The Tisch School of the Arts (TSOA) and the Kanbar Institute of Film and Television had a successful showing at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival (January 20-30), the premier showcase for American independent film. Five films won a total of six honors this year, and there were more than 27 films featuring contributions from alumni, faculty, or students from NYU.
Preceding the film festival every year is the Sundance Institute’s January Screenwriter’s Lab, an extremely competitive honor to be selected for. This year, Darci Picoult, writer and TSOA Drama Department faculty member, and Adam Bhala, writer/director and ’01 undergraduate film alumnus, were both selected to attend.
On Jan. 22, TSOA Dean Mary Schmidt Campbell — along with sponsors Mitchell Glatt, a TSOA Dean’s Council member, and his wife Randy — hosted the annual TSOA Sundance Film Festival party and welcomed alumni, students, faculty, and friends to Park City. An overflow crowd of 350 people filled the Robert Redford-owned restaurant Zoom, located on Main Street in the center of the ski resort town, nestled in the Wasatch Mountains.
Following is a list of the NYU Tisch winners:
American Documentary Category
- The Audience Award went to Murderball, co-edited by Geoffrey Richman ’97, who also received his own Special Jury Prize for editing. The film included Mike S. Ryan ’92, as producer, and David Egan ’05, as assistant editor/animator.
- The Cinematography Award was given to The Education of Shelby Knox, with Jeremy Stulberg ’00, as editor.
American Dramatic Category
- The Grand Jury Prize was given to Forty Shades of Blue, produced by Jawal Nga ’96 and Donald Rosenfeld ’87.
- A Special Jury Prize for Outstanding Performance was awarded to the actress in June Bug, which was directed by Phil Morrison ’89. Mike S. Ryan ’92, was the line producer, and Alicia Van Couvering ’04, is credited as actress and assistant to the producer.
Shorts Program
- An Honorable Mention went to Victoria Para Chino, directed by Cary Fukunaga, 3rd year graduate student.
Photo: Phil Morrison, '89 BFA Kanbar Institute of Film & TV, and crew behind the camera on the set of his film JUNEBUG
