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Winick, women and DV top Sundance

Digital video gaining in serious attention

Gary Winick was honored for his directing of "Tadpole" -- and thanked by Jury Prize winner Rebecca Miller for funding her film, "Personal Velocity."

By Anne Hubbell
Special to CNN

PARK CITY, Utah (CNN) -- All week long, Sundance 2002 seemed to be searching for an identity. In the end, it turned out to be about exactly what the Sundance Institute has been promoting since its inception 20 years ago -- originality and diversity.

At the awards ceremony Saturday evening, the festival honored exceptional entries, including films and videos directed by women; about people of color; and created using the newest low-budget technology.

The dramatic grand jury prize went to Rebecca Miller's "Personal Velocity," three stories about women faced with critical, life changing decisions. It stars Kyra Sedgwick, Parker Posey and Fairuza Balk.

Miller's first feature, "Angela," won the Filmmakers' Trophy and the cinematography award at the 1995 festival. Ellen Kuras, Miller's cinematographer on "Angela," won the excellence in cinematography award again this year for her innovative camera work on "Personal Velocity."

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Gary Winick took home the dramatic directing award for "Tadpole," starring Sigourney Weaver and newcomer Aaron Stanford about a young man in love with his stepmother.

Winick was a double winner. He served as producer on "Personal Velocity" via his company InDigEnt, a joint venture between the Independent Film Channel and entertainment law firm Sloss Law.

Miller shared credit with Winick for her win. "I'm thrilled," she said. "I have Gary to thank. He was the only person who would give me any money. He is a great producer. He truly has vision."

The dramatic audience award and a special jury prize for acting went to Patricia Cardosa's Latina mother-daughter pic, "Real Women Have Curves," and its stars -- America Ferrera and Lupe Ontiveros.

Cardosa said she had been trying to make her first film for over 10 years after having several shorts screening here.

Rebecca Miller's film "Personal Velocity" won the Dramatic Grand Jury Prize.

"Many times I was ready to give up and become a farmer, or something," she said.

'The universe works in mysterious ways'

The Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award was given to Gordy Hoffman for "Love Liza." Hoffman's story about a man breaking down after his wife's suicide was directed by Todd Louiso and stars the writer's brother, Philip Seymour Hoffman.

"Daughter from Danang," by Gail Dolgin and Vicente Franco, won the documentary grand jury prize. The film follows the reunion of a young woman brought to the United States following the Vietnam War as part of Operation Baby Drop, while her biological family remains in Vietnam.

"Danang" co-director Gail Dolgin said that last year at this time she was about to give up on making the film because she couldn't find the money and she was battling cancer. But as she was receiving her final medical treatments for the disease, a backer committed to fund the film.

"The universe works in mysterious ways," said Dolgin, choking back tears.

"Amandla! A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony," directed by Lee Hirsch and produced by Hirsch and Sherry Simpson, nabbed two prizes -- the documentary audience award and the Freedom of Expression Award. "Amandla!" documents the tradition of freedom songs in South Africa.

"Tadpole" was shot in digital video, a technology that had a big impact at Sundance 2002.

The documentary cinematography award went to Daniel B. Gold for "Blue Vinyl," a revealing story about the environmental dangers of vinyl -- siding, flooring and myriad other household items made with the material. As he was leaving the stage, Gold turned to the film's co-director, Judith Helfand, and -- referring to the transparent, square Sundance award -- said, "Its not vinyl!"

Changing technology

One of the most important winners of the evening was a technology -- digital video, or DV. Nearly all the prizewinners utilized the medium.

DV appears to be here to stay as a viable, less expensive alternative to film. "It works really well for intimate scenes," said Miller about its use in "Personal Velocity." "DV doesn't work for stories told on a grand scale, but for personal, independent work it makes sense."

Stockard Channing, who appeared in last year's Sundance hit "The Business of Strangers," hosted the award ceremony.

Awards were presented by various jury members including actress Patricia Arquette, director John Waters and Academy Award-winning documentarian Jeffrey Friedman.

Reuters contributed to this report.