Overview

• Christopher Nolan will be honoured with the first-ever Sundance Institute Trailblazer Award at the 40th edition of the Sundance Film Festival. The award marks a significant moment in his career that began with presenting his breakout film 'Memento' at the festival.
• Celine Song, the director of 'Past Lives', and Maite Alberdi, the director of the documentary 'The Eternal Memory', will be receiving the Vanguard Awards for fiction and nonfiction respectively at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival's opening night.
• Reflecting on their recognition, Song and Alberdi praised Sundance for igniting their careers, reinforcing its reputation as a platform that supports and nurtures independent filmmakers.
• The Vanguard Award has previously been given to noteworthy artists like W. Kamau Bell, Nikyatu Jusu, Ryan Coogler, Siân Heder, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Radha Blank, Lulu Wang, Dee Rees, Damien Chazelle, Marielle Heller, Benh Zeitlin, and Boots Riley.
• The awards will be presented at a gala on January 18, 2024 at the DeJoria Center, which acts as a fundraiser for the nonprofit Sundance Institute, supporting independent artists globally through various programs such as labs, grants, and public engagements.