Sundance Film Festival Prize Winners
1985-2004
Information provided by the Sundance Festival publicity office.
- Grand Jury Prize
- Documentary DIG! directed by Ondi Timoner
- Dramatic Primer, directed by Shane Carruth
- Audience Award
- Documentary Born Into Brothels, directed by Ross Kaufman and Zana Briski
- Dramatic Maria Full Of Grace, directed by Joshua Marston
- World Cinema
- Dramatic Seducing Dr. Lewis, directed by Jean-Francois Pouliot
- Documentary The Corporation, directed by Mark Achbar and Jennifer Abbott
- Directing Award
- Documentary Morgan Spurlock, director of Super Size Me
- Dramatic Debra Granik, director of Down To The Bone
- Excellence in Cinematography Award
- Documentary Ferne Pearlstein for Imelda
- Dramatic Nancy Schreiber for November
- Freedom of Expression Award
- Repatriation, directed by Kim Dong-Won
- Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award
- Larry Gross, screenwriter of We Don’t Live Here Anymore
- Special Jury Prizes
- Documentary Farmingville, directed by Catherine Tambini and Carlos Sandoval
- Dramatic Brother To Brother, directed by Rodney Evans
- Dramatic, for performanceVera Farmiga in Down To The Bone
- Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking
- When The Storm Came, directed by Shilpi Gupta
- Gowanus, Brooklyn, directed by Ryan Fleck
- Jury Prize in International Short Filmmaking
- Tomo, directed by Paul Catling
- Honorable Mentions in Short Filmmaking
- Curtist, directed by Jacob Akira Okada
- Harvie Krumpet, directed by Adam Elliott
- Krumped, directed by David LaChapelle
- Papillon D’Amour, directed by Nicholas Provost
- Spokane, directed by Larry Kennar
- Online Film Festival Viewer Awards
- Animation Bathtime in Clerkenwell, by Alex Budovsky
- Short subject Wet Dreams False Images, by Jesse Epstein
- New Forms Gallery
- The Dawn at My Back: Memoir of a Texas Upbringing, by Carroll Parrott Blue and Kristy H.A. Kang
- Sloan Feature Film Prize
- Primer, directed by Shane Carruth
- Grand Jury Prize
- Documentary Capturing the Friedmans, directed by Andrew Jarecki
- Dramatic American Splendor, directed by Shari Springer
- Berman and Robert Pulcini Audience Award
- Documentary My Flesh and Blood, directed by Jonathan Karsh
- Dramatic The Station Agent, directed by Tom McCarthy
- World Cinema Whale Rider, directed by Niki Caro
- Directing Award
- Documentary Jonathan Karsh, director of My Flesh and Blood
- Dramatic Catherine Hardwicke, director of Thirteen
- Excellence in Cinematography Award
- Documentary Dana Kupper, Gordon Quinn, and Peter Gilbert for Stevie
- Dramatic Derek Cianfrance for Quattro Noza
- Freedom of Expression Award
- What I Want My Words to Do to You, directed by Judith Katz, Madeleine Gavin, and Gary Sunshine
- Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award
- Tom McCarthy, screenwriter of The Station Agent
- Special Jury Prizes
- Documentary The Murder of Emmett Till, directed by Stanley Nelson
- Documentary A Certain Kind of Death, directed by Blue Hadaegh and Grover Babcock
- Dramatic, for Outstanding Performance Patricia Clarkson, for The Station Agent, Pieces of April, and All the Real Girls
- Dramatic, for Outstanding Performance Charles Busch for Die Mommie Die
- Dramatic, for Emotional Truth All the Real Girls, directed by David Gordon Green
- Dramatic, for Emotional Truth What Alice Found, directed by A. Dean Bell
- Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking
- Terminal Bar, directed by Stefan Nadelman
- Honorable Mentions in Short Filmmaking
- Ocularist, directed by Vance Malone
- Earthquake, directed by James Brett
- Pan with Us, directed by David Russo
- Asylum, directed by Sandy McLeod and Gini Reticker
