Ryan Coogler Makes a Comeback at Sundance, the Launchpad for His Career, to Honor 16 Oscar Nominations

      In his first interview since his film Sinners achieved Oscar history with 16 nominations, director Ryan Coogler returned to the Sundance Film Festival, where his career began, to chat with longtime friend and film journalist Elvis Mitchell.

      They convened at The Cabin in Park City for what will be the last Sundance in this location, in a cozy setting dubbed The Elvis Mitchell Suite, which stands out as one of the highlights of Sundance 2026. This venue is where some of the most esteemed filmmakers share their experiences and wisdom with, in our opinion, the best interviewer in the film industry.

      Mitchell heralded Coogler by stating that “in less than 15 years, he has established himself as America’s leading filmmaker of his generation.” The two reminisced about their initial encounter at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, where Coogler and his lead, Michael B. Jordan, gained recognition with Fruitville (later changed to Fruitvale Station).

      The film earned the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award for U.S. dramatic film, laying the groundwork for Coogler’s career, which includes notable works like Creed, Black Panther, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and Sinners. In Sinners, Jordan plays twin brothers Smoke and Stack, who aim to open a juke joint while being threatened by lurking vampires.

      Mitchell pointed out a recurring theme in Coogler’s films, emphasizing that they all depict someone’s quest to return home.

      This insight fueled an engaging discussion about the concepts of home and the art of filmmaking.

      Ryan Coogler on the Ties Between the South and Oakland

      Ryan Coogler at the Elvis Mitchell Suite at Sundance by John Salangsang / Shutterstock for Elvis Mitchell

      For Coogler, home is Oakland, California, which serves as the backdrop for Fruitvale and is integral to Black Panther. He mentioned that many Black Southerners migrated there from Deep South states like Mississippi, the setting for Sinners. Coogler shared how his maternal grandfather moved from Mississippi to Oakland during his adolescence.

      “I spent my whole life in the house he constructed with his own hands, using scrap wood. It took him a long time to add a second story because he sourced the wood for free and did all the labor himself. That was completed before I was born.

      “I helped my grandma with that house,” Coogler continued, “and we’ve never had to redo that work.”

      He filmed part of Fruitvale Station in the same house.

      Coogler highlighted the vibrant colors of Oakland’s houses, linking this observation to the enduring connections across generations.

      “In Oakland, you’ll find a hardened gangster residing in a pink house,” he remarked.

      When the audience chuckled, he called on fellow Oaklander W. Kamau Bell for confirmation.

      “Am I wrong, bro? In Oakland, you’ll see gangsters living in pink houses, right?”

      “Yes indeed,” Bell responded.

      Coogler recounted an experience while working on Sinners in New Orleans when he visited the home of the film’s production designer, Hannah Beachler, and needed to take a phone call outside.

      “It was about a budget issue or something. As I walked outside, I was in a heated conversation, and I looked up to see a house painted the same color as my grandma’s.

      “Bro, I scanned the surroundings and spotted all the colors familiar from my childhood neighborhood—it felt so recognizable,” Coogler reflected. “I hung up the phone, and I couldn’t help but get emotional, bro. They brought the South with them.”

      Ryan Coogler and Elvis Mitchell Reflect on Sundance Moments

      Ryan Coogler and Elvis Mitchell at the Elvis Mitchell Suite at Sundance by John Salangsang / Shutterstock for Elvis Mitchell

      As Sundance prepares to transition to Boulder, Colorado next year, Coogler and Mitchell reminisced about their initial meeting at Sundance, as well as other connections Coogler made at the festival, such as with Chloé Zhao, whom he first encountered at Sundance’s screenwriters lab in January 2012, and Joachim Trier, who served as an adviser.

      Now, Coogler, Zhao, and Trier are all nominated for Best Director, with their films—Sinners, Hamnet, and Sentimental Value—also competing for Best Picture.

      Coogler also met director Shaka King and later produced his 2021 film Judas and the Black Messiah. He recalled discussing Michaela Coel’s HBO series I May Destroy You with King, which influenced pivotal scenes in Sinners.

      “He explained to me how it was a study in character through behavior—not through backstory, but through actions and the repeated habits of individuals. Much of behavior is non-verbal,” Coogler clarified.

      Ryan Coogler on The Sinners Cigarette Scene

      Sinners. Warner Bros.

      Coogler mentioned that he incorporated this non-verbal storytelling approach in Sinners. While there are many instances in the film