'Birth of a Nation' wins big at the Sundance Film Festival

SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- The 2015 historical drama Birth of a Nation was the big winner at the Sundance Film Festival this weekend, earning the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize and the U.S. Dramatic Audience Award.

The Hollywood Reporter said Fox Searchlight acquired writer-director Nate Parker's slave-rebellion picture for $17.5 million, setting a new Sundance record.

The U.S. Documentary Grand Jury Prize went to the Anthony Weiner film Weiner, directed by Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg, while the U.S. Dramatic Directing Award was shared by Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan for Swiss Army Man, starring Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe.

Melanie Lynskey won the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Individual Performance for The Intervention and Craig Robinson went home with the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Individual Performance for Morris in America.

The World Cinema Dramatic Audience Award was bestowed upon Between Sea and Land and the World Cinema Documentary Audience Award was presented to Sonita.

First Girl I Loved won the NEXT Audience Award and Sand Storm earned the World Cinema Dramatic Grand Jury Prize.

The World Cinema Dramatic Directing Award was given to Felix van Groeningen for Belgica.