Damien Chazelle, director of "Whiplash," accepts the Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic award for his film during the 2014 Sundance Film Festival Awards Ceremony on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
January 25, 2014 - 8:29 PM
PARK CITY, Utah - "Whiplash" is the winner of the Sundance Film Festival.
The dramatic story of a jazz drummer aspiring to greatness won both audience and jury awards for U.S. dramatic films Saturday at the festival's closing awards ceremony.
The musical drama by writer-director Damien Chazelle opened the independent film showcase last week and rode a wave of positive buzz throughout the 10-day event.
It stars 26-year-old Miles Teller as an aspiring jazz drummer in pursuit of excellence and veteran actor J.K. Simmons as his unforgiving instructor.
The documentary "Rich Hill," about a tiny town in Missouri, won the jury award for U.S. documentary. The American documentary about dementia and music, "Alive Inside," won the audience award.
The Sundance Film Festival wraps Sunday in Park City, Utah.
News from © The Associated Press, 2014