- The Planets, directed by Francesca Talenti
- The Freak, directed by Aristomenis Tsirbas
- Fits & Starts, directed by Vince Di Meglio
- From the 104TH Floor, directed by Serguei Bassine
- Online Film Festival Viewer Awards
- Animation Broken Saints, by Brooke Burgess
- Short subject One, by Stewart Hendler
- Sloan Feature Film Prize
- Dopamine, directed by Mark Decena
- Grand Jury Prize
- Documentary Daughter from Danang, directed by Gail Dolgin and Vicente Franco
- Dramatic Personal Velocity, directed by Rebecca Miller
- Audience Award
- Documentary AMANDLA! A revolution in four part harmony, directed by Lee Hirsch
- Dramatic Real Women Have Curves, directed by Patricia Cardoso
- World Cinema Bloody Sunday, directed by Paul Greengrass
- World Cinema The Last Kiss, directed by Gabriele Muccino
- Directing Award
- Documentary Rob Fruchtman and Rebecca Cammisa, directors of Sister Helen
- Dramatic Gary Winick, director of Tadpole
- Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award
- Gordy Hoffman, screenwriter of Love Liza
- Freedom of Expression Award
- AMANDLA! A revolution in four part harmony, directed by Lee Hirsch
- Excellence in Cinematography Award
- Documentary Daniel B. Gold for Blue Vinyl
- Dramatic Ellen Kuras for Personal Velocity
- Special Jury Prizes
- Dramatic, for Originality Secretary, directed by Steven Shainberg
- Dramatic, for Ensemble Cast Frankie G., Leo Minaya, Manuel Cabral, Hector Gonzalez, Julissa Lopez, Jessica Morales, and Panchito Gomez for Manito
- Dramatic, for Acting America Ferrera and Lupe Ontiveros for Real Women Have Curves
- Documentary How to Draw a Bunny, directed by John Walter
- Documentary Señorita Extraviada, directed by Lourdes Portillo
- Jury Prize in Latin American Cinema
- The Trespasser, directed by Beto Bryant
- Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking
- Gasline, directed by Dave Silver
- Honorable Mentions in Short Filmmaking
- Bus 44, directed by Dayyan Eng
- Drowning Lessons, directed by Gregory Kennedy
- Morning Breath, directed by Brin Hill
- No Dumb Questions, directed by Melissa Regan
- The Parlor, directed by Geoffrey Haley
- Stuck, directed by Jamie Babbit
- Online Film Festival Viewers Awards
- New Forms Carny Tales, by Scott Smith
- Live Action Guerilla News Network: Crack the CIA, by Stephen Marshall
- Animation Karma Ghost, by Billy Blob
- Grand Jury Prize
- Documentary Southern Comfort, directed by Kate Davis
- Dramatic The Believer, directed by Henry Bean
- Audience Award
- Documentary Dogtown and Z-Boys, directed by Stacy Peralta
- Documentary Scout’s Honor, directed by Tom Shepard
- Dramatic Hedwig and the Angry Inch, directed by John Cameron Mitchell
- World Cinema The Road Home, directed by Zhang Yimou
- Directing Award
- Documentary Stacy Peralta, director of Dogtown and Z-Boys
- Dramatic John Cameron Mitchell, director of Hedwig and the Angry Inch
- Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award
- Christopher Nolan, screenwriter of Memento
- Freedom of Expression Award
- Scout’s Honor, directed by Tom Shepard
- Excellence in Cinematography Award
- Documentary Albert Maysles for Lalee’s Kin: The Legacy of Cotton
- Dramatic Giles Nuttgens for The Deep End
- Special Jury Prizes
- Documentary Children Underground, directed by Edet Belzberg
- Dramatic, for Acting Tom Wilkinson and Sissy Spacek for In the Bedroom
- Jury Prize in Latin American Cinema
- Possible Loves, directed by Sandra Wernec
- Without a Trace, directed by María Novaro
- Special Jury Award in Latin American Cinema
- Coffin Joe: The Strange World of José Mojica Marins, directed by André Barcinski and Ivan Finotti
- Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking
