Edward Burns' "The Brothers McMullen," a multi-layered romantic melodrama about three adult Irish Catholic brothers, walked off with the dramatic Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival Saturday night.
On the documentary side, the Grand Jury Prize went to Terry Zwigoff's "Crumb," a biography of the cartoonist whose life is as steeped in anarchy as his work.Neither winner was a huge surprise to festivalgoers, as both films had become the subject of Sundance "buzz," as moviegoers - and the independent moviemakers themselves - loudly chatted up their favorite and least-favorite films while mingling in Park City's theaters, nightclubs and cafes.
"The Brothers McMullen" became an early favorite after its first screening a week ago, and no other films in the dramatic competition seemed to eclipse its popularity. The film taps into universal themes as the brothers find themselves living together in their parents' home once more, and as they begin to doubt their choices of wives and lovers.
"Crumb," which took nine years to complete, seemed to bring out as much controversy as favoritism following festival screenings, with its unflinching portrait of the artist who is best known for the "Keep On Truckin' " logo and the "Fritz the Cat" comic books. Accusations of Crumb's misogyny and racism are addressed in the film, and his dysfunctional family is explored in some depth.
The Grand Prizes are awards given by the dramatic and documentary juries. But in recent years the Audience Awards, voted on by those who attended screenings during the festival's first nine days, have become equally coveted. This year they went to three films:
- "Picture Bride," a lovely historical romantic drama based on true stories of Japanese brides who were betrothed to sugar beet farmers in Hawaii, co-written and directed by Hawaiian-born, Japanese-American filmmaker Kayo Hatta, won the dramatic Audience Award.
- The documentary Audience Award was a tie, between "Unzipped," Douglas Keeve's cinema-verite look at world-famous fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi as he created his 1994 New York fall fashion show, and Heather MacDonald's "Ballot Measure 9," which chronicles the defeat of Oregon's 1992 ballot measure to deny rights to gays.
There were also several other jury prizes:
- The Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award went to Tom DiCillo, who wrote and directed the hilarious "Living in Oblivion," a comic look at the world of independent filmmaking.
- The Freedom of Expression Award was received by David E. Simpson and Billy Golfus for their documentary about Golfus' life as a disabled activist.
- The dramatic Filmmakers Trophy went to Rebecca Miller, writer-director of "Angela," about a 10-year-old girl attempting to help her manic-depressive mother. The documentary Filmmakers Trophy was awarded to Marlon T. Riggs for "Black Is . . . Black Ain't," which explores the question of whether African-Americans share - or should share - a common identity.
- The Cinematography Award on the dramatic side went to Ellen Kuras for her work on "Angela" (Kuras also won the Sundance Cinematography Award in 1992 for "Swoon"). On the documentary side, the Cinematography Award went to Maryse Alberti for "Crumb."
- In a rare, though not unprecedented move, the jury also gave Special Jury Recognition awards. On the dramatic side to directors James Mangold (for "Heavy") and Matthew Harrison (for "The Rhythm Thief"), and on the documentary side to Michel Negroponte (for "Jupiter's Wife").
In addition to those named by the audience and the dramatic and documentary juries, two new awards were inaugurated this year, with winners selected by additional juries:
- Special Recognition in Latin American Cinema went to "Eagles Don't Hunt Flies," from Colombia, along with a special mention to the Cuban "Strawberry and Chocolate."
- Special Recognition in Short Filmmaking went to "The Salesman and Other Adventures" and "Tom's Flesh," with honorable mention to "Trevor" and "Nonnie and Alex."
On the dramatic jury this year were: Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan ("Speaking Parts," "The Adjuster"), actor Samuel L. Jackson ("Pulp Fiction," "Jungle Fever"), filmmaker Darnell Martin ("I Like It Like That"), filmmaker Whit Stillman ("Metropolitan," "Barcelona") and Ella Taylor, film writer for Mirabella magazine and Atlantic Monthly.
On the documentary jury were: Patricia Aufderheide, associate professor at American University in Washington, D.C., and freelance writer; filmmaker Arthur Dong ("Coming Out Under Fire"); Peter Gilbert, producer/cinematographer ("Hoop Dreams"); filmmaker Ross McElwee ("Sherman's March"); and filmmaker Susan Todd ("Children of Fate," "Lives in Hazard").
On the short film jury: Lynn Holst, vice-president of creative affairs for PBS' "American Playhouse"; producer Marcus Hu ("The Living End," "Grief"); and producer Neil Sieling ("Alive TV").
On the Latin American jury: Author Laura Esquivel ("Like Water for Chocolate"), filmmaker Gyula Gazdag ("A Hungarian Fairy Tale") and Cuban cinematographer Mario Garcia Joya ("Strawberry and Chocolate").
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
1995 Sundance Film Festival Awards
Grand Jury Prize (Dramatic): "The Brothers McMullen"
Grand Jury Prize (Documentary): "Crumb"
Audience Award (Dramatic): "Picture Bride"
Audience Award (Documentary): "Unzipped" and "Ballot Measure 9"
Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: "Living in Oblivion"
Freedom of Expression Award: "When Billy Broke His Head . . . And Other Tales of Wonder"
Filmmaker's Trophy (Dramatic): "Angela"
Filmmaker's Trophy (Documentary): "Black Is . . . Black Ain't"
Cinematography Award (Dramatic): Ellen Kuras, "Angela"
Cinematography Award (Documentary): Maryse Alberti, "Crumb"
Special Recognition in Latin American Cinema Award: "Eagles Don't Hunt Flies"
Special Recognition in Short Filmmaking: "The Salesman and Other Adventures" and "Tom's Flesh"