Sundance 2026
AWARDS
HOLD ONTO ME
"HOLD ONTO ME" by Myrsini Aristidou
HOLD ONTO ME is a feature film Written, Directed, and Produced by alum Myrsini Aristidou, Co-Produced by alum Anders Berg, Executive-Produced by alum and faculty Tom Mangan, and cinematography by alum Lasse Tolboll.
Logline: 11-year-old Iris learns her estranged father, Aris, is back in town for his own father’s funeral. Determined to know him, Iris tracks him down to a dilapidated shipyard, where he’s been keeping to himself. What begins as a stubborn attempt to reconnect slowly unfolds into a fragile bond.
The film received the Audience Award: World Cinema Dramatic.
Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!
"Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!" by Josef Kubota Wladyka
Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! is a feature film Written, Directed, and Produced by alum Josef Kubota Wladyka, Produced by alum Kimberly Parker Zox, and Edited by alum Ben Rodriguez, Jr.
Logline: Haru and Luis love competing in Tokyo’s ballroom dance scene, but after tragedy strikes, Haru withdraws into isolation. When friends coax her back to the studio, she develops an infatuation with the new instructor. She must face what comes next as sparks fly.
Josef Kubota Wladyka received the Directing Award: U.S. Dramatic.
Crisis Actor
"Crisis Actor" by Lily Platt
Crisis Actor is a short film by MFA candidate Lily Platt, produced by MFA candidate Sophie Seyd, alum Alex Bendo, MBA/MFA alum Lexi Preiser, and cinematography by alum Leo Zhang.
Logline: Fired from her day job, an impulsive actress crashes a support group and spirals into a chaotic night that forces her to face her addiction to drama.
The film received the Short Film Jury Award: U.S. Fiction.
Trailblazer Award - Chloé Zhao
Chloé Zhao (Photo Courtesy of Chris Tierney)
Alum Chloé Zhao received the annual Trailblazer Award Presented by Google at Sundance's annual fundraiser, Celebrating Sundance Institute: A Tribute to Founder Robert Redford.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE FILMS FROM THE GRAD FILM COMMUNITY THAT PREMIERED AT THE 2026 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL:
U.S. DRAMATIC COMPETITION
Hot Water
Written and Directed by alum Ramzi Bashour
Produced by alum Max Walker-Silverman
Cinematography by alum Alfonso Herrera Salcedo
Run Amok
Produced by alum Frank Hall Green
U.S. DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION
Public Access
Produced by alum Sara Crow
NEXT
zi
Additional Cinematography by alum Sheldon Chau
PREMIERES
The Gallerist
Written and Directed by alum Cathy Yan
Cinematography by alum Federico Cesca
Wicker
Produced by MBA/MFA alum Ryan Heller
U.S. FICTION SHORT FILMS
DON’T TELL MAMA
Produced by alum Shaka King
Gender Studies
Written and Directed by MFA candidate Jamie Kiernan O’Brien
Produced by MFA candidate Kirsten Pasewaldt
Cinematography by MFA candidate Sophie Seyd
Pankaja
Directed, Written and Produced by MFA candidate Anooya Swamy
Produced by alum Vindhya Gupta
Cinematography by MFA candidate Luke Kao
Stairs
Produced by MBA/MFA candidate Anton Vicente Kliot
Together Forever
Written, Directed, and Produced by alum Greg Barnes
Produced by alum Alex Bendo, MBA/MFA alum Lexi Preiser, and alum Yumeng Han
INTERNATIONAL FICTION SHORT FILMS
Norheimsund
Written, Directed, and Produced by MFA candidate Ana A. Alpizar
Produced by MFA candidate Madeline R. Finkel
Cinematography by MFA candidate Yuqian Zhang