2022 Sundance Film Festival

2022 Sundance Film Festival

Location	Park City, Utah
Founded	1978
Hosted by	Sundance Institute
Festival date	January 20 to 30, 2022
Language	English
Website	Sundance

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
• Downfall: The Case Against Boeing, 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
• Three Minutes: A Lengthening, 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]

References

1. Hipes, Patrick (May 13, 2021). "Sundance Film Festival Sets Dates For Hybrid 2022 Edition". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
2. D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 5, 2022). "Sundance Scraps In-Person Program For Full Virtual Festival Due To Omicron Surge". Deadline. Archived from the original on January 5, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
3. D'Alessandro, Anthony; Patten, Dominic (December 9, 2021). "Sundance 2022: Hybrid Festival Sees Princess Diana, Michael Kenneth Williams, Dakota Johnson, Bill Cosby, NYC Rock'n'Roll & Regina Hall Fill Lineup". Deadline. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
4. "Your Guide to All the Women- and Non-Binary-Helmed Projects at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival – sundance.org". Sundance.org. December 27, 2021. Archived from the original on December 28, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
5. "2022 Sundance Film Festival Awards Announced – sundance.org". Retrieved January 29, 2022.
6. The Current Debate: Highlights from the Second Virtual Sundance on Notebook|MUBI
7. Debruge, Peter (January 28, 2022). "Sundance 2022 Winners: From 'Nanny' and 'Navalny' to Crowd-Pleaser 'Cha Cha Real Smooth,' Indie Fest Spreads the Wealth". Variety. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
8. '2nd Chance' Documentary Acquired By Showtime Out of Sundance — Deadline
9. Sundance-Bound 'A Love Song' With Wes Studi Acquired by Films Boutique (EXCLUSIVE) - Variety
10. Sundance 2022 Deals: The Complete List of Festival Acquisitions|IndieWire
11. Kroll, Justin (December 16, 2021). "Vertical Entertainment And Roadside Attractions Land Domestic Rights To Keke Palmer-Common Pic 'Alice' Prior To Sundance Premiere". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
12. Warner Bros acquires Tig Notaro Directed Sundance Am I Ok? For - Deadline
13. Bleecker Street Nabs U.S. Rights To Thriller ‘892’ Starring John Boyega & The Late Michael K. Williams – Sundance
14. Focus Features, Bankside strike worldwide deal on UK Sundance selection 'Brian And Charles'|Screen Daily
15. Sundance 2022 Deals: The Complete List of Festival Acquisitions|IndieWire
16. D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 4, 2022). "Call Jane: Sundance Women's Rights Drama Starring Elizabeth Banks, Sigourney Weaver Acquired By Roadside Attractions". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
17. Fleming, Mike Jr. (January 27, 2022). "Apple Lands Cooper Raiff-Directed Cha Cha Real Smooth In $15M World Rights Deal". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
18. Netflix, Higher Ground Acquires Sundance Award Winner ‘Descendant’
19. 'Dual': RLJE Film Acquire Karen Gillan's Sundance Sci-Fi Thriller — Deadline
20. Grobar, Matt (February 2, 2022). "'Emily The Criminal': Roadside Attractions & Vertical Entertainment Win Rights To Aubrey Plaza Thriller – Sundance". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
21. Universal Pictures Content Group takes international rights to Sundance hit ‘Emily The Criminal’ (exclusive)|News|Screen Daily
22. Sundance 2022 Deals: The Complete List of Festival Acquisitions|IndieWire
23. 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. Free Chol Soo Lee (2022)|MUBI
25. Grobar, Matt (January 12, 2022). "Searchlight Pictures Picks Up Legendary And Hyberobject's Thriller Fresh Starring Daisy Edgar-Jones & Sebastian Stan Ahead Of Sundance Premiere". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
26. Sundance 2022 Deals: The Complete List of Festival Acquisitions|IndieWire
27. Searchlight Closes $7.5M U.S. Deal Good Luck To You, Leo Grande Hulu Releasing — Deadline
28. D’Alessandro, Anthony (February 7, 2022). "Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul': Sundance Pic Scooped Up By Focus Features, Monkeypaw For Theatrical Day & Date On Peacock". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
29. Sundance 2022 Deals: The Complete List of Festival Acquisitions|IndieWire
30. Sony Pictures Classics Closes Sundance Deal For Bill Nighy-Led ‘Living’ — Deadline
31. 'Mars One' Acquired By Magnolia Pictures Ahead Of Sundance Film Festival Premiere — Deadline
32. "'My Old School': Magnolia Pictures Picks Up Sundance Documentary Featuring Alan Cumming". Deadline Hollywood. April 4, 2022. Archived from the original on April 29, 2023.
33. Sundance 2022 Deals: ‘Nanny’ Is the Latest Festival Acquisition — Complete List
34. Russian Dissident Doc ‘Navalny’ to Receive Special Theatrical Release – The Hollywood Reporter
35. Sundance 2022 Deals: The Complete List of Festival Acquisitions|IndieWire
36. Showtime In Exclusive Talks To Acquire WW Rights To Sinéad O’Connor Sundance Docu ‘Nothing Compares’|Deadline Hollywood
37. Aller, María (December 10, 2021). "La película 'Cerdita' contará con estreno mundial en 'Sundance'". Fotogramas.
38. Sundance 2022 Deals: The Complete List of Festival Acquisitions|IndieWire
39. Sundance: IFC Films, Shudder Buy Rebecca Hall Thriller 'Resurrection' — Variety
40. Sundance 2022 Deals: The Complete List of Festival Acquisitions|IndieWire
41. Sundance Horror Film 'Speak No Evil' Acquired by AMC Networks' Shudder (EXCLUSIVE) — Variety
42. Wiseman, Andreas (December 13, 2021). "Sundance Drama 'The Cathedral', With Brian D'Arcy James & Monica Barbaro, Gets Global Sales Deal". Deadline Hollywood.
43. Sundance 2022 Deals: The Complete List of Festival Acquisitions|IndieWire
44. Sundance 2022 Deals: The Complete List of Festival Acquisitions|IndieWire
45. IFC Midnight & Shudder Buy North American Rights To Sundance Thriller ‘Watcher’