Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones appear in Train Dreams by Clint Bentley, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Adolpho Veloso.

What a way to open the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. On the same day the Fest begins, the Oscar nominations land, spotlighting a year where indie cinema continues to shape the cultural conversation. As we kick off the Fest, we’re celebrating the extraordinary run of films supported by Sundance Institute artist programs and last year’s 2025 Festival lineup. 

This morning, nominations for the 98th Academy Awards were announced at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills by Lewis Pullman and Danielle Brooks (who appears in If I Go Will They Miss Me, premiering at the 2026 Festival this weekend). We’re thrilled to see eight Sundance Institute–supported films earn 11 nominations across categories including Best Picture, Actress in a Leading Role, Writing (Adapted Screenplay), and Makeup and Hairstyling. Other huge highlights come in the Documentary Feature Film category, where all five nominees are Sundance Institute–supported projects.

Train Dreams led the Sundance-supported noms, earning four across categories like Best Picture and Music (Original Score), Rose Bryne landed a nomination for her incredible role in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, and documentaries Come See Me in the Good Light and The Perfect Neighbor are recognized. We also want to congratulate Sundance Institute lab and Fest alums Chloé Zhao, Ryan Coogler, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Festival alums Joachim Trier and Josh Safdie for their Directing nominations. 

Below, find the full list of Sundance Institute–supported Oscar nominees. We’re sending a huge congratulations to the filmmakers and artists behind these projects. Tune in and watch the Academy Awards on March 15 on ABC or stream the show on Hulu.