This is What a $100,000 Winner Looks Like

During Sundance 2013, at a special ceremony on January 22nd, GE Focus Forward announced the winners of their $200,000 Filmmaker Competition. The Grand Jury Prize of $100,000 went to Cyborg Foundation directed by Spanish filmmaker Rafel Duran Torrent. When Sundance programmer Caroline Libresco announced his name, Rafel ascended the stage and promptly fell to his knees in front of her. Torrent then graciously thanked GE Focus Forward for supporting filmmakers, acknowledged his fellow winners, and said he planned to put his cash winnings to work on several new projects. Rafel had first become aware of GE Focus Forward and the Filmmaker Competition during the 2012 Berlinale Talent Campus. 

The other prize winners, all of whom were in attendance, are no less deserving. 2nd Place went to The Artificial Leaf by Jared P. Scott & Kelly Nyks ($50,000), the 3rd Place winner was Slingshot by Paul Lazarus ($30,000), and 4th and 5th Places went to Bones Don't Lie And Don't Forget by Kim Munsamy, and Mine Kafon by Callum Cooper ($10,000 each).

If you crave more amazing short films on innovative people and ideas, you can also see the other 15 Finalists and 75 Semifinalists. 

See all Five Winners here

Global Creative Director, GE, Andy Goldberg, with cinelan co-founder Morgan Spurlock and the director of Sundance Film Festival, John Cooper at the Awards Ceremony Event.

Check out more photos from Sundance events here

Grand Jury Prize Winner: CYBORG FOUNDATION by Rafel Duran Torrent

New Films by Morgan Spurlock, Albert Maysles, and Lucy Walker among Five Premieres at Sundance

Five new films premiered to audiences in Park City, completing the initial round of 30 films that kicked off one year ago at Sundance. You Don't Know Jack by Morgan Spurlock and The Secret of Trees by documentary legend Albert Maysles were also included in this year's official Sundance shorts competition. The Contenders by Lucy Walker, Techistan by Senain Kheshgi, and The Cleanest Pig by David White & Paul Wedel rounded out the premieres. It's been an incredible year, with so many talented filmmakers, and their films have been seen and shared by millions of people around the globe. And the audience just keeps growing.

Watch all 30 GE Focus Forward Shorts here

Next Stop: Tribeca Film Festival

GE FOCUS FORWARD is planning some great things for the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival in April. Stay tuned for more announcements and information about upcoming events, panels, and more.