Sundance Unveils 2025 Jury Members, Including Celine Song, Daniel Kaluuya, Elijah Wood, and More
The 2025 Sundance Film Festival is almost here, and in the lead-up to the annual event, we now know who will be responsible for picking the various jury prizes at the festival. The 2025 Sundance jury members spans 16 filmmakers, with the vaunted U.S. Dramatic Competition jury being especially star-studded. “King Richard” director Reinaldo Marcus Green and “Succession” alum Arian Moayed serve on that jury with “Past Lives” director Celine Song; her feature debut premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival before receiving Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.
The 2025 festival will begin Thursday, January 23, with premieres in Park City every day through the end of Tuesday, January 28. Additional showings will take place in Park City and Salt Lake City throughout the Festival until Sunday, February 2. The jury members will select the winners to be announced during the Awards Ceremony, held at The Ray Theatre on Friday, January 31.
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“We are thrilled to announce the incredible and accomplished group that comprise the 2025 Sundance Film Festival’s jury,” Eugene Hernandez, the Director of the Sundance Film Festival and Public Programming, said in an official statement. “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 in her own statement, “The jury will embark on an exciting journey to recognize the storytelling and artistic achievements that are a part of this year’s program. We are truly appreciative of their commitment and are looking forward to having them join us at the Festival.”
The U.S. Documentary Competition jury has “American Factory” and “9to5: The Story of a Movement” helmer Steven Bognar, Higher Ground executive and producer Vinnie Malhotra, and Firelight Media president Marcia Smith, who recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award from DOC NYC.
Cannes Critics’ Week artistic director Ava Cahen, “Rafiki” helmer Wanuri Kahiu, and Oscar-, BAFTA-, and Golden Globe–winning filmmaker Daniel Kaluuya serve on the World Cinema Dramatic Competition jury.
The World Cinema Documentary Competition jury has “One to One: John and Yoko” director Kevin Macdonald, Mexican Film Institute general director Daniela Alatorre, and Participant Media former marketing executive vice president Laura Kim.
Elijah Wood, an actor and co-founder of indie genre production company SpectreVision, will decide the NEXT section winner. And the Short Film Program Competition has “Seeds” director Kaniehtiio Horn, Vidiots Foundation’s executive director Maggie Mackay, and “The Kitchen” director Kibwe Tavares.
Select jury members are also participating in the Beyond Film panels at the festival.
In addition to the 16 jurors, a separate five jury members will present the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize, as awarded to Cristina Costantini’s “SALLY.” This jury consisted of “Tesla” director Michael Almereyda (who won the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize in 2020), “Mabel” director Nicholas Ma, “Love Me” directors Sam and Andy Zuchero, AI entrepreneur Monica Lopez, and UC Santa Cruz astronomy professor and astrophysicist Nia Imara.
Festival-goers attending in person will participate in selecting the 2025 Audience Awards, which are available to films in the U.S. Competition, World Competition, and NEXT categories. Attendees will also have the opportunity to vote for the Festival Favorite, chosen from all in-person eligible feature film screenings. The Audience Awards will also be announced at the Awards Ceremony on Friday, January 31. The Festival Favorite film will be announced at the conclusion of the festival on Sunday, February 2.
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