NFTS Alumni Shine On Sundance Award-Winning Films

On Friday 30 January, the 2026 Sundance Film Festival announced the award-winning films, and the National Film and Television School was proud to see so many alumni in key HOD roles across categories.

See the full list of award-winning films with alumni involvement below including The NEXT Innovator Award winner The Incomer, written, directed and produced by Louis Paxton. The World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Documentary winner To Hold a Mountain, shot by Eva Kraljevic and The World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Journalistic Impact awarded Birds of War, with music composed by Darren Sng and Harpal Mudhar with editing by Claire Ferguson and Tanya Singh.

U.S. DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION

The U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Impact for Change
The Lake

Composer Natalia Tsupryk

Jury citation: This environmental crisis story is a probing and provocative look at the interdependency of science and faith and the power of individuals and communities to avert disaster by working together. We were moved and encouraged by its vision of people working across political divides.

AUDIENCE AWARDS

The Audience Award: World Cinema Dramatic
Hold Onto Me (Κράτα Με)

Additional Editor David Freeman

The Audience Award: World Cinema Documentary
One In A Million

Sound Editor Luke Barnfather

NEXT AWARDS

The NEXT Innovator Award
The Incomer

Louis Paxton ©2026 Sundance Institute. Photo by Sam Emenogu.

Director/writer/producer Louis Paxton
1st AD Ewan Stewart
Producer Shirley O’Connor
Associate Producer/Production Coordinator Carys Evans
Associate Producer Solomon Golding
2nd Assistant Sound Lawrence Gartshore
For Head Gear Films Iris Cohen
Production and Development Exec: BFI Phoebe Sutherland

Jury citation: This award goes to a boldly original comic fable that blends folklore with formal playfulness. Deadpan humor, animation, and myth collide — proof that fearless invention can be both uproarious and deeply humane.

WORLD CINEMA DRAMATIC COMPETITION

The World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Creative Vision
Filipiñana

Production designer Tatjana Honegger
Colorist Vlad Barin
Senior Legal & Business Affairs Executive: Film4 Jonathan Fransman

Jury citation: With stunning visual command and sensitivity to the setting, the filmmaker thoughtfully evokes a world where characters languish. Through its static form, the filmmaker highlights insidious tension between luxury and labor.

The World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting Ensemble
Lady

Director of photography Alana Mejia Gonzalez
Sound designer Ines Adriana
Executive producers Kamila Serkebaeva and Max Park
Associate producer Victoria Thomas 
Production and development executive: bfi Phoebe Sutherland
Senior Legal & Business Affairs Executive: Film4 Jonathan Fransman

Jury citation: A film full of depth and texture and with a rhythm all its own, with an electric ensemble cast that brings life and humour and insight to a story about day-to-day challenges and finding safety in unexpected friendships.

WORLD CINEMA DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION

The World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Documentary
To Hold a Mountain

Cinematographer Eva Kraljevic

Jury citation: This visually and emotionally stunning film transported us to a remote mountaintop and into the most intimate moments of a family fighting to protect not only their land, but their way of life. The truest example of the power of cinema to make the personal political.

The Directing Award: World Cinema Documentary
One In A Million

Sound Editor Luke Barnfather

Jury citation: Elegantly exploring the ideas of freedom and the importance of home in the aftermath of war, this film impressed us with its sense of scale and decade-long directorial commitment to its participants. It is a beautiful synthesis of one family’s migration across multiple countries as they seek refuge from societal upheaval.

The World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Journalistic Impact
Birds of War

Composers Darren Sng and Harpal Mudhar 
Assistant re-recording mixer Samuel Morris
Supervising Editor Claire Ferguson
Additional Editor Tanya Singh

Jury citation: By turning the camera on themselves, the co-directors follow the arc of their own love story as the vehicle for a deeply moving narrative about the complexity of revolution and war. This film showcases the power of journalism through emotion and vulnerability; enduring, bearing witness, and telling one’s own story oftentimes has the most impact.

Huge congratulations to all alumni involved in the making of these outstanding films.