The 2026 Sundance Film Festival, set to take place from January 22 to February 1 in Park City, Utah, will feature an exceptional jury lineup, including celebrated actor Tatiana Maslany. The announcement highlights Maslany’s role on the World Cinema Dramatic Competition jury, underscoring the diverse and accomplished panel chosen to evaluate films across various categories this year. This prestigious inclusion marks a significant moment for the festival, emphasizing the importance of creative vision in independent cinema.
Prominent Jury Members Announced for Multiple Competition Categories
Sundance organizers have revealed the jurors tasked with selecting winners across key competition sections, including U.S. Dramatic, U.S. Documentary, World Cinema Dramatic, NEXT, and Short Film categories. The jury encompasses filmmakers, critics, and industry leaders well-versed in independent storytelling traditions. Among notable inclusions are former Festival Director John Cooper and former Director of Programming Trevor Groth, who will serve together on the NEXT jury. Their involvement reflects a deep connection to the festival’s history, bridging past and present programming leadership.
The U.S. Dramatic jury boasts filmmakers Janicza Bravo, Azazel Jacobs, and Nisha Ganatra. Bravo gained acclaim for her 2020 Sundance premiere, Zola, while Ganatra directed the 2019 festival title Late Night and recently helmed the commercial success Freaky Friday. Azazel Jacobs, with multiple films premiering at Sundance including Momma’s Man and Terri, brings respected credentials to the panel. Other jurors involve a broad range of creative talents: Natalia Almada, Jennie Livingston, Ana Katz, So Yong Kim, Toni Kamau, Kirsten Schaffer, Martin Starr, A.V. Rockwell, and Nicole Perlman.
Film Industry Perspectives on This Year’s Jury Selection
Eugene Hernandez, Festival Director and head of Public Programming, emphasized the jury’s collective strength and adventurous spirit. He remarked,
“This year’s jury represents a rare depth of creative conviction and exceptional range, made up of artists and thinkers who know what it means to take risks. They bring curiosity, rigor, and a deep respect for bold storytelling, qualities that are essential to discovering the films that will define the future of independent cinema.”
Eugene Hernandez, Director, Sundance Film Festival and Public Programming
Kim Yutani, Director of Programming, explained the thoughtfulness behind this jury’s composition:
“Planning this special year, it felt especially meaningful to invite a slate of jurors who have a rich history with the Festival, all deeply rooted in the creative community they will now help champion. It’s a full-circle way to honor many of the artists, partners, and industry members who have played such a pivotal role in shaping the Sundance Film Festival’s legacy for more than 40 years.”
Kim Yutani, Director of Programming, Sundance Film Festival
Tatiana Maslany’s Role and Background in Sundance’s World Cinema Jury
Tatiana Maslany joins the World Cinema Dramatic Competition jury with a career spanning over three decades, marked by critically acclaimed performances and an Emmy Award for her lead role in Orphan Black. Her recent credits include collaborations with director Osgood Perkins in films like Keeper and The Monkey, as well as Apple TV’s upcoming series Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed. Maslany was previously honored with a Special Jury Prize at Sundance in 2010 for her role in Grown Up Movie Star. Her participation brings a profound acting perspective rooted in both independent and mainstream projects, enriching the jury’s evaluative breadth.
Detailed Overview of Jury Members Across Categories
The U.S. Dramatic jury features Janicza Bravo, known principally as a writer and director. Bravo’s film Zola led the 2022 Film Independent Spirit Awards after its Sundance debut; her earlier work Lemon premiered at Sundance in 2017. Her extensive television directing includes the BBC limited series The Listeners.
Nisha Ganatra brings award-winning direction, including the Cannes Lions Grand Prix for Film Craft. Her notable films are Late Night, starring Emma Thompson and Mindy Kaling, and The High Note with Tracee Ellis Ross. She also directed Freaky Friday, a box office hit comedy. Ganatra’s debut feature Chutney Popcorn achieved international festival recognition.
Azazel Jacobs, revered for his writing and directing, earned acclaim with His Three Daughters, securing Gotham and Independent Spirit Awards in 2024. He previously directed French Exit, which garnered Michelle Pfeiffer a Golden Globe nomination, and other Sundance premieres like Momma’s Man and Terri.
The U.S. Documentary jury includes Natalia Almada, a 2012 MacArthur “Genius” Fellow, who has earned Sundance Directing Awards for El General and Users. Almada’s broader filmography features titles screened at Cannes, Tribeca, and the New York Film Festival. Film critic Justin Chang joins this panel with a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism in 2024 and notable roles at The New Yorker and NPR. Jennie Livingston, director of the landmark documentary Paris is Burning, which won Sundance’s Grand Jury Prize in 1991, also serves on this jury.
World Cinema Dramatic jury members alongside Maslany include Ana Katz, recognized for directing features such as Los Marziano and The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be Quiet, which have premiered at prominent international festivals. So Yong Kim, a Korean American filmmaker, has earned a Sundance Special Jury Prize for her debut In Between Days and subsequent acclaimed works.
The World Cinema Documentary jury is composed of Toni Kamau, a producer nominated for News and Documentary Emmy and Peabody Awards with credits including Softie and The Battle for Laikipia; Bao Nguyen, a Vietnamese American filmmaker whose documentary work has appeared globally and earned major accolades; and Kirsten Schaffer, CEO of Women in Film and a leading advocate for diversity and inclusion in the film industry.
For the NEXT jury, John Cooper, former Sundance Festival Director and current artistic director of Healdsburg’s True West Film Center, returns. Partnered with Trevor Groth, ex-director of programming and current executive at 30WEST, they bring decades of expertise in innovation and global film curation.
The Short Film Competition jury includes Liv Constable-Maxwell, publishing director at MACK, and A.V. Rockwell, known for her Sundance-winning feature A Thousand and One. Martin Starr, an actor with deep Sundance involvement, also serves on this jury.
The Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize jury combines film and science experts such as Sophie Barthes, filmmaker of Sundance and international film festival titles; neuroscientist Dr. Heather Berlin, who bridges brain science and storytelling; Nobel laureate astronomer Dr. Andrea Ghez; producer and neuroscientist Ari Handel; and screenwriter Nicole Perlman, renowned for popular films and her mentorship roles in Sundance Labs and other creative programs.
Audience Participation and Festival Schedule Details
In addition to the expert juries, the festival also invites in-person audiences to participate in selecting the 2026 Audience Awards. These awards cover entries in the U.S. Competition, World Competition, and NEXT sections. Attendees will also have the opportunity to vote for the Festival Favorite from all eligible feature film screenings in person. The Festival Audience and Jury Awards will be presented at the awards ceremony scheduled for Friday, January 30.
The hybrid format of Sundance means that the festival will be accessible both onsite in Park City, Utah, and online, spanning from Thursday, January 22, through Sunday, February 1. This approach aims to reach a wide, diverse audience and support independent storytelling across geographic boundaries.
The Growing Legacy and Significance of This Renowned Jury Assembly
The 2026 jury team reflects a deliberate commitment to fostering creativity, innovation, and inclusivity within independent cinema. By bringing together award-winning filmmakers, critics, and industry veterans, Sundance underscores its leadership in championing bold narratives and diverse voices. Tatiana Maslany’s inclusion signifies recognition of distinguished talent that bridges performance and cinematic evaluation.
This roster of jurors, each with established histories at Sundance or notable contributions to film, represents the festival’s ongoing mission to evolve while honoring its legacy. As independent cinema continues shaping cultural conversations, the insights and choices of this distinguished jury will influence which films gain wider recognition, impact future creators, and inspire audiences around the globe.
