The 2026 Sundance Film Festival concluded its awards ceremony, with Beth de Araújo's drama Josephine securing both the U.S. Dramatic Competition Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award for U.S. Dramatic films. The U.S. Documentary Competition Grand Jury Prize was awarded to Gabriela Osio Vanden and Jack Weisman's Nuisance Bear. International recognition included Shame and Money for the World Cinema Dramatic Competition Grand Jury Prize and To Hold a Mountain for the World Cinema Documentary Competition Grand Jury Prize.
This festival marks its final occurrence in Park City, Utah, before its relocation to Boulder, Colorado, next year.
Major Competition Winners
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Josephine: Directed by Beth de Araújo and starring Channing Tatum, Gemma Chan, and Mason Reeves, the film received the U.S. Dramatic Competition Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award for U.S. Dramatic. It centers on an 8-year-old girl witnessing a crime in Golden Gate Park and was recognized for its performances. The film has a reported Rotten Tomatoes score of 97%.
During her acceptance speech, de Araújo discussed themes related to the film's subject matter, including the challenges of addressing sexual violence and its impact on survivors, advocating for understanding and collective action.
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Nuisance Bear: Directed by Gabriela Osio Vanden and Jack Weisman, this film won the U.S. Documentary Competition Grand Jury Prize. It tracks a polar bear's migration path through populated areas, exploring the impact of human activities on polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba.
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Shame and Money: Directed by Visar Morina, this drama about a Kosovan couple losing their livelihoods received the World Cinema Dramatic Competition Grand Jury Prize.
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To Hold a Mountain: Directed by Biljana Tutorov and Petar Glomazić, this documentary, detailing a mother and daughter's efforts to protect their ancestral mountain, won the World Cinema Documentary Competition Grand Jury Prize.
Audience Awards
- U.S. Dramatic: Josephine
- U.S. Documentary: American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez (Directed by David Alvarado)
- NEXT: Aanikoobijigan [ancestor/great-grandparent/great-grandchild]
- World Cinema Documentary: One In A Million
- World Cinema Dramatic: HOLD ONTO ME (Κράτα Με)
Directing, Screenwriting, and Editing Awards
- U.S. Dramatic Directing Award: Josef Kubota Wladyka for Ha-chan, Shake Your Booty!
- U.S. Documentary Directing Award: J.M. Harper for Soul Patrol
- World Cinema Dramatic Directing Award: Andrius Blaževičius for How to Divorce During the War
- World Cinema Documentary Directing Award: Itab Azzam and Jack MacInnes for One In A Million
- Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award (U.S. Dramatic): Liz Sargent for Take Me Home
- Jonathan Oppenheim Editing Award (U.S. Documentary): Matt Hixon for Barbara Forever
Special Jury Recognitions
- U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast: The Friend’s House is Here
- U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Debut Feature: Bedford Park
- U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Journalistic Excellence: Who Killed Alex Odeh?
- U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Impact for Change: The Lake
- World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Creative Vision: Filipiñana
- World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting Ensemble: LADY
- World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Journalistic Impact: Birds of War
- World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Civil Resistance: Everybody To Kenmure Street
- NEXT Innovator Award: The Incomer
- NEXT Special Jury Award: TheyDream
Short Film Awards
- Grand Jury Prize: The Baddest Speechwriter of All
- Jury Award: U.S. Fiction: Crisis Actor
- Special Jury Award for Acting: Noah Roja and Filippo Carrozza for The Liars
- Special Jury Award for Creative Vision: Paper Trail
- Jury Award: Animation: Living with a Visionary
- Jury Award: Nonfiction: The Boys and the Bees
- Jury Award: International Fiction: Jazz Infernal
Other Recognitions
- Sundance Institute Producers Award for Nonfiction: Dawne Langford for Who Killed Alex Odeh?
- Sundance Institute | NHK Award: Leo Aguirre for Verano
- Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize: In The Blink of An Eye (Director: Andrew Stanton)
Festival Future and Industry Interest
The 2026 Sundance Film Festival marks the last time the event will be held in Park City, Utah, as it is scheduled to relocate to Boulder, Colorado, for future iterations. Several award-winning films, including Nuisance Bear and Josephine, have reportedly attracted interest from distributors, potentially leading to acquisition bids from studios and streaming platforms.