Sundance Film Festival 2016 awards: The Birth Of A Nation wins top honours

The Birth Of A Nation has bagged top honours at the Sundance Film Festival as it was presented with the grand jury prize and audience award in the US Dramatic category at a glittering ceremony held on 30 January. Writer-director Nate Parker's slave drama, which was picked by Fox Searchlightafter a record bidding, narrates the story of child prodigy, Nat Turner, who becomes the voice of the slave rebellion.

The 10-day film festival concludes with the institute's award ceremony honouring the best independent movies that received accolades from audiences and critics alike. In his acceptance speech, Parker said: "This means so much to me. Something being called an issue film succeeds when it touches people. I've seen that people are open to change. I share this with you audience members who remembered to tear that thing. Thank you so much."

Hosted by movie director and actor Taika Waititi, the ceremony was held at the Eccles Theatre, Park City, US. Including Waititi, Jon Hamm, Lena Dunham and Keegan-Michael Key were the jurors for the awards.

Below is a list of the top winners:

US Dramatic audience award – Birth Of A Nation – directed by Nate Parker

Audience Award: World cinema documentary–Sonita – directed by Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami

Audience award: World cinema dramatic–Between Land And Sea – directed by Carlos del Castillo

World cinema dramatic special jury award for acting–Vicky Hernandéz and Manolo Cruz for Between Sea And Land

World cinema dramatic special jury award for screenwriting–Mi Amiga del Parque, written by Inés Bortagaray and Ana Katz

Directing award: World cinema dramatic–Belgica, directed by Felix van Groeningen

World cinema grand jury prize: Dramatic–Sand Storm – directed by Elite Zexer

US documentary special jury award for writing–Kate Plays Christine,directed by Robert Greene

US documentary special jury award for vérité filmmaking– The Bad Kids,directed by Lou Pepe and Keith Fulton

Audience award: US documentary–Jim: The James Foley Story – directed by Brian Oakes

Directing Award: World cinema documentary–All These Sleepless Nights –directed by Michal Marczak

World cinema grand jury prize: Documentary–Sonita–directed by Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami

Winner of the Alfred P Sloan feature film prize–Embrace Of The Serpent – directed by Ciro Guerra

Click here for the complete list of winners.