By Sandy Cohen, Entertainment Writer
PARK CITY, Utah (AP) --The dramatic story of a drummer who pursues excellence at all costs won top honors at the Sundance Film Festival.
"Whiplash" collected both audience and jury prizes for American dramatic films Saturday at the festival's awards ceremony.
The musical drama by writer-director Damien Chazelle opened the independent film showcase last week and rode a wave of positive buzz throughout the 10-day event.
Chazelle made his Sundance debut last year with a short version of "Whiplash" intended to gain financial support for the feature-length film. The feature stars 26-year-old Miles Teller as an aspiring jazz drummer and veteran actor J.K. Simmons as his unforgiving instructor.
Chazelle thanked his actors "who really made this movie work." The 28-year-old filmmaker drew on his personal experiences as a member of a high school jazz band as inspiration for the film.
The documentary "Rich Hill," a coming-of-age story about the inhabitants of a tiny town in Missouri, won the jury award for U.S. documentary. The American documentary about music's healing effects on dementia, "Alive Inside: A Story of Music & Memory," won the audience award.
Actors Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally hosted the ceremony at the Basin Recreation Fieldhouse in Park City, Utah. The married couple opened with a racy, comedic introduction about how they enjoy the film festival.
"Our frenzied coitus is the stuff of legend," Mullally said, "but really there's no place we'd rather get our swerve on than right here in Park City."
The 30th Sundance Film Festival wraps on Sunday.
Other winners Saturday:
— U.S. documentary directing: "The Case Against 8."
— U.S. drama directing; "Fishing Without Nets."
— U.S. documentary cinematography: "E-Team."
— U.S. drama cinematography: "Low Down."
— U.S. documentary editing: "Watchers of the Sky."
— U.S. documentary, special jury award for use of animation: "Watchers of the Sky."
— U.S. drama special jury award for intuitive filmmaking: "The Overnighters."
— U.S. drama special jury award for musical score: "Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter."
— U.S. drama special jury award for breakthrough talent: "Dear White People."
— Waldo Salt screenwriting award: "The Skeleton Twins."
— World cinema grand jury prize, documentary: "Return to Homs," Syria.
— World cinema grand jury prize, drama: "To Kill A Man," Chile.
— World cinema audience award, documentary: "The Green Prince," Germany, Israel.
— World cinema audience award, drama: "Difret," Ethiopia.
— World cinema documentary directing: "20,000 Days on Earth," United Kingdom.
— World cinema drama directing: "52 Tuesdays," Australia.
— World cinema documentary cinematography: "Happiness," France, Finland.
— World cinema drama cinematography: "Lilting," United Kingdom.
— World cinema documentary editing: "20,000 Days on Earth," United Kingdom.
“Heretic” and “Maria” Set As Red Carpet Premieres At AFI Fest
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Heretic, the psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, and Maria, based on the life of opera singer Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, will round out the Red Carpet Premieres section at this year’s AFI Fest. The Heretic Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 24, and the Maria Gala Screening will be held on Saturday, October 26. The complete Red Carpet Premieres section includes the world premieres of Music By John Williams, Robert Zemeckis’ Here, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2. All Red Carpet Premieres will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. The full lineup for AFI Fest 2024 will be unveiled on October 1.
“At the heart of AFI Fest is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema--together,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “We look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community.”
Heretic follows two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (portrayed by Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The film is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods and produced by Stacey Sher, Beck, Woods, Julia Glausi and Jeanette Volturno. The film will be released nationwide by A24 on November 8.
Directed by Pablo Larraín, Maria presents a tumultuous and beautiful depiction of one of the world’s most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris, as Callas (Jolie)... Read More