- Gina, an Actress, Age 29, directed by Paul Harrill
- Honorable Mentions in Short Filmmaking
- Delusions in Modern Primitivism, directed by Daniel Loflin
- Jigsaw Venus, directed by Dean Kapsalis
- Metropopular, directed by Jonah Hall
- Peter Rabbit and the Crucifix, directed by Anthony Dominici
- Pie Fight ’69, directed by Christian Bruno and Sam Green
- Sweet, directed by Elyse Couvillion
- Zen and the Art of Landscaping, directed by David Kartch
- Grand Jury Prize
- Documentary Long Night’s Journey Into Day, directed by Frances Reid and Deborah Hoffmann
- Documentary You Can Count on Me, directed by Kenneth Lonergan
- Dramatic Girlfight, directed by Karyn Kusama
- Audience Award
- Documentary Dark Days, directed by Marc Singer
- Dramatic Two Family House, directed by Raymond DeFelitta
- World Cinema Saving Grace, directed by Nigel Cole
- Directing Award
- Documentary Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, directors of Paragraph 175
- Dramatic Karyn Kusama, director of Girlfight
- Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award
- Kenneth Lonergan, screenwriter of You Can Count on Me
- Freedom of Expression Award
- Dark Days, directed by Marc Singer
- Excellence in Cinematography Award
- Documentary Andrew Young for Americano’s: Latino Life in the United States
- Documentary Marc Singer for Dark Days
- Dramatic Tom Krueger for Committed
- Special Jury Prizes
- Documentary, for Artistic Achievement The Ballad of Ramblin’ Jack, directed by Aiyana Elliott
- Documentary, for Writing George Wallace: Settin’ the Woods on Fire, written by Daniel McCabe, Paul Stekler, and Steve Fayer
- Dramatic, for Acting Donal Logue for The Tao of Steve
- Dramatic, for Outstanding Ensemble Performance Janet McTeer, Aidan Quinn, Pat Carroll, Jane Adams, Gregory Cook, and Iris Dement for Songcatcher
- Jury Prize in Latin American Cinema
- Herod’s Law, directed by Luis Estrada
- No One Writes to the Colonel, directed by Arturo Ripstein
- Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking
- FIVE FEET HIGH AND RISING, directed by Peter Sollett
- Honorable Mentions in Short Filmmaking
- The Bats, directed by Jim Trainor
- Darling International, directed by Jennifer Todd Reeves and M.M. Serra
- The Drowning Room, directed by Reynold Reynolds and Patrick Jolley
- Friday, directed by Jodi Gibson
- hITCH, directed by Bradley Rust Gray
- Ice Fishing, directed by Alexandra Kondracke
- This Is for Betsy Hall, directed by Hope Hall
- G., directed by Rolf Gibbs
- Titler, directed by Jonathan Bekemeier
- Grand Jury Prize
- Documentary American Movie, directed by Chris Smith
- Dramatic Three Seasons, directed by Tony Bui
- Audience Award
- Documentary Genghis Blues, directed by Roko Belic
- Dramatic Three Seasons, directed by Tony Bui
- World Cinema Run Lola Run, directed by Tom Tykwer
- World Cinema Train of Life (Train de vie), directed by Radu Mihaileanu
- Filmmakers Trophy
- Documentary Sing Faster: The Stagehands’ Ring Cycle, directed by Jon Else
- Dramatic Tumbleweeds, directed by Gavin O’Connor
- Directing Award
- Documentary Barbara Sonneborn, director of Regret to Inform
- Dramatic Eric Mendelsohn, director of Judy Berlin
- Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award
- Audrey Wells, screenwriter of Guinevere
- Frank Whaley, screenwriter of Joe the King
- Freedom of Expression Award
- The Black Press: Soldiers without Swords, directed by Stanley Nelson
- Excellence in Cinematography Award
- Documentary Emiko Omori for Rabbit in the Moon and Regret to Inform
- Dramatic Lisa Rinzler for Three Seasons
- Special Jury Prizes
- Documentary On the Ropes, directed by Nanette Burstein and Brett Morgen
- Dramatic, for Distinctive Vision in Filmmaking Treasure Island, directed by Scott King
