Sundance Film Festival reveals final 2025 winners and 2026 dates

PARK CITY, Utah — The 2025 Sundance Film Festival concluded its run with the announcement of its Festival Favorite Award on February 2, completing the festival’s recognition of outstanding achievements in independent cinema. The festival, which presented 94 feature-length and episodic works and 57 short films — selected from 15,775 submissions — wrapped up its celebrations in Park City, Salt Lake City, and online.

“The past 11 days of the Festival have been a meaningful opportunity to connect as a community in support of independent storytelling,” said Amanda Kelso, Acting CEO, Sundance Institute. “We look forward to being reunited with audiences, artists, industry, and press next January for another edition of the Festival.”

Festival Favorite Award

The Festival Favorite Award, determined by audience votes, was presented to “Come See Me in the Good Light” (U.S.A.), directed by Ryan White. The documentary follows two poets facing an incurable cancer diagnosis, exploring their unexpectedly funny and poignant journey through love, life, and mortality.

“Throughout the Festival we saw audiences moved by Andrea Gibson’s and Megan Falley’s journeys in Come See Me in the Good Light. Festival goers embraced the humor and heartbreak of this intimate documentary directed by Ryan White, as it speaks to art and love and reminds us what it means to be alive as we face mortality,” noted Kim Yutani, Sundance Film Festival Director of Programming.

Festival Favorite Runners-Up

The top five runners-up for the 2025 Festival Favorite Award were:

1. “Deaf President Now!” (U.S.A.)
2. “The Alabama Solution” (U.S.A.)
3. “The Ballad of Wallis Island” (U.K.)
4. “Andre is an Idiot” (U.S.A.)
5. “Prime Minister” (U.S.A.)

“Sundance was founded with the belief that storytelling can bring us together,” reflected Amanda Kelso. “These works spoke to our commitment to fostering empathy, understanding, and a more vibrant, inclusive society through storytelling, and it was an honor to celebrate them together as a community.”

Grand Jury Prize Winners

The festival’s highest honors, the Grand Jury Prizes, were awarded to:

– U.S. Dramatic Competition: “Atropia” (Director and Screenwriter: Hailey Gates)
– U.S. Documentary Competition: “Seeds” (Director and Producer: Brittany Shyne)
– World Cinema Dramatic Competition: “Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears)” (Director and Screenwriter: Rohan Parashuram Kanawade)
– World Cinema Documentary Competition: “Cutting Through Rocks” (Directors and Producers: Sara Khaki, Mohammadreza Eyni)

Multiple Award Winners

Three films received double honors at the festival:

– “DJ Ahmet” won the Audience Award for World Cinema Dramatic Competition and a World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Creative Vision
– “Twinless” secured the Audience Award for U.S. Dramatic Competition and a U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting (Dylan O’Brien)
– “André is an Idiot” claimed the Audience Award for U.S. Documentary Competition and the Jonathan Oppenheim Editing Award

Looking Ahead

The Sundance Institute also announced the dates for the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, which will take place in person in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, from January 22–February 1, 2026.

“As this year’s Festival comes to a close, we’re already looking ahead to 2026 and what will no doubt be an unforgettable experience!” said Eugene Hernandez, Director, Sundance Film Festival and Public Programming. “We invite you to save the date and get ready to join us in Park City and Salt Lake City one year from now at Sundance 2026; it will be a Festival you won’t want to miss!”