On January 31 , 2013 the festival sent 10 filmmakers to 10 cities across the US to screen and discuss their films . The cities and films were : Matt Patches of Hollywood.com wrote that the festival is more important than ever after '' Beasts of the Southern Wild '' , which debuted at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival , winning the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize and the U.S. Dramatic Cinematography Award , and going on to garner four Oscar nominations at the 85th Academy Awards ( Best Picture , Best Director , Best Adapted Screenplay , and Best Actress ) . He wrote , " we 're living in a post - '' Beasts '' world where a Sundance unknown can end a year-long journey at the Best Directors table . " He said " studios are looking to Sundance for recommendations . " Robert Redford said '' Beasts of the Southern Wild '' " is probably one of the great examples that we have of why Sundance is here and what my intention was to begin with . " Kristopher Tapley wrote the film " was nurtured through the Sundance Institute 's system every step of the way " , mentioning the Screenwriters Lab , the Directors Lab , and funding at the Creative Producing Summit
2012 Sundance Film Festival
2012 Sundance Film Festival
2013 Sundance Film Festival