A Booming Triumph at Sundance

Posted January 27, 2008, 9:49 am in Movies by Growing Bolder


Two films that focused on people working to overcome great personal tragedy won big at the Sundance Film Festival in 2008. Reuters reports that "Frozen River," written and directed by Courtney Hunt, won the Grand Jury Prize for best film drama, and "Trouble the Water," from directors Tia Lessin and Carl Deal, was named best documentary among the entries in Sundance's U.S. competition.

The jury included 44-year-old Quentin Tarantino and 48-year-old acress Marcia Gay Harden. Tarantino said "Frozen River" took his breath away, calling it one of the most exciting thrillers he would see this year. It's the story of two women overcoming hardship, and smuggling illegal immigrants into the United States. "Trouble the Water" tells the story of New Orleans residents who had to leave their homes during Hurricane Katrina.

Sundance is the brainchild of 71-year-old Robert Redford, which caters to independent filmmakers. Now the film festival attracts big celebrity names from all over the world.

Growing Bolder is teaming up with the Independent Film Club of The Villages, Florida, to feature other independent filmmakers who are breaking new ground in their 40s, 50s and up.

To see some of the movies that are up for awards in 2008, click here.

And to hear our radio interview with Independent Film Showcase coordinate Anita Weber, click here.


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