Alexie Film Wins Sundance Awards ‘Smoke Signals,’ Honored At Movie Festival, Based On Native American Author’s Story

“Smoke Signals,” a film set on the Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation and shot largely in Spokane and North Idaho, won two awards Saturday at the Sundance Film Festival, the nation’s top showcase for independent film.

Directed by Chris Eyre from a screenplay by Wellpinit native Sherman Alexie, “Smoke Signals” won the audience award and the Filmmakers Trophy.

Based on a short story from Alexie’s book “The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven,” “Smoke Signals” shared the audience award with the documentary “Out of the Past.” The documentary, “Divine Trash” also won a Filmmakers Trophy.

The festival’s Grand Jury Prize went to “Slam,” Mark Levin’s drama about a Washington, D.C., rapper/poet facing a term in prison. One of the film’s four screenwriters is Richard Stratton, editor and publisher of Prison Life magazine.

Two documentaries - “The Farm” and “Frat House” - shared the Grand Jury Prize for nonfiction.

“Out of the Past,” produced and directed by Jeff Dupre, documents a 17-year-old student’s attempt to form a gay club at a Salt Lake City high school.

Steve Yeagar’s “Divine Trash,” a profile of underground filmmaker John Waters, specifically details the making of Waters’ 1972 movie “Pink Flamingoes.” Filmmakers Trophies are selected by the festivals’ movie-makers.

Directing awards went to Julia Loktev for the documentary “Moment of Impact” and writer-director Darren Arnofsky’s drama “Pi.”

Cinematography awards went to the documentary “Wild Man Blues,” two-time Oscar-winner Barbara Kopple’s profile of Woody Allen, and the drama “2by4.”

A total of 32 films competed for jury prizes in the dramatic and documentary categories of this year’s festival, which ended its 11-day run on Saturday.

Other awards included:

Freedom of Expression award: “The Decline of Western Civilization, Part III.”

Waldo Salt screenwriting award: writer-director Lisa Cholodenko for “High Art.”

Special jury prize for acting: Andrea Hart, “Miss Monday.”

Special recognition in Latin American cinema award: “Who the Hell Is Juliette?”

Special recognition in short filmmaking award: “Snake Feed.”

Honorable mention in short filmmaking: “Human Remains.”

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Associated Press Staff writer Dan Webster contributed to this story.