The 2025 Academy Awards were a shining moment for Sundance-supported films, underscoring the Festival's role as a launchpad for powerful storytelling and groundbreaking talent. With A Real Pain and No Other Land each making waves in their respective categories, the night celebrated the bold, diverse voices emerging from the Sundance Institute. These films didn't just get nominated - they took home the statuettes!
This year's Oscars saw incredible representation of Sundance-supported projects, with Kieran Culkin taking home the supporting actor Oscar for his role in Jesse Eisenberg's sophomore film A Real Pain. Culkin's nuanced performance and the screenplay's sharp wit and ability to balance humor with profound emotional depth cemented the movie as a powerhouse in both writing and acting categories.
After Sundance-supported films swept the Documentary Feature Film category this year, we are thrilled to see No Other Land, an incredible movie that explores the connection between a Palestinian activist and an Israeli journalist amidst the destruction of occupied Masafer Yatta after Israel's occupation, took home the Oscar. We are proud to have supported No Other Land in our 2021 Documentary Fund and the 2023 Documentary Edit and Story Lab.
We are also thrilled to see Sundance Institute alum Sean Baker, whose film Tangerine premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, clean up at the Oscars with his independent movie Anora collecting five Academy Awards. Baker, who made Anora for $6 million, made history as the first person to win four Oscars for the same film, with wins for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing, and Best Director, while Mikey Madison won Best Actress for Anora. In his Best Picture acceptance speech, Baker championed indie film, saying, I want to thank the Academy for recognizing a truly independent film. This film was made on the blood, sweat, and tears of some incredible indie artists. And long live independent film!
Below, find all the Sundance-supported films that won Academy Awards this year.
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The 2025 Academy Awards were a shining moment for Sundance-supported films, underscoring the Festival's role as a launchpad for powerful storytelling and groundbreaking talent. With A Real Pain and No Other Land each making waves in their respective categories, the night celebrated the bold, diverse voices emerging from the Sundance Institute. These films didn't just get nominated - they took home the statuettes!
