"Josephine," a drama focused on a child's experience as a witness, has clinched both the Grand Prize from the jury and the Audience Award at Sundance.
Josephine, directed by Beth de Araujo, tells a powerful story of an 8-year-old girl who witnesses a sexual assault and won the U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic at the Sundance Film Festival.
The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary was awarded to Nuisance Bear, while the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic went to Shame and Money, a film from Germany, Kosovo, Slovenia, Albania, North Macedonia, and Belgium.
The World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Documentary was given to To Hold a Mountain, hailing from Serbia, France, Montenegro, Slovenia, and Croatia.
The NEXT Innovator Award, presented by Adobe, was awarded to The Incomer, and the NEXT Special Jury Award from Adobe went to TheyDream.
Josephine features the talented Mason Reeves in the lead role, with Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan portraying her parents, who struggle to assist her in coping with her experiences. The film also received the Audience Award: U.S. Dramatic, presented by Acura.
The Audience Award: U.S. Documentary, also given by Acura, went to American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez.
The Audience Award: World Cinema Dramatic, awarded by United Airlines, was given to Hold Onto Me (Κράτα Με), a collaboration between Cyprus, Denmark, and Greece.
One In A Million, from the U.K., received the Audience Award: World Cinema Documentary, also sponsored by United Airlines.
The Audience Award: NEXT, presented by Adobe, was awarded to Aanikoobijigan [ancestor/great-grandparent/great-grandchild] from the U.S. and Denmark.
These films will be the final works celebrated in Park City, as Sundance prepares to relocate to Boulder, Colorado, next year. This event also marked the first Sundance after the passing of co-founder Robert Redford last year.
“As we wrap up this memorable edition of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, we are excited to honor our award-winning films and all the artists involved in this year’s incredible Festival,” stated Eugene Hernandez, Director of the Sundance Film Festival and Public Programming.
“We extend our gratitude to all the artists and audiences who contributed to making this Festival memorable, and we are profoundly thankful to our friends and partners in Park City, Salt Lake City, and throughout Utah, which is home to many beloved Festivals. We thank and honor the moviegoers of Utah for embracing this Festival and the vision of our founder, Robert Redford. As this 2026 edition concludes, we cherish all the moments shared together.”
Additional Sundance 2026 Awards
The following are additional awards, provided by Sundance.
JURY AWARDS FOR DIRECTING, SCREENWRITING, and EDITING
The Directing Award: U.S. Dramatic was awarded to Josef Kubota Wladyka for Ha-chan, Shake Your Booty! / U.S.A.
The Directing Award: U.S. Documentary was presented to J.M. Harper for Soul Patrol / U.S.A.
The Directing Award: World Cinema Dramatic was awarded to Andrius Blaževičius for How to Divorce During the War / Lithuania, Luxembourg, Ireland, Czech Republic.
The Directing Award: World Cinema Documentary was given to Itab Azzam and Jack MacInnes for One In A Million / U.K.
The Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: U.S. Dramatic went to Liz Sargent for Take Me Home / U.S.A.
The Jonathan Oppenheim Editing Award: U.S. Documentary was awarded to Matt Hixon for Barbara Forever / U.S.A.
SPECIAL JURY AWARDS
A U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Debut Feature was presented to Bedford Park / U.S.A.
A U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast was awarded to The Friend’s House is Here / U.S.A., Iran.
A U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Journalistic Excellence went to Who Killed Alex Odeh? / U.S.A.
A U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Impact for Change was awarded to The Lake / U.S.A.
A World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Creative Vision was given to Filipiñana / Singapore, U.K., Philippines, France, Netherlands.
A World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting Ensemble was awarded to LADY / U.K., Nigeria.
A World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Journalistic Impact was presented to Birds of War / U.K., Syrian Arab Republic, Lebanon.
A World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Civil Resistance was awarded to Everybody To Kenmure Street / U.K.
The NEXT Special Jury Award for Creative Expression went to TheyDream / U.S.A.
Main image: Gemma Chan, Mason Reeves, and Channing Tatum appear in Josephine by Beth de Araújo, which won the U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic and the Audience Award: U.S
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Josephine, the remarkable film by director Beth de Araujo, tells the story of an 8-year-old girl who witnesses a sexual assault. It was awarded the U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic at the