Drunk History Takes Sundance Short Film Jury Prize

On March 22, Jen Kirkman drank two bottles of wine and then discussed a historical event…and began the making of what would become one of the most successful short films at Sundance this year. “Drunk History: Douglass and Lincoln,” directed by Jerry Konner, has won the Sundance Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking (via indieWire).

Drunk History has become one