Short 'Thunder Road' wins top award

“Thunder Road” from the U.S. has won the Short Jury Prize at Sundance 2016. The film about a police officer and his love for his mother prevailed in a field of 72 competing shorts. It is directed by Jim Cummings, who also wrote the screen.

The selected films vied for awards in four major categories. All winners were selected by a tree-juror panel: Keegan-Michael Key, star and co-creator of Comedy Central’s “Key & Peele”; Gina Kwon, development executive at Amazon Studios; and Amy Nicholson, chief film critic for MTV. The awards were presented at a ceremony in Park City, Utah on Wednesday night. CATEGORY WINNERS “The Procedure” won the Short Film Jury Award: U.S. Fiction. Directed and written by Calvin Lee Reeder, it is about a man who is captured and forced to endure a strange experiment. France’s “Maman(s)” received the Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction. Directed and written by Maïmouna Doucouré. In this film, life is disrupted for eight-year-old Aida when her father returns with a young Senegalese woman, Rama, whom he introduces as his second wife. Sensitive to her mother's distress, Aida decides to get rid of the new visitor. “Bacon & God's Wrath” from Canada earned the Short Film Jury Award: Non-fiction. Directed by Sol Friedman, it features a 90-year-old Jewish woman reflecting on her life experiences as she prepares to try bacon for the first time.

“Edmond” from the United Kingdom was presented with the Short Film Jury Award: Animation. In this film by director Nina Gantz, a man called Edmond deals with a strong impulse to love and be close to others. SPECIAL HONORS Actress Grace Glowicki won a Short Film Special Jury Award for Outstanding Performance for her role in the Canadian film "Her Friend Adam," about a boyfriend whose jealous impulse spirals out of control. “Peacock” walked away with a Short Film Special Jury Award for Best Direction. The film was directed by Ondřej Hudeček. In this short from the Czech Republic, a twisted queer romance set in picturesque 19th-century Bohemia tells the true story of the birth of one of the nation's most influential writers, with suspense, laughter, violence, hope, nudity, sex, and a happy ending—mostly a happy ending. The Sundance Short Film program is presented by YouTube. PAST WINNERS Short Film awards winners in previous years include “World of Tomorrow” by Don Hertzfeldt, “SMILF” by Frankie Shaw, “Of God and Dogs” by Abounaddara Collective, “Gregory Go Boom” by Janicza Bravo, “The Whistle” by Grzegorz Zariczny, “Whiplash” by Damien Chazelle, “Fishing Without Nets” by Cutter Hodierne, “The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom” by Lucy Walker, and “The Arm” by Brie Larson, Sarah Ramos and Jessie Ennis. (See complete list of winners below) –CESAR ARREDONDO COMPLETE LIST OF 2016 SUNDANCE SHORT FILM JURY AWARDS The Short Film Grand Jury Prize was awarded to: "Thunder Road" / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Jim Cummings) — Officer Arnaud loved his mom. The Short Film Jury Award: U.S. Fiction was presented to: "The Procedure" / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Calvin Lee Reeder) — A man is captured and forced to endure a strange experiment. The Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction was presented to: "Maman(s)" / France (Director and screenwriter: Maïmouna Doucouré ) — Life is disrupted for eight-year-old Aida when her father returns with a young Senegalese woman, Rama, whom he introduces as his second wife. Sensitive to her mother's distress, Aida decides to get rid of the new visitor. The Short Film Jury Award: Non-fiction was presented to: "Bacon & God's Wrath" / Canada (Director: Sol Friedman) — A 90-year-old Jewish woman reflects on her life experiences as she prepares to try bacon for the first time. The Short Film Jury Award: Animation was presented to: "Edmond" / United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: Nina Gantz) — Edmond's impulse to love and be close to others is strong—maybe too strong. As he stands by a lake contemplating his options, he reflects on his defining moments in search of the origin of his desires. A Short Film Special Jury Award for Outstanding Performance was presented to: "Grace Glowicki" for her performance in Her Friend Adam. A Short Film Special Jury Award for Best Direction was presented to: "Peacock" / Czech Republic (Director: Ondřej Hudeček, Screenwriters: Jan Smutny, Ondřej Hudeček) — A twisted queer romance set in picturesque 19th-century Bohemia tells the true story of the birth of one of the nation's most influential writers, with suspense, laughter, violence, hope, nudity, sex, and a happy ending—mostly a happy ending.