This year, Sundance celebrated its tenth year, with a wide array of movies, documentaries and special events. The Sundance Film Festival, given its high profile in the world of indie filmmaking is championed by Robert Redford and filmmakers coming out of this festival are worth following.

U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary 

‘Rich Hill’ (Directors: Andrew Droz Palermo, Tracy Droz Tragos) — In a rural, American town, kids face heartbreaking choices, find comfort in the most fragile of family bonds, and dream of a future of possibility. Tragos describes it as “a small film but we’ve got big heart.”

Audience Award: U.S. Dramatic and Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic

‘Whiplash’ (Director and screenwriter: Damien Chazelle) — Under the direction of a ruthless instructor, a talented young drummer begins to pursue perfection at any cost, even his humanity. Cast: Miles Teller, JK Simmons.

World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Documentary

‘Return to Homs’ (Director: Talal Derki) — Basset Sarout, the 19-year-old national football team goalkeeper, becomes a demonstration leader and singer, and then a fighter. Ossama, a 24-year-old renowned citizen cameraman, is critical, a pacifist, and ironic until he is detained by the regime’s security forces. Sundance was its North American Premiere.

World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic 

‘To Kill a Man’ (Director and screenwriter: Alejandro Fernández Almendras) — When Jorge, a hardworking family man who’s barely making ends meet, gets mugged by Kalule, a neighborhood delinquent, Jorge’s son decides to confront the attacker, only to get himself shot. Even though Jorge’s son nearly dies, Kalule’s sentence is minimal, heightening the friction. Cast: Daniel Candia, Daniel Antivilo, Alejandra Yañez, Ariel Mateluna. Sundance was its world premiere.

Audience Award: U.S. Documentary 

‘Alive Inside: A Story of Music & Memory’ (Director: Michael Rossato-Bennett) — Five million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia—many of them alone in nursing homes. A man with a simple idea discovers that songs embedded deep in memory can ease pain and awaken these fading minds. Joy and life are resuscitated, and our cultural fears over aging are confronted.