PARK CITY, UTAH – The 2026 Sundance Film Festival has awarded its Short Film prizes, recognizing innovative storytelling in a diverse range of genres. The awards were presented on , at a ceremony held at The Park in Park City, Utah.
The Baddest Speechwriter of All, directed by Ben Proudfoot and produced with Stephen Curry, took home the Short Film Grand Jury Prize. The film offers a look into the life of Martin Luther King Jr.’s lawyer and speechwriter, reflecting on the complexities and costs of shaping history. According to the jury citation, the film “implores us to take action with a message that is timeless and timely,” praising its portrayal of a “strong willed, hilarious, compassionate man” and his pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement.
Several other shorts were recognized with Jury Awards. Lily Platt’s Crisis Actor received the U.S. Fiction award, lauded for its “uniquely brilliant” balance of humor and emotional depth and its insightful depiction of American values. Will Niava’s Jazz Infernal earned the International Fiction award, with jurors highlighting its “evocative atmosphere, gorgeous cinematography, music, and global storytelling influences.” Arielle C. Knight’s The Boys and the Bees was awarded the Nonfiction prize, celebrated for its “beautiful and bold story” about a Black family and their beekeeping tradition. Stephen P. Neary’s Living with a Visionary received the Animation award, praised for its visuals and touching portrayal of a couple navigating the challenges of a wife’s hallucinations.
The festival also presented two Special Jury Awards. Don Hertzfeldt was recognized for Creative Vision for his animated short, Paper Trail, described by the jury as a “meticulous and brilliantly crafted example of how a single idea…can expand our way of seeing the world.” The Special Jury Award for Acting was shared by Noah Roja and Filippo Carrozza for their performances in The Liars, an Argentinian film praised for its “honest and natural” performances that blurred the line between fiction and reality.
Heidi Zwicker, Senior Programmer, Feature Films and Short Films at the Sundance Institute, expressed pride in celebrating the art of short filmmaking. “We are continually inspired by the incredible range of storytelling and style we encounter in the shorts that form our lineup every year,” Zwicker said. “We congratulate these artists and thank them for sharing their distinct visions with us and with our audiences.”
This year’s festival saw 54 short films selected from a total of 11,480 submissions. The majority of the award-winning shorts will be available to view online nationwide from to , offering wider access to these emerging voices in filmmaking.
The Sundance Film Festival, which began on , continues through , showcasing 97 feature-length and episodic works alongside the selected short films. Screenings, talks, and events are taking place in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah.
The festival has a long history of launching the careers of prominent filmmakers, with past short film award winners including projects that would later become critically acclaimed features. Previous winners include The Flowers Stand Silently, Witnessing, The Masterpiece, When You Left Me On That Boulevard, The Headhunter’s Daughter, Lizard, So What If the Goats Die, Aziza, Matria, And so we put goldfish in the pool., Lucia, Before and After, Gregory Go Boom, Thunder Road, and World of Tomorrow.
The 2026 Festival is supported by a range of sponsors, including Acura, Sundance Now, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Adobe, Audible, Casamigos, Hulu on Disney+, Ketel One Vodka, and Omnicom, among others.
