US EditionSundance Announces Trailblazer and Vanguard Award Winners
The 2026 Sundance fundraiser honors three filmmakers for advancing independent film, supporting Sundance's mission to fund artists year-round through grants and fellowships.
- Sundance Institute announced it has added Chloé Zhao, Nia DaCosta and Geeta Gandbhir as honorees for Celebrating Sundance Institute: A Tribute to Founder Robert Redford on Jan. 23, 2026 at the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley in Park City, Utah.
- Dubbed a tribute to Robert Redford, Sundance founder who died earlier this year, the fundraiser will present the inaugural Robert Redford Luminary Award to Ed Harris and Gyula Gazdag.
- Chloé Zhao will receive the Trailblazer Award Presented by Google for her recent film Hamnet, while Nia DaCosta and Geeta Gandbhir will receive the Vanguard Awards Presented by Acura, with Gandbhir's The Perfect Neighbor winning a Sundance directing prize.
- Additional participants confirmed include Amy Redford, Ava DuVernay, Ethan Hawke, David Lowery and Tessa Thompson, while single-film tickets for the 2026 Sundance Film Festival go on sale January 14 at 10 a.m.
- The awards position this year's honorees alongside past recipients such as Christopher Nolan and James Mangold and past Vanguard winners, reflecting Sundance Institute labs, intensives and programs that support filmmakers.
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Sundance announces Trailblazer and Vanguard Award winners
The nonprofit Sundance Institute today announced additional honorees for the 2026 Sundance Film Festival’s annual fundraiser, Celebrating Sundance Institute: A Tribute to Founder Robert Redford, taking place on Friday, Jan. 23, at the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley. During the evening, Chloé Zhao will receive the annual Trailblazer Award Presented by Google, Nia DaCosta will be presented with the annual Vanguard Award Presented by Acura for Fiction and…
“The Great Blood” returns to the cinema and launches its first teaser EXCLUSIVOLOS Oscar will broadcast free on YouTube worldwide since 2029The Sundance Festival will recognize Chinese director Chloé Zhao with the Trailblazer (pioneer, Spanish) award on January 23, at a charity gala where she will pay homage to her founder, the recently deceased Robert Redford. Zhao will receive the award, which in the past has won filmmakers like Christopher N…
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