Sundance Documentaries Often Follow Oscar Nominations, With Several Alums Making Waves
PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — The Sundance Film Festival has once again become a launchpad for documentaries that often go on to achieve Oscar glory, as celebrated filmmakers made their return to the festival in Park City, Utah.
On Thursday night at The Ray Theater, filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov debuted his latest documentary, 2000 Meters to Andriivka, following the success of his Oscar-winning film 20 Days in Mariupol. The new film offers a harrowing look at the 2023 counteroffensive in Ukraine, taking audiences on a gripping journey to the front lines. Meanwhile, at the Eccles Theater, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson presented SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius), a portrait of Sly Stone, the musical genius behind Sly and the Family Stone. Thompson, who won an Oscar for Summer of Soul in 2022, reflected on his journey, saying, “I never dreamt this for my future, so this is really humbling.”
Later, One Day in September filmmaker Kevin MacDonald premiered his new film One to One: John & Yoko, which will be released in IMAX on April 11 before streaming on Max later this year.
Critics have praised the films with glowing reviews. 2000 Meters to Andriivka has been hailed as even more powerful than 20 Days in Mariupol, while SLY LIVES! has been described as “sublime” and “illuminating,” showcasing an underappreciated musical talent.
Sundance’s impact on the documentary world extends beyond its screenings, with several documentaries supported by the festival’s Institute and its programs making waves this year. Black Box Diaries, which examines a Japanese filmmaker’s personal investigation into her sexual assault, premiered at last year’s Sundance and was supported by the Institute. Other films, like No Other Land, Porcelain War, Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat, and Sugarcane, were also either supported by Sundance or premiered at the festival and have garnered significant attention this year.
Basil Tsiokos, a senior programmer at Sundance, said, "It’s really special. It speaks to what Sundance brings to the artistic community and the support that we show to artists out there."
The festival’s commitment to fostering documentary filmmakers is evident, with support often proving crucial to a film's success. Tsiokos noted that early backing from the Institute’s documentary feature programs provides "a stamp of approval" that helps filmmakers attract further funding and bring their ideas to life.
Sundance and the Oscars have long had a close connection, particularly in the documentary category. Over the past 25 years, at least one Sundance film has received an Oscar nomination, with past winners including An Inconvenient Truth, Searching for Sugar Man, and American Factory.
As the festival continues, it is expected that many of this year’s documentaries will be contenders for next year’s Oscars. Tsiokos encouraged audiences to check out the World Cinema Documentary Competition, where international films are gaining more recognition.
“This year, the influence of international voters is growing, and many of the nominees for the Oscars tend to be international titles,” Tsiokos said. “There are some real gems in the World Cinema Documentary section.”