Friday, January 19-----At its first Press Conference, the 2007 Sundance Film Festival announced the members of the six juries awarding prizes at the Festival, which opened last evening. The juries are made up of twenty-four individuals selected from the global film community, each of whom are bringing a broad range of experience and a unique perspective on film. The award winners will be announced on the evening of January 27 at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival Awards Ceremony at the Park City Racquet Club.

Jury Members of the US Dramatic Competition include: actor/hip hop artist Mos Def; director Catherine Hardwicke (THIRTEEN); Dawn Hudson, Executive Director of Film Independent (formerly IFP/ Los Angeles), a filmmakers organization that also presents the Los Angeles Film Festival and the Independent Spirit Awards; Pamela Martin, an award-winning editor (LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE); and actress/director Sarah Polley, whose debut feature AWAY FROM HER is tonight's Salt Lake City Opening Night Gala.

Members of the US Documentary Competition Jury include: veteran documentarian Alan Berliner (NOBODY'S BUSINESS); acclaimed film editor Lewis Erskine—Lewis Erskine (JONESTOWN: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF PEOPLES TEMPLE); award-winning photographer Lauren Greenfield; Oscar-nominated filmmaker Julia Reichert; and Carlos Sandoval—Carlos Sandoval, co-producer/director of FARMINGVILLE, which won the Special Jury Prize at the 2004 Festival.

A distinguished group of film professionals will serve as jurors in the World Independent Cinema Competitions for Drama and Documentary. The World Dramatic Competition Jury includes: Mexican director Carlos Bolado (SOLO DIOS SABE); Scottish director Lynne Ramsay (RATCATCHER); and Malaysian director U-Wei Bin Haji Saari, whose film MY BEAUTIFUL RAMBUTAN TREE IN TANJUNG RAMBUTAN screened at the Cannes Directors Fortnight last year.

Jurors for the World Documentary Competition include: South African filmmaker/activist Raoul Peck (LUMUMBA-DEATH OF A PROPHET); last year's Sundance winner, Mexican director Juan Carlos Rulfo (IN THE PIT); and Elizabeth Weatherford, the founding director of the Film and Video Center of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.

The Alfred P. Sloan Prize, which carries a $20,000 cash award and is designed to increase the visibility of outstanding independent films on science and technology, will be determined by a jury consisting of: filmmaker Darren Aronofsky (PI, REQUIEM FOR A DREAM); writer/producer Ann Druyan (CONTACT); Dr. Brian Greene, professor of physics and mathematics at Columbia University; film educator Howard Suber; and science consultant John Underkoffler.

“We are blessed to an enormously talented group of jurors this year, who include some of the most exceptional individuals in the independent film community both in here an abroad,” said Geoffrey Gilmore , Director of the Sundance Film Festival. “Ranging from influential directors, innovative editors, last year’s award-winners and industry leaders, these jurists truly bring a variety of experience and perspective to the table.”

Sandy Mandelberger
Sundance Online Dailies Editor