Eisenberg, Prince-Bythewood Top Sundance Honorees for New Boulder Era

Jesse Eisenberg will accept the Sundance Institute Trailblazer Award at the organization's annual fundraiser on Jan. 22. The ceremony, titled Celebrating Sundance Institute: The Boulder Debut, marks the first year the festival will be held in Boulder, Colorado.

Eisenberg is recognized for his contributions to independent film. The actor and director said he was "jumping with joy and gratitude" over the news. He noted that every previous invitation to the Sundance Film Festival had made him jump for joy. His filmography at the festival includes acting roles in The Squid and the Whale, Holy Rollers, and The Double. He also directed When You Finish Saving the World and A Real Pain for the event. His next project, The Debut, is scheduled for theatrical release on Dec. 11.

Gina Prince-Bythewood will receive the Robert Redford Luminary Award. This honor goes to artists who use their platform to create new possibilities. Prince-Bythewood has directed Love & Basketball and The Secret Life of Bees. Her upcoming film, Children of Blood and Bone, is also cited in the award announcement. The Robert Redford Luminary Award specifically honors the creation of previously unavailable storytelling avenues.

Two additional recipients will take home Vanguard Awards Presented by Acura. Beth de Araújo, director of Josephine and Soft & Quiet, will receive the award for Fiction. Dawn Porter, who directed When A Witness Recants and founded Trilogy Films, will receive the award for Nonfiction. These awards celebrate creative independence in both genres.

David Linde, CEO of Sundance Institute, called the honorees incredible and groundbreaking in a statement. He described the event as a memorable kickoff for a historic first festival in the organization's new home. Linde said the event continues the legacy of supporting bold voices in independent cinema. The 2027 Sundance Film Festival will run from Jan. 21 to Jan. 31 in person in Boulder. An at-home program will be available online from Jan. 28 to Jan. 31.