- Dramatic, for Comedic Performance Steve Zahn for Happy, Texas
- Jury Prize in Latin American Cinema
- Santitos, directed by Alejandro Springall
- Special Jury Award in Latin American Cinema
- Life Is to Whistle (La Vida es silbar), directed by Fernando Perez
- Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking
- More, directed by Mark Osborne
- Special Jury Award in Short Filmmaking
- Fishbelly White, directed by Michael Burke
- Honorable Mentions in Short Filmmaking
- Atomic Tabasco, directed by James Cox
- Come unto Me: The Faces of Tyree Guyton, directed by Nicole Cattell
- Devil Doll/Ring Pull, directed by Jarl Olsen
- A Pack of Gifts, Now, directed by Corky Quakenbush
- Stubble Trouble, directed by Philip Holahan
- Grand Jury Prize
- Documentary The Farm, directed by Jonathan Stark and Liz Garbus
- Documentary Frat House, directed by Todd Phillips and Andrew Gurland (later rescinded)
- Dramatic Slam, directed by Marc Levin
- Audience Award
- Documentary Out of the Past, directed by Jeff Dupre
- Dramatic Smoke Signals, directed by Chris Eyre
- Filmmakers Trophy
- Documentary Divine Trash, directed by Steve Yeager
- Dramatic Smoke Signals, directed by Chris Eyre
- Directing Award
- Documentary Julia Loktev, director of Moment of Impact
- Dramatic Darren Aronofsky, director of Pi
- Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award
- Lisa Cholodenko, screenwriter of High Art
- Freedom of Expression Award
- The Decline of Western Civilization, Part III, directed by Penelope Spheeris
- Excellence in Cinematography Award
- Documentary Tom Hurwitz for Wild Man Blues
- Dramatic Declan Quinn for 2by4
- Special Jury Prize
- Dramatic, for Acting Andrea Hart for Miss Monday
- Jury Prize in Latin American Cinema
- Who the Hell Is Juliette?, directed by Carlos Marcovich
- Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking
- Snake Feed, directed by Debra Granik
- Honorable Mention in Short Filmmaking
- Human Remains, directed by Jay Rosenblatt
- Grand Jury Prize
- Documentary Girls Like Us, directed by Jane C. Wagner and Tina DiFeliciantonio
- Dramatic Sunday, directed by Jonathan Nossiter
- Audience Award
- Documentary Paul Monette: The Brink of Summer’s End, directed by Monte Bramer
- Dramatic Hurricane, directed by Morgan J. Freeman
- Dramatic love jones, directed by Theodore Witcher
- Filmmakers Trophy
- Documentary Licensed to Kill, directed by Arthur Dong
- Dramatic In the Company of Men, directed by Neil LaBute
- Directing Award
- Documentary Arthur Dong, director of Licensed To Kill
- Dramatic Morgan J. Freeman, director of Hurricane
- Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award
- James Lasdun and Jonathan Nossiter, screenwriters of Sunday
- Freedom of Expression Award
- Family Name, directed by Macky Alston
- Fear and Learning at Hoover Elementary, directed by Laura Angelica Simón
- Excellence in Cinematography Award
- Documentary Christine Choy for My America...or Honk If You Love Buddha
- Dramatic Enrique Chediak for Hurricane
- Special Jury Prizes
- Documentary Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist, directed by Kirby Dick
- Dramatic, for Acting Parker Posey for The House of Yes
- Dramatic, for Production Design Thérèse DePrez for Going All the Way
- Jury Prize in Latin American Cinema
- Landscapes of Memory (O sertão das memórias), directed by José Araújo
- Special Jury Award in Latin American Cinema
- Deep Crimson, directed by Arturo Ripstein
- Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking
- Man about Town, directed by Kris Isacsson
- Honorable Mentions in Short Filmmaking
- Birdhouse, directed by Richard C. Zimmerman
- Syphon-Gun, directed by KC Amos
- Grand Jury Prize
- Documentary Troublesome Creek: A Midwestern, directed by Jeanne Jordan and Steven Ascher
- Dramatic Welcome to the Dollhouse, directed by Todd Solondz
- Audience Award
- Documentary Troublesome Creek: A Midwestern, directed by Jeanne Jordan and Steven Ascher
- Dramatic Care of the Spitfire Grill, directed by Lee David Zlotoff
- Filmmakers Trophy
- Documentary Cutting Loose, directed by Susan Todd and Andrew Young
- Dramatic Girls Town, directed by Jim McKay
- Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award
- Stanley Tucci and Joseph Tropiano, screenwriters of Big Night
- Freedom of Expression Award
- The Celluloid Closet, directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman
- Excellence in Cinematography Award
- Documentary Andrew Young for Cutting Loose
- Dramatic Rob Sweeney for Color of a Brisk and Leaping Day
- Special Jury Prizes
- Documentary, for Artistic Merit When We Were Kings, directed by Leon Gast
- Dramatic, for Collaboration Jim McKay, Anna Grace, Bruklin Harris, Denise Hernandez, and Lili Taylor for Girls Town
- Dramatic, for Acting Lili Taylor for I Shot Andy Warhol
- Jury Prize in Latin American Cinema
- Madagascar, directed by Fernando Pérez
- Special Jury Awards in Latin American Cinema
- Guantanamera, directed by Tomás Gutiérrez Alea and Juan Carlos Tabio
- Wild Horses, directed by Marcelo Piñeyro
- Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking
- A Small Domain, directed by Britta Sjogren
- Honorable Mentions in Short Filmmaking
- Dry Mount, directed by Nichol Simmons
- Pig! directed by Francine McDougall
- Grand Jury Prize
- Documentary Crumb, directed by Terry Zwigoff
- Dramatic The Brothers McMullen, directed by Edward Burns
- Audience Award
- Documentary Ballot Measure #9, directed by Heather MacDonald
- Documentary Unzipped, directed by Douglas Keeve
- Dramatic Picture Bride, directed by Kayo Hatta
- Filmmakers Trophy
- Documentary Black Is...Black Ain’t, directed by Marlon T. Riggs
- Dramatic Angela, directed by Rebecca Miller
- Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award
- Tom DiCillo, screenwriter of Living in Oblivion
- Freedom of Expression Award
- When Billy Broke His Head...and Other Tales of Wonder, directed by David E. Simpson and Billy Golfus
- Excellence in Cinematography Award
- Documentary Maryse Alberti for Crumb
- Dramatic Ellen Kuras for Angela
- Special Jury Prizes
- Documentary Jupiter’s Wife, directed by Michel Negroponte
- Dramatic, for Directing Heavy, directed by James Mangold
- Dramatic, for Directing Rhythm Thief, directed by Matthew Harrison
- Jury Prize in Latin American Cinema
- Eagles Don’t Hunt Flies, directed by Sergio Cabrera
- Special Jury Award in Latin American Cinema
- Strawberry and Chocolate, directed by Tomás Gutiérrez Alea and Juan Carlos Tabio
- Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking
- The Salesman and Other Adventures, directed by Hannah Weyer
- Tom’s Flesh, directed by Jane C. Wagner and Tom diMaria
- Honorable Mentions in Short Filmmaking
- Trevor, directed by Peggy Rajski
- Nonnie and Alex, directed by Todd Field
- Grand Jury Prize
- Documentary Freedom on My Mind, directed by Connie Field and Marilyn Mulford
- Dramatic What Happened Was..., directed by Tom Noonan
- Audience Award
- Documentary Hoop Dreams, directed by Steve James
- Dramatic Spanking the Monkey, directed by David O. Russell
- Filmmakers Trophy
- Documentary Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey, directed by Steven M. Martin
- Dramatic Clerks, directed by Kevin Smith
- Dramatic Fresh, directed by Boaz Yakin
- Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award
- Tom Noonan, screenwriter of What Happened Was...
