The Masterpiece, directed and written by Alex Lora Cercos was awarded the Short Film Grand Jury Prize at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. The short film follows a wealthy couple who meets two scrap dealers at a recycle center. Offering them more junk the wealthy couple invites them to their mansion, but the immigrants actually might be the ones with something she wants.
In a statement the Jury said, “Being able to craft and express nuance in a 90+ minute feature is quite a feat, but to be able to do that in 20 minutes or less is a wildly impressive task. This short kept us on the edge of our seats, but also left us thinking about it and its commentary long after we left the theatre. From its writing, to its direction and performances, this film felt as if it was crafted by a team that’s been making stories together for a lifetime. The winner of the Short Film Grand Jury Prize is The Masterpiece, directed by Alex Lora Cercos.”
Other short film jury prizes including Short Film Jury Award: U.S. Fiction was presented to Kate Jean Hollowell, for Say Hi After You Die; the Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction was presented to An Chu, for The Stag; the Short Film Jury Award: Nonfiction was presented to Jack Dunphy, for Bob’s Funeral; the Short Film Jury Award: Animation was presented to Phoebe Jane Hart, for Bug Diner; a Short Film Special Jury Prize for Directing was presented to Masha Ko, for The Looming; and a Short Film Special Jury Prize for Directing was presented to Makoto Nagahisa for Pisko the Crab Child is in Love.
“This has been another amazing year for shorts – most of the filmmakers in the program are coming to Sundance for the first time ever, and we are excited to get their films to audiences and the film industry.” said Mike Plante, Senior Programmer, Short Films. “The award winners are a great reflection of the vibrant ideas and styles that filmmakers are inventing in these times within the short form.”
Short Film awards winners in previous years include When You Left Me On That Boulevard by Kayla Abuda Galang, The Headhunter’s Daughter by Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan, Lizard by Akinola Davies Jr., So What If the Goats Die by Sofia Alaoui, Aziza by Saudade Kaadan, Matria by Álvaro Gago, And so we put goldfish in the pool. by Makoto Nagahisa, Thunder Road by Jim Cummings, World of Tomorrow by Don Hertzfeldt, Of Gods and Dogs by Abounaddara Collective.
Of the seven short films selected for awards this year, three projects (43% percent) were directed by women, four (57%) were directed by people who identify as LGBTQ, and three (43%) were directed by people of color.
2024 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Jury Awards
Short Film Grand Jury Prize
The Short Film Grand Jury Prize was awarded to: Alex Lora Cercos, for The Masterpiece / Spain (Director and Producer: Alex Lora Cercos, Screenwriter and Producer: Lluis Quilez, Screenwriter: Alfonso Amador, Producers: Sandra Travé, Josemari Martínez, Néstor López) — Leo and Diana, a wealthy couple, meet Salif and Yousef, two scrap dealers, at a recycle center. Offering them more junk, Diana invites them to their mansion, but the immigrants actually might be the ones with something she wants. Cast: Daniel Grao, Babou Cham, Melina Matthews, Adam Nourou, Guido Grao. World Premiere. Available online for Public.
Short Film Jury Award: U.S. Fiction
The Short Film Jury Award: U.S. Fiction was presented to: Kate Jean Hollowell, for Say Hi After You Die / U.S.A. (Director: Kate Jean Hollowell, Screenwriters: Kate Jean Hollowell, Ruby Caster, Producer: Miranda Kahn) — A grieving woman believes her deceased best friend has come back to visit her… as a port-a-potty. Cast: Kate Jean Hollowell, Ruby Caster, George Basil. World Premiere. Available online for Public.
Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction
The Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction was presented to: An Chu, for The Stag / Taiwan (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: An Chu, Producer: Tzu-Yuan Wang) — At a deer farm in Changhua County, a middle-aged man is asked to cut off a stag’s antlers in front of his two kids. Cast: Yung-He Chen, Wei-Jen Chen, Si-Kai Chen. International Premiere. Available online for Public.
Short Film Jury Award: Nonfiction
The Short Film Jury Award: Nonfiction was presented to: Jack Dunphy, for Bob’s Funeral / U.S.A (Director, Screenwriter, Animator, and Producer: Jack Dunphy) — Searching for the root of generational trauma, the director sneaks a camera into his estranged grandfather’s funeral. World Premiere. Available online for Public.
Short Film Jury Award: Animation
The Short Film Jury Award: Animation was presented to: Phoebe Jane Hart, for Bug Diner / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Phoebe Jane Hart) — A dissatisfied marriage, a secret crush, and workplace fantasies come to a head in a diner run by a mole with a hot ass. Cast: Jacob Levy, Phoebe Hart. World Premiere. Available online for Public.
Short Film Special Jury Prize for Directing
A Short Film Special Jury Prize for Directing was presented to: Masha Ko, for The Looming / U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Masha Ko, Producers: Caroline Gluck, Andrey Nikolaev, Kolten Horner) — When a virtual home assistant speaker, Luna, picks up the strange noise Chester has heard in his house, he realizes that it may not be a symptom of dementia. Cast: Joseph Lopez, Kolten Horner, Brianne Buishas, Alyssa Nicole. Available online for Public.
Short Film Special Jury Prize for Directing
A Short Film Special Jury Prize for Directing was presented to: Makoto Nagahisa for Pisko the Crab Child is in Love / Japan (Director and Screenwriter: Makoto Nagahisa, Producer: Yasuo Suzuki) — Pisko’s father is a crab while her mother is human. Pisko falls in love with her teacher but is heartbroken when he leaves her because she is half-crab. Pisko finally finds love and companionship with her friend Kubokayo. Cast: Aiko Kano, Saya, Maki Fukuda, Kanta Sato. U.S. Premiere. Available online for Public.