Starting from 8,061 total submissions, the Sundance Film Festival awarded the Short Film Grand Jury Prize on Tuesday night to Don Hertzfeldt’s “World of Tomorrow.” The film is about a little girl being taken on a mind-bending tour of the distant future.
Other short film winners include “SMILF” taking the Short Film Jury Award for U.S. Fiction, while “Oh Lucy!” scored the Short Film Jury Award in the International Fiction category. The former tells the story of a young mother trying to balance her old single life with her new one, while the latter is about a middle-aged woman in Tokyo who dons a blonde wig and a new identity.
Following is the complete list of short film winners.
Short Film Grand Jury Prize
“World of Tomorrow” (U.S.A.) Director/screenwriter: Don Hertzfeldt — A little girl is taken on a mind-bending tour of the distant future.
Short Film Jury Award: U.S. Fiction
“SMILF” (U.S.A.) Director/screenwriter: Frankie Shaw — A young single mother struggles to balance her old life of freedom with her new one as mom. It all comes to a head during one particular nap-time when Bridgette invites an old friend over for a visit.
Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction
“Oh Lucy!” (Japan, Singapore, U.S.A.) Director/screenwriter: Atsuko Hirayanagi — Setsuko, a 55-year-old single so-called office lady in Tokyo, is given a blonde wig and a new identity, Lucy, by her young unconventional English-language teacher. “Lucy” awakens desires in Setsuko she never knew existed.
Short Film Jury Award: Non-fiction
“The Face of Ukraine: Casting Oksana Baiul” (Australia) Director: Kitty Green — Adorned in pink sequins, little girls from across a divided, war-torn Ukraine audition to play the role of Olympic champion figure skater Oksana Baiul, whose tears of joy once united their troubled country.
Short Film Jury Award: Animation
“Storm hits jacket” (France) Director/screenwriter: Paul Cabon — A storm reaches the shores of Brittany. Nature goes crazy, two young scientists get caught up in the chaos. Espionage, romantic tension, and mysterious events clash with enthusiasm and randomness.
Short Film Special Jury Award for Acting
“Back Alley” (France) Director/screenwriter: Cécile Ducrocq — Suzanne, a prostitute for 15 years, has her turf, her regular johns, and her freedom. One day, however, young African prostitutes settle nearby, and she is threatened.
Short Film Special Jury Award for Visual Poetry
“Object” (Poland) Director: Paulina Skibińska — A creative image of an underwater search in the dimensions of two worlds — ice desert and under water — told from the point of view of the rescue team, of the diver, and of the ordinary people waiting on the shore.
