The 2009 Sundance Film Festival announced the jury prizes in shorts filmmaking based on outstanding achievement and merit. The Sundance Film Festival runs January 15-25, 2009 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah. Full awards will be announced the evening of January 24th at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival Awards Ceremony at the Park City Racquet Club. Actress Jane Lynch will serve as Master of Ceremonies.
The 2009 Short Film jurors are Gerardo Naranjo (Director/Writer/Producer: Voy a explotar, Malachance, Perro Negro); Lou Taylor Pucci (Actor: Thumbsucker); and Sharon Swart (Variety).
The Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking was awarded to Short Term 12, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. The Jury Prize in International Short Filmmaking was given to Lies, directed by Jonas Odell. The Shorts Jury awarded Honorable Mentions in Short Filmmaking to The attack of the robots from Nebula-5, directed by Chema Garcia Ibarra; Protect You + Me, directed by Brady Corbet; Western Spaghetti, directed by PES; Jerrycan, directed by Julius Avery; Love You More, directed by Sam Taylor-Wood, I Live in the Woods, directed by Max Winston, Omelette, directed by Nadejda Koseva; and Treevenge, directed by Jason Eisener.
Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking
Short Term 12 (Director: Destin Daniel Cretton)—A film about kids and the grown-ups who hit them.
Jury Prize in International Short Filmmaking
Lies/Sweden (Director: Jonas Odell)—Three perfectly true stories about lying. In three episodes based on documentary interviews we meet the burglar who, when found out, claims to be a moonlighting accountant, the boy who finds himself lying and confessing to a crime he didn't commit and the woman whose whole life has been a chain of lies.
Honorable Mentions in Short Filmmaking
The attack of the robots from Nebula-5/Spain (Director: Chema García Ibarra)—”Almost” everybody is going to die very soon.
I Live In The Woods (Director: Max Winston)—A Woodsman's fast-paced journey, fueled by happiness, slaughter, and a confrontation with America's God.
Jerrycan/Australia (Director and Screenwriter: Julius Avery)—While attending a party, five bored kids decide to blow something up. A childhood game seals the fate of Nathan, who risks everything after he is bullied, and is forced to make a life and death decision.
Love You More/UK (Director: Sam Taylor-Wood; Screenwriter: Patrick Marber)—Two teenagers are drawn together by the Buzzcocks' single 'Love You More' during the summer of 1978.
Omelette/Bulgaria (Director: Nadejda Koseva; Screenwriter: Georgi Gospodinov)—While a woman makes an omelette we learn how difficult it is to make ends meet.
Protect You + Me (Director: Brady Corbet)—A reminder of a long-forgotten event, combined with a challenging situation, provokes a man to extreme action.
Treevenge/Canada (Director: Jason Eisener; Screenwriter: Rob Cotterill)—Sometimes Christmas is worth crying over.
Western Spaghetti (Director: PES)—Everyday objects become delicious ingredients as we learn how to cook spaghetti through stop-motion.
This year the Festival's Short Film Program was comprised of a record 96 short films from 5,632 submissions, from U.S. and international filmmakers. Submissions grew by 10% over last year. Due to the strong submissions this year, the Shorts Program was expanded to accommodate the quality of work submitted. The 2009 award winners and honorable mentions exemplify Sundance's commitment to discovering new talent and accomplished storytelling and filmmaking.
