For documentaries at Sundance, Oscar nominations (and wins) often follow
PARK CITY, Utah — The Sundance Film Festival recently welcomed back three Oscar-winning documentary filmmakers to launch the annual showcase in Park City, Utah.
On Thursday night at The Ray Theater, filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov debuted his latest work, “2000 Meters to Andriivka,” which follows his Oscar-winning film “20 Days in Mariupol.” This new film presents a harrowing journey to the front lines of Ukraine’s 2023 counteroffensive. Later, at the Eccles, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, who won an Oscar for “Summer of Soul” in 2022, presented his documentary portrait of Sly Stone titled “SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius).” Earlier in the day, Kevin MacDonald, known for “One Day in September,” showcased “One to One: John & Yoko,” which premiered at the Venice Film Festival last year and is set for an IMAX release on April 11 before streaming on Max later in the year.
Critics have noted the impactful nature of “2000 Meters to Andriivka,” mentioning that it may surpass the emotional weight of “20 Days in Mariupol.” “SLY LIVES!” is described as “sublime” and “illuminating,” highlighting the complexities of an underappreciated genius.
Before the screening, Thompson reflected on his journey, stating, “I’ve been coming here since 2000 and I thought the coolest thing you could do would be to DJ an after party. I never dreamt this for my future, so this is really humbling.”
The day also marked a significant moment with the announcement of documentary Oscar nominations, many of which are linked to the Sundance Institute. Films such as “Black Box Diaries,” exploring a Japanese filmmaker’s investigation into her own sexual assault, premiered at Sundance last year and received support from the Institute’s documentary film program. Similarly, “No Other Land,” created by a Palestinian-Israeli collective, and “Porcelain War,” which documents the experiences of Ukrainian artists during wartime, also received backing from the Sundance film fund. Additional films like “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat,” focusing on the assassination of Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba in 1961, and “Sugarcane,” a 2024 festival premiere investigating abuse at an Indian residential school, were both recognized for their thematic and artistic contributions.
Basil Tsiokos, a senior programmer at Sundance, expressed pride in the festival’s role in supporting artists: “It’s really special. It does speak to what Sundance brings to the artistic community and the support that we show to artists out there.”
On Friday evening, the filmmakers of “Sugarcane,” Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, will receive an award at the Institute’s fundraising gala, alongside newly nominated Oscar contenders James Mangold and Cynthia Erivo.
The importance of initial support for documentary filmmakers is not overlooked by festival programmers. Tsiokos noted, “The funding landscape is challenging, particularly in the nonfiction space. Getting early support from the artists programs is sort of a stamp of approval that helps other funders take a seed of an idea and bring it into fruition.”
The connection between the Oscars and Sundance is longstanding, especially in the realm of documentaries. Over the last 25 years, at least one film from Sundance has received an Oscar nomination each year. Notable winners include “An Inconvenient Truth,” “Man on Wire,” “Searching for Sugar Man,” “20 Feet From Stardom,” “Icarus,” “American Factory,” and “Navalny.”
Tsiokos commented on the festival’s role, stating, “We just provide a space for the films. The films are from the artists. They’re the ones with the vision to make these films possible. We provide them a platform to meet their audiences, which is an important role that we take very seriously.”
This year, Sundance is showcasing around 40 feature documentaries that cover a diverse array of topics, from portrayals of Marlee Matlin and Selena Quintanilla to narratives focusing on Nairobi women transforming a previously whites-only library into a cultural hub, and discussions of Florida’s stand-your-ground laws. While predicting next year’s Oscar race is difficult, Tsiokos pointed out a noteworthy trend—an increasing influence from international voters. “In the last couple of years especially, most of the nominees for the Oscar race tend to be international titles,” he explained. “I would tell people to make sure to check out the World Cinema Documentary Competition. There are some real gems.”