- Freedom of Expression Award
- Dialogues with Madwomen, directed by Allie Light
- Heart of the Matter, directed by Gini Reticker and Amber Hollibaugh
- Excellence in Cinematography Award
- Documentary Morten Sandtroen for Colorado Cowboy: The Bruce Ford Story
- Dramatic Greg Gardiner for Suture
- Special Jury Prizes
- Documentary, for Technical Excellence Coming Out Under Fire, directed by Arthur Dong
- Dramatic, for Acting Sean Nelson for Fresh
- Dramatic, for Acting Renee Humphrey and Alicia Witt for Fun
- Grand Jury Prize
- Documentary Children of Fate: Life and Death in a Sicilian Family, directed by Robert M. Young and Michael Roemer (1961) and Andrew Young and Susan Todd (1991)
- Documentary Silverlake Life: The View from Here, directed by Peter Friedman
- Dramatic Ruby in Paradise, directed by Victor Nunez
- Dramatic Public Access, directed by Bryan J. Singer
- Audience Award
- Documentary Something Within Me, created by Jerret Engle and directed by Emma Joan Morris
- Dramatic El Mariachi, directed by Robert Rodriguez
- Filmmakers Trophy
- Documentary Something Within Me, created by Jerret Engle and directed by Emma Joan Morris
- Dramatic Fly by Night, directed by Steve Gomer
- Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award
- Tony Chan and Edwin Baker, screenwriters of Combination Platter
- Freedom of Expression Award
- Silverlake Life: The View from Here, directed by Peter Friedman
- Excellence in Cinematography Award
- Documentary Robert M. Young and Andrew Young for Children of Fate: Life and Death in a Sicilian Family
- Dramatic Judy Irola for An Ambush of Ghosts
- Special Jury Prizes
- Documentary, for Merit Something Within Me, created by Jerret Engle and directed by Emma Joan Morris
- Documentary, for Craft Earth and the American Dream, directed by Bill Couturié
- Dramatic, for Distinction Just Another Girl on the I.R.T., directed by Leslie Harris
- Dramatic, for Distinction Lillian, directed by David Williams
- Grand Jury Prize
- Documentary A Brief History of Time, directed by Errol Morris
- Documentary Finding Christa, directed by Camille Billops and James Hatch
- Dramatic In the Soup, directed by Alexandre Rockwell
- Audience Award
- Documentary Brother’s Keeper, directed by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky
- Dramatic The Waterdance, directed by Neal Jimenez and Michael Steinberg
- Filmmakers Trophy
- Documentary A Brief History of Time, directed by Errol Morris
- Dramatic Zebrahead, directed by Anthony Drazan
- Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award
- Neal Jimenez, screenwriter of The Waterdance
- Excellence in Cinematography Award
- Documentary Trinh T. Minh-ha for Shoot for the Contents
- Dramatic Ellen Kuras for Swoon
- (Out of Competition) The Hours and Times, directed by Christopher Münch
- My Crasy Life, directed by Jean-Pierre Gorin
- Dramatic, for Acting Seymour Cassel for In the Soup
- Grand Jury Prize
- Documentary American Dream, directed by Barbara Kopple
- Documentary Paris Is Burning, directed by Jennie Livingston
- Dramatic Poison, directed by Todd Haynes
- Audience Award
- Documentary American Dream, directed by Barbara Kopple
- Dramatic One Cup of Coffee, directed by Robin B. Armstrong
- Filmmakers Trophy
- Documentary American Dream, directed by Barbara Kopple
- Dramatic Privilege, directed by Yvonne Rainer
- Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award
- Joseph B. Vasquez, screenwriter of Hangin’ with the Homeboys
- Hal Hartley, screenwriter of Trust
- Excellence in Cinematography Award
- Documentary David and Albert Maysles for Christo in Paris
- Dramatic Arthur Jafa for Daughters of the Dust
- Special Jury Prize
- Dramatic Straight Out of Brooklyn, directed by Matty Rich
- Grand Jury Prize
- Documentary H–2 Worker, directed by Stephanie Black
- Documentary Water and Power, directed by Pat O’Neill
- Dramatic Chameleon Street, directed by Wendell B. Harris, Jr.
- Audience Award
- Documentary Berkeley in the Sixties, directed by Mark Kitchell
- Dramatic Longtime Companion, directed by Norman Rene
- Filmmakers Trophy
- Documentary Metamorphosis: Man into Woman, directed by Lisa Leeman
- Dramatic House Party, directed by Reginald Hudlin
- Excellence in Cinematography Award
- Documentary Maryse Alberti for H–2 Worker
- Dramatic Peter Deming for House Party
- Special Jury Prizes
- Documentary (out of competition) Samsara: Death and Rebirth in Cambodia, directed by Ellen Bruno
- Dramatic To Sleep with Anger, directed by Charles Burnett
- Grand Jury Prize
- Documentary For All Mankind, directed by Al Reinert
- Dramatic True Love, directed by Nancy Savoca
- Audience Award
- Documentary For All Mankind, directed by Al Reinert
- Dramatic sex, lies and videotape, directed by Steven Soderbergh
- Filmmakers Trophy
- Documentary John Huston, directed by Frank Martin
- Dramatic Powwow Highway, directed by Jonathan Wacks
- Grand Jury Prize
- Documentary Beirut: The Last Home Movie, directed by Jennifer Fox
- Dramatic Heat and Sunlight, directed by Rob Nilsson
- Excellence in Cinematography Award
- Documentary Alex Nepomniaschy for Beirut: The Last Home Movie
- Dramatic Paul Elliott for Rachel River
- Special Jury Prizes
- Documentary Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done, directed by Antony Thomas
- Documentary Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam, directed by Bill Couturié
- Dramatic Lemon Sky, directed by Jan Egelson
- Dramatic, for Acting Viveca Lindfors for Rachel River
- Grand Jury Prize
- Documentary Sherman’s March, directed by Ross McElwee
- Dramatic Lemon Sky, directed by Jan Egelson
- Dramatic Waiting for the Moon, directed by Jill Godmilow
- Dramatic The Trouble with Dick, directed by Gary Walkow
- Excellence in Cinematography Award
- Documentary (out of competition) David Knaus and Peter Schnall for Chile: When Will It End?
- Dramatic Peter Hutton for No Picnic
- Special Jury Prizes
- Documentary (out of competition) Chile: When Will It End?, directed by David Bradbury
- Dramatic Working Girls, directed by Lizzie Borden
- Dramatic, for Originality Sullivan’s Pavilion, directed by Fred G. Sullivan
- Grand Jury Prize
- Documentary Private Conversations, directed by Christian Blackwood
- Dramatic Smooth Talk, directed by Joyce Chopra
- Special Jury Prizes
- Documentary Las Madres: The Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, directed by Susana Munoz and Lourdes Portillo
- Dramatic Desert Hearts, directed by Donna Deitch
- Dramatic, for the Genre of Youth Comedy Seven Minutes in Heaven, directed by Linda Feferman
- Grand Jury Prize
- Documentary Seventeen, directed by Joel DeMott and Jeff Kreines
- Dramatic Blood Simple, directed by Joel Coen
- Special Jury Prizes
- Documentary America and Lewis Hine, directed by Nina Rosenblum
- Documentary The Times of Harvey Milk, directed by Rob Epstein
- Documentary Streetwise, directed by Martin Bell
- Documentary Kaddish, directed by Steve Brand
- Documentary In Heaven There Is No Beer, directed by Les Blank
- Dramatic The Killing Floor, directed by William Duke
- Dramatic Almost You, directed by Adam Brooks
- Dramatic Stranger Than Paradise, directed by Jim Jarmusch