Hindsight is 2026 will focus on Sundance as we look back at some of the top acquisitions from last year’s festival and forward to the films in contention for the top prizes this year. The Sundance sales chart will be updated as we hear of acquisitions from the festival and when they’ll be coming to U.S theatres and streaming. The biggest splash of 2025’s festival was undoubtedly Eva Victor’s debut Sorry, Baby. The film won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting award whilst generating major buzz (it even closed the Directors’ Fortnight section in Cannes) and hasn’t looked back. A24 quickly acquired it directly after the fest with it making around $3.35 million on a $1.5 million budget and receiving excellent critical support and year-end award nominations from the Golden Globes (Acting) and Indie Spirits (Directing, Screenplay).
James Sweeney’s Twinless which won the audience award has also performed well having released in early September. Riding the coattails of its rapturous festival consensus the film has gone down well after being picked up by Lionsgate. This follows the trend in recent years of the audience award being given to comedy-drama coming-of-age character studies like Dídi in 2024, The Persian Version in 2023 and Cha Cha Real Smooth in 2022.
It remains unclear whether this year will favor buyers or sellers, but in recent years the prevailing trend has been shaped by the expansion of streaming platforms and roadshow-style self-distribution DIY models, with filmmakers increasingly opting to not relinquish distribution rights at deep discounts. Notably some prize-winning projects such as Rashad Frett’s Ricky (Directing Award) have have stalled to get out of the gate (finally dropping in March this year via Blue Harbor Entertainment). The U.S. Grand Jury Prize winner, Atropia by Hailey Gates, did not secure distribution until October and ultimately received a theatrical release through Vertical last month. The delay reflects a broader industry pattern and underscores how subdued the acquisition market was in 2025 but buyers will line-up the seated rows of the Eccles and Library theatres as per usual with the days of all-night condo bidding wars long gone. Though this does not mean distributors have lost their appetite for strong films. Rather, the market has shifted toward a more cautious, measured approach to acquisitions.
Three filmmakers in Janicza Bravo, Nisha Ganatra and Azazel Jacobs make up the jury and bring a mix of different comedic and character driven backgrounds. Bravo’s feature debut Lemon as well as follow up Zola both lean into an absurdist trip. Ganatra has made more accessible and commercial comedic projects with Late Night and more recently Freakier Friday. Jacobs offers dry comedy in his films but they’re more low-key and character driven which we’ve seen recently in His Three Daughters or his Sundance charmer Terri. A quick glimpse the class of ’26, a film like Josephine may appeal to someone like Jacobs with its knottier elements though more of a crowdpleaser like Carousel could prevail as a more well rounded example of each jury member’s sensibilities. It’ll be tight with three people who all operate in different microcosms of each other’s work and tastes. Here are the ten U.S. Dramatic offerings we’ll be tracking and stay tuned for tomorrow’s Hindsight is 2026: Focus on the Ten U.S. Documentary Comp Offerings for Buyers.
Director: Stephanie Ahn
Cast: Moon Choi, Son Suk-ku, Won Mi kyung, Kim Eung soo, Jefferson White
A feature debut surrounding Audrey (Moon Choi) a 30 year-old Korean-American woman forced to return home after her mother is killed in a car accident. Meeting Eli (Son Suk-ku) the man responsible, she forms an unexpected and passionate bond. With the up-and-comer Moon Choi at the forefront we expect the film to make waves on the strengths of its performances.
Carousel
Director: Rachel Lambert
Cast: Chris Pine, Jenny Slate, Abby Ryder Fortson, Sam Waterson, Katey Sagal
Noah (Chris Pine) has a carefully constructed life caring for his anxious daughter and managing the family medical practice. This is upended when his former high-school girlfriend returns to his hometown; with differing life experience but the same attraction once felt they wonder if love is worth the varying complications. Rachel Lambert gained some traction with Sometimes I Think About Dying and this measured character study is sure to hit all the right notes. (Sales handled by CAA)
The Friend’s House is Here
Director(s): Hossein Keshavarz, Maryam Ataei
Cast: Mahshad Bahram, Hana Mana, Farzad Karen, Zohreh Pirnia
Two women find refuge and freedom through Tehran’s underground art scene but when their creative circle is exposed they must fight to save each other. With Iran-Sundance recent hot track record of docu Cutting Through Rocks and The Things You Kill this is sure to resonate with the jury and act as a defiant takedown of the repressive regime.
Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!
Director: Josef Kubota Wladyka
Cast: Rinko Kikuchi, Alberto Guerra, Alejandro Edda, YOU, Yoh Yoshida, Damián Alcázar
Haru (Rinko Kikuchi) and Luis (Alejandro Edda) love competing in Tokyo’s ballroom scene but after a terrible tragedy she is thrust into isolation. Upon her eventual return she is swept away and infatuated with the new instructor and must come to terms with what happens next. After the critical acclaim of Josef Kubota Wladyka’s Catch the Fair One and an Oscar-nominated actress in Rinko Kikuchi, the film promises to be a multifaceted and uplifting affair with harsh undertones. (Sales handled by CAA)
Director: Ramzi Bashour
Cast: Lubna Azabal, Daniel Zolghadri, Dale Dickey, Gabe Fazio
An American kid and his Lebanese mother go on a road trip after he’s kicked out of school, resulting in lessons in life, forward motion and the roads that lead to return. Starring Daniel Zolghadri of Lurker and Funny Pages fame this debut looks set to deliver two strong leading performances – we all love a road movie.
Josephine
Director: Beth de Araújo
Cast: Mason Reeves, Channing Tatum, Gemma Chan, Philip Ettinger, Syra McCarthy, Eleanore Pienta
8 year-old Josephine accidentally witnesses a violent crime in Golden Gate Park shattering her existence. She fights to regain a sense of control in her life while the adults around her feel powerless to help. After her brilliant and grimly intense debut Soft & Quiet, Beth de Araújo is sure to bring an escalating intensity and with help from the star power of Channing Tatum and a potentially career-making performance from the young Mason Reeves it’s sure to be an award winner.
The Musical
Director: Giselle Bonilla
Cast: Will Brill, Gillian Jacobs, Rob Lowe
After an exasperated playwright and middle school teacher finds out his nemesis, the school’s principal, is dating his ex-girlfriend he attempts to ruin his chances of winning the Blue Ribbon of Academic Excellence. A seemingly acerbically funny tale of resentment and jealousy with help from veteran actors Rob Lowe and Gillian Jacobs this has all the hallmarks of an audience award contender. (Sales handled by WME)
Director: NB Mager
Cast: Alyssa Marvin, Patrick Wilson, Margaret Cho, Sophia Torres, Elizabeth Marvel, Molly Ringwald
A teenage girl stages an elaborate musical about a tragic day in her school’s history nobody wants to remember. An offbeat tragicomedy with a contemporary edge all with an ode to the power of art and performance this seems like an anti-crowdpleaser of the Sorry, Baby, variety.
Take me Home
Director: Liz Sargent
Cast: Anna Sargent, Victor Slezak, Ali Ahn, Marceline Hugot, Shane Harper
Anna (Anna Sargent), a 38 year-old Korean adoptee with a cognitive disability is a carer for her aging parents in a complex balancing act between each other’s needs. When a Florida heatwave shatters their routine Anna must attempt to create a world in which she can thrive. After the acclaim of her short of the same name, Sargent’s expansion into feature film could be the blossoming of a bright new cinematic voice.
Union County
Director: Adam Meeks
Cast: Will Poulter, Noah Centineo, Elise Kibler, Emily Meade, Annette Deao
Cody Parsons (Will Poulter) is assigned to a county-mandated drug court programme amid the opioid epidemic in rural Ohio. Here he must face the tricky journey to recovery.
Shot in the director’s hometown with fan favourite Will Poulter at the helm this is a major awards contender sure to strike a chord with the festival audience. This is based on the 2020 short of the same name.
