At the opening night gala, "Oppenheimer" director Christopher Nolan was honored with the festival's inaugural Trailblazer Award. His breakthrough film, "Memento," won the screenwriting award here in 2001.
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Director Celine Song was also honored - her debut film "Past Lives" premiered at Sundance a year ago -- and is now among this year's Oscar hopefuls.
Many of the movies selected for Sundance over its 40-year history have highlighted under-represented groups of people. One of those films this year is "Out of My Mind."
"Out of My Mind" tells the story of a sharp-minded but non-verbal girl named Melody who is navigating life with cerebral palsy and the 6th grade.
"You will always root for her," said co-star Judith Light.
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"It's Melody's story, it's her perspective," said co-star Luke Kirby. "She has a great curiosity and appetite for life."
The film's star is Phoebe-Rae Taylor - in her film debut - now enjoying her first time on a red carpet.
After premiering at Sundance, "Out of My Mind" will later make its streaming debut on Disney+.