Sundance Film Festival 2025 (Courtesy of Sundance)
Congratulations to the Grad Film Alumni, Students, and Faculty who premiered and received awards at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival!
AWARDS
Ricky
"Ricky"
Ricky is a narrative feature written and directed by Grad Film alum Rashad Frett and co-written with alum Lin-Que Ayoung. Alum Sam Motamedi served as Director of Photography and alum Lauren Owen served as Production Supervisor.
Logline: Newly released after being locked up in his teens, 30-year-old Ricky navigates the challenging realities of life post-incarceration, and the complexity of gaining independence for the first time as an adult.
Rashad Frett received the Directing Award: U.S. Dramatic
Grandma Nai Who Played Favorites
"Grandma Nai Who Played Favorites" by Chheangkea
Grandma Nai Who Played Favorites is written and directed by Grad Film alum Chheangkea and produced by Grad Film alum Karen Madar.
Logline: During her chaotic family’s Qingming visit, dead Grandma Nai sneaks away from her peaceful afterlife after overhearing that her Queer grandson is about to get engaged to a woman.
This film received the Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction.
We Were The Scenery
"We Were The Scenery"
We Were The Scenery is a short film featuring cinematography by Grad film alum Jess X. Snow.
Logline: In 1975, Hoa Thi Le and Hue Nguyen Che fled from Vietnam by boat and docked in the Philippines, where they were utilized as background extras during the filming of Apocalypse Now.
This film received the Short Flim Jury Award for Non-Fiction.
Seeds
"Seeds"
Seeds is a feature documentary featuring Sound Design credit by Grad Film Adjunct Faculty Daniel Timmons and Colorist credit by Adjunct Faculty Natacha Ikoli.
Logline: An exploration of Black generational farmers in the American South reveals the fragility of legacy and the significance of owning land.
This film received the U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary.
Selena y Los Dinos
"Selena y Los Dinos"
Selena y Los Dinos is a feature documentary with cinematography by Grad Film alum Lorena Durán.
Logline: Selena Quintanilla's journey from performing at local events to becoming the "Queen of Tejano Music" with her family band Selena y Los Dinos, culminating in sold-out stadium tours, is chronicled through personal archive footage.
This film received the U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Archival Storytelling.
Sorry, Baby
"Sorry, Baby"
Sorry, Baby is a narrative feature with cinematography by Grad Film Faculty Mia Cioffi Henry.
Logline: Something bad happened to Agnes. But life goes on - for everyone around her, at least.
This film received the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: U.S. Dramatic.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE FILMS FROM THE GRAD FILM COMMUNITY THAT PREMIERED AT THE 2025 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL:
WORLD CINEMA DRAMATIC COMPETITION
Sukkwan Island
Writer/Director: Vladimir de Fontenay (MFA, Kanbar Institute, Graduate Film)
US DRAMATIC COMPETITION
Bubble & Squeak
Editor: Sara Shaw ‘18 (MFA, Kanbar Institute, Graduate Film)
U.S. DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION
Sugar Babies
Post-producer: Lindsay Bane ’13 (MFA, Kanbar Institute, Graduate Film)
Third Act
Cinematographer: Jess X. Snow
PREMIERES
Move Ya Body: The Birth of House
Director: Elegance Bratton
Rebuilding
Writer/Director: Max Walker-Silverman
Producer: Paul Mezey ’96 (MFA, Kanbar Institute, Graduate Film)
Cinematographer: Alfonso Herrera Salcedo '20 (MFA, Kanbar Institute, Graduate Film)
Production Designer: Juliana Barreto Barreto ’20 (Adjunct Faculty)
Editor: Ramzi Bashour ’20 (MFA, Kanbar Institute, Graduate Film)
1st AC: Jason B. Brownrigg ’22 (MFA, Kanbar Institute, Film & TV),
Folktales
Executive Producer: Ryan Heller ‘16 (MFA Kanbar Institute, Graduate Film)
It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley
Producer: Ryan Heller ’16 (MFA, Kanbar Institute, Graduate Film)
Peter Hujar’s Day
Additional Editor: Thomas Meyer ’21 (MFA, Kanbar Institute, Graduate Film), additional editor
BTS Camera Operator: Shuli Huang MFA Candidate (Kanbar Institute, Graduate Film)
SHORT FILM PROGRAM
Goodnight
Director of Photography: Inés Gowland
An Almost Successful Dating App Story
Writer/Director: Winter Coleman
Director of Photography: Felipe Vara de Rey
We’re Not Done Yet
Director: Sofia Camargo ’22 (MFA, Kanbar Institute, Graduate Film)
Director/Writer/Cast/Producer/Editor: Joseph Longo ’22 (MFA, Kanbar Institute, Graduate Film)
Cinematographer: Melanie Akoka ’22 (MFA, Kanbar Institute, Graduate Film)
1st AD: Mariano Dongo ’24 (MFA, Kanbar Institute, Graduate Film)
1st AC: Jason Brownrigg ’22 (MFA, Kanbar Institute, Graduate Film)
Gaffer: Theo S. Gray ’24 (MFA, Kanbar Institute, Graduate Film)
Consulting Editor: Sara Shaw (MFA, Kanbar Institute, Graduate Film)
Hippopotami
Director/Writer/Producer/Editor: Jianjie Lin
Cinematographer: Chen Li
ANIMATION SHORT FILMS
Paradise Man II
Co-Producer: Gregory Barnes ‘22 (MFA, Kanbar Institute, Graduate Film)
EPISODIC
Pee-Wee as Himself
Supervising Sound Editor and Re-Recording Mixer: Dan Timmons
Sound Effects Editor: Jeremy Bloom
FROM THE COLLECTION
Unzipped
Sound Recordist: Annette Danto