The 2025 Sundance Film Festival, a premier event celebrating cinematic and artistic achievement, is set to kick off on Thursday, January 23. Over 11 days, Park City and Salt Lake City will host daily premieres and screenings of groundbreaking projects from fresh voices in independent filmmaking. The Festival will conclude on Sunday, February 2, with select award-winning films presented in person on February 1 and 2.

The Jury and Awards

This year, 16 jurors have been chosen to preside over six competition categories, each reflecting diverse and influential perspectives in the film industry. The jury will recognize outstanding achievements in storytelling and artistry, culminating in the Awards Ceremony at The Ray Theatre on Friday, January 31. The Festival’s categories and jurors are as follows:

• U.S. Dramatic Competition: Reinaldo Marcus Green, Arian Moayed, and Celine Song
• U.S. Documentary Competition: Steven Bognar, Vinnie Malhotra, and Marcia Smith
• World Cinema Dramatic Competition: Ava Cahen, Wanuri Kahiu, and Daniel Kaluuya
• World Cinema Documentary Competition: Daniela Alatorre, Laura Kim, and Kevin Macdonald
• Short Film Program: Kaniehtiio Horn, Maggie Mackay, and Kibwe Tavares
• NEXT Section: Elijah Wood

The Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize, awarded for exceptional storytelling focused on science or technology, has already been granted to SALLY, directed by Cristina Costantini. This decision was made by a separate jury that included Michael Almereyda, Nia Imara, Monica Lopez, Nicholas Ma, and Sam and Andy Zuchero.

Audience Participation

In addition to jury-selected awards, festivalgoers will have the opportunity to vote in the 2025 Audience Awards. These accolades will be granted to films in the U.S. Competition, World Competition, and NEXT categories. Attendees will also choose a Festival Favorite from all eligible in-person feature screenings, with winners announced on January 31 and February 2, respectively.

Ticket Information

Single Film Tickets for in-person and online screenings will go on sale on Thursday, January 16, at 10 a.m. MT. Tickets can be purchased on the official Sundance Film Festival website: festival.sundance.org.

A Celebration of Independent Cinema

Eugene Hernandez, Director of the Sundance Film Festival and Public Programming, emphasized the significance of this year’s jurors, stating, “The jury plays a pivotal role in helping us recognize and amplify a new generation of storytellers, which is a crucial part of our work in independent cinema.” Kim Yutani, the Festival’s Director of Programming, added, “The jury will take on an exciting journey to recognize the storytelling and artistic achievements that are a part of this year’s program.”

The 2025 Sundance Film Festival promises an inspiring and immersive experience, showcasing the creativity and innovation of filmmakers from around the globe.