by Rosa Parra
The 2026 Sundance Film Festival has concluded, marking its farewell to Park City, Utah, and its founder, Robert Redford. Out of 48 films, I am excited to share my top 15 favorites from the festival. I had the opportunity to watch a diverse selection, including documentaries, dramas, and comedies. As someone who considers themselves a coward, I deliberately avoided horror films, as I still need the courage to sit through them and find some enjoyment. This year, the festival showcased an impressive array of documentaries. Although I didn’t see all of them, the ones I did watch were mostly fascinating, educational, and compelling in their own ways. Without further ado, here are my 15 favorite films from the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.
15. Silenced
After #MeToo broke the cultural silence on gender violence, international human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson campaigns against the misuse of defamation laws to silence survivors. It offers a thought-provoking examination of a system created by men to protect men and reveals how many men attempt to weaponize defamation to dismiss allegations and restore their reputation.
14. The Shitheads
When two unqualified workers are hired to transport a wealthy teen to rehab, their simple task quickly descends into chaotic trouble. The premise seemed promising, and this film somehow exceeded all my expectations. Funny, gritty, with unpredictable situations, it’s a movie not to be missed.
13. The Incomer
On a remote Scottish island, siblings Isla and Sandy pursue birds and converse with mythical creatures while defending against outsiders. Their lives are transformed when Daniel, a shy official, comes to relocate them. This was one of my favorite surprises at the festival.
12. Wicker
A fisherwoman requests a basketmaker to weave her a husband, making it one of those films that become more captivating the longer you ponder it.
11. TheyDream
After two decades of documenting his Puerto Rican family, a director and his mother confront heartbreaking losses. With a mix of tears and laughter, they create animations that revive their loved ones’ memories, learning that each act of creation is also an act of releasing. This film is the most inventive at the festival and a heartfelt homage to family, heritage, ancestry, and aspirations.
10. In the Blink of an Eye
Three storylines, covering thousands of years, intersect and explore themes of hope, connection, and the circle of life. Awarded the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize. A traditional sci-fi film that embraces sentimentality and emotion, executed beautifully.
9. Josephine
After 8-year-old Josephine accidentally witnesses a crime in Golden Gate Park, she reacts by acting out as she tries to regain a sense of safety, while adults are unable to comfort her. This film explores profound themes, making it one of the most impactful I have seen. An unforgettable experience that made me reflect.
8. The Weight
In Oregon, 1933, Samuel Murphy is separated from his daughter and sent to a harsh work camp. Warden Clancy offers him early release if he smuggles gold through dangerous wilderness, but betrayal grows among the crew, making Murphy wonder how much he’s willing to risk to reunite with his child. An exciting story.
7. The Gallerist
An entertaining experience from start to finish. A determined gallerist schemes to sell a one-of-a-kind artwork at Art Basel Miami. Cathy Yan makes a comeback with this sharply humorous and biting satire of the modern art scene.
6. Everybody to Kenmure Street
Perhaps the most inspiring film of the festival, it beautifully showcases unity, human kindness, and collective action for justice and love for neighbors. In May 2021, a dawn raid by the U.K. Home Office sparks one of the most spontaneous and effective acts of civil resistance in recent history. In Scotland’s most diverse community, hundreds of residents spill into the streets to prevent their neighbors’ deportation.
5. The Huntress (La Cazadora)
A revealing presentation on feminicide in Juárez. In the border city of Juárez, Mexico, where violence against women occurs with little consequence, an unexpected advocate rises, urgently calling for change. Inspired by real events.
4. The Oldest Person in the World
A thought-provoking and compelling exploration of the world’s oldest individuals. Over a decade, a global journey tracks the changing record holders for the title of oldest person alive. What starts as a portrait of longevity transforms into a reflection on the passage of time, the randomness of fate, and the joy and depth of the human experience of life.
3. Jane Elliott Against the World
This documentary is extremely timely. As racism persists, it highlights Jane Elliott’s ongoing influence. A rural Iowa schoolteacher turned national anti-racism advocate after her 1968 lesson on discrimination with her all-white third-grade class. Now nearing 90, she remains vocal amid current debates on race, history, and power, drawing from a lifetime of activism.
2. American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez
My favorite documentary of the festival highlights Luis Valdez’s significant contributions to Chicano theater and film. Despite political opposition and industry doubts, Valdez transitions Chicano storytelling from the fields to the big screen with works like Zoot Suit and La Bamba, creating iconic pieces that challenge, celebrate, and broaden America’s narrative.
1. Bedford Park
This romantic drama captivated me from start to finish. The script masterfully let the characters come alive, grow, and interact naturally. Original, relatable, and well-paced, it portrays Audrey, a Korean American woman in her 30s haunted by her abusive childhood. When her mother’s car accident pulls her back to her parents’ house, she encounters the man responsible for the crash. As their relationship develops, passions flare and they forge a deep, loving bond.