline Hollywood. February 2, 2022.
21. https://www.screendaily.com/news/universal-pictures-content-group-takes-international-rights-to-sundance-hit-emily-the-criminal-exclusive/5167274.article?referrer=RSS Universal Pictures Content Group takes international rights to Sundance hit ‘Emily The Criminal’ (exclusive)|News|Screen Daily
22. https://www.indiewire.com/2022/01/sundance-2022-acquisitions-festival-deals-1234686428/ Sundance 2022 Deals: The Complete List of Festival Acquisitions|IndieWire
23. https://deadline.com/2022/01/sundance-mubi-free-chol-soo-leewarner-bros-am-i-ok-sundance-deal-hbo-max-dakota-johnson-tig-notaro-stephanie-allynne-1234922532/ More Sundance Deals: MUBI Lands Docu ‘Free Chol Soo Lee;’ Warner Bros Acquiring ‘Am I Ok?’ For HBO Max In Near $7M Deal - Deadline
24. https://mubi.com/films/free-chol-soo-lee Free Chol Soo Lee (2022)|MUBI
25. Web site: Grobar. Matt. Searchlight Pictures Picks Up Legendary And Hyberobject's Thriller Fresh Starring Daisy Edgar-Jones & Sebastian Stan Ahead Of Sundance Premiere. Deadline Hollywood. 12 January 2022. January 12, 2022.
26. https://www.indiewire.com/2022/01/sundance-2022-acquisitions-festival-deals-1234686428/ Sundance 2022 Deals: The Complete List of Festival Acquisitions|IndieWire
27. https://deadline.com/2022/01/searchlight-closes-7-5m-u-s-deal-for-sundance-pic-good-luck-to-you-leo-grande-hulu-releasing-1234919906/ Searchlight Closes $7.5M U.S. Deal Good Luck To You, Leo Grande Hulu Releasing — Deadline
28. Web site: Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul': Sundance Pic Scooped Up By Focus Features, Monkeypaw For Theatrical Day & Date On Peacock. Deadline Hollywood. Anthony. D’Alessandro. February 7, 2022. February 7, 2022.
29. https://www.indiewire.com/2022/01/sundance-2022-acquisitions-festival-deals-1234686428/ Sundance 2022 Deals: The Complete List of Festival Acquisitions|IndieWire
30. https://deadline.com/2022/01/sony-pictures-classics-closes-sundance-deal-for-bill-nighy-led-living-1234919761/ Sony Pictures Classics Closes Sundance Deal For Bill Nighy-Led ‘Living’ — Deadline
31. https://deadline.com/2022/01/sundance-film-festival-mars-one-magnolia-acquisition-1234909556/ 'Mars One' Acquired By Magnolia Pictures Ahead Of Sundance Film Festival Premiere — Deadline
32. Web site: ‘My Old School’: Magnolia Pictures Picks Up Sundance Documentary Featuring Alan Cumming . April 4, 2022 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20230429130435/https://deadline.com/2022/04/my-old-school-magnolia-pictures-picks-up-sundance-documentary-featuring-alan-cumming-1234994218/ . April 29, 2023 . live .
33. https://www.indiewire.com/2022/03/sundance-2022-acquisitions-festival-deals-1234686428/ Sundance 2022 Deals: ‘Nanny’ Is the Latest Festival Acquisition — Complete List
34. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/russian-dissident-alexei-navalny-doc-theaters-1235122453/ Russian Dissident Doc ‘Navalny’ to Receive Special Theatrical Release – The Hollywood Reporter
35. https://www.indiewire.com/2022/01/sundance-2022-acquisitions-festival-deals-1234686428/ Sundance 2022 Deals: The Complete List of Festival Acquisitions|IndieWire
36. https://deadline.com/2022/02/showtime-in-exclusive-talks-to-acquire-ww-rights-to-sinead-oconnor-sundance-docu-nothing-compares-1234924164/ Showtime In Exclusive Talks To Acquire WW Rights To Sinéad O’Connor Sundance Docu ‘Nothing Compares’|Deadline Hollywood
37. Web site: La película 'Cerdita' contará con estreno mundial en 'Sundance'. Fotogramas. María. Aller. 10 December 2021.
38. https://www.indiewire.com/2022/01/sundance-2022-acquisitions-festival-deals-1234686428/ Sundance 2022 Deals: The Complete List of Festival Acquisitions|IndieWire
39. https://variety.com/2022/film/markets-festivals/sundance-ifc-films-shudder-rebecca-hall-thriller-resurrection-1235166280/ Sundance: IFC Films, Shudder Buy Rebecca Hall Thriller 'Resurrection' — Variety
40. https://www.indiewire.com/2022/01/sundance-2022-acquisitions-festival-deals-1234686428/ Sundance 2022 Deals: The Complete List of Festival Acquisitions|IndieWire
41. https://variety.com/2022/film/global/sundance-speak-no-evil-amc-networks-shudder-1235160233/ Sundance Horror Film 'Speak No Evil' Acquired by AMC Networks' Shudder (EXCLUSIVE) — Variety
42. Web site: Wiseman. Andreas. Sundance Drama 'The Cathedral', With Brian D'Arcy James & Monica Barbaro, Gets Global Sales Deal. Deadline.com. December 13, 2021 .
43. https://www.indiewire.com/2022/01/sundance-2022-acquisitions-festival-deals-1234686428/ Sundance 2022 Deals: The Complete List of Festival Acquisitions|IndieWire
44. https://www.indiewire.com/2022/01/sundance-2022-acquisitions-festival-deals-1234686428/ Sundance 2022 Deals: The Complete List of Festival Acquisitions|IndieWire
45. https://deadline.com/2022/01/ifc-sundance-thriller-watcher-1234922706/ IFC Midnight & Shudder Buy North American Rights To Sundance Thriller ‘Watcher’