Sundance 2001

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by Marcy Dermansky

One thing you have to say about Sundance: you never know what to expect. Indie filmmakers continue to challenge the boundaries of filmmaking. This year, stories about transsexual rockers, cancer and transgender love, anti-semetic Jews, and skateboarding all took home the big prizes at Sundance.

John Cameron Mitchell in "Hedwig."

The Believer, directed by Henry Bean and produced by Chris Roberts & Susan Hoffman, won the Dramatic Grand Jury Prize. Based on a true story, the film tells the story of Danny Balint, who was dedicated to his faith in his youth but who questions it as he grows older and joins a neo-fascist group. As his tirades against Judaism grow stronger, however, he becomes deeply conflicted about his decision.

The prestigious Documentary Grand Jury Prize went to Southern Comfort, directed and produced by Kate Davis. Davis' film looks at the life of Robert Eads, a female-to-male transgender living in rural Georgia and suffering from ovarian cancer. Though originally intended to be a film about prejudice, the story takes a surprising romantic turn.

The audience award in documentary was split between Dogtown and Z-boys, a movie about the early days of skateboarding (which also won best documentary director for Stacy Peralta,), and Scout's Honor, about a 12-year-old Boy Scout who sets out to change the anti-gay policies of the Boy Scouts of America. Director Tom Shepard, also was honored with a Freedom of Expression award for speaking out on a social issue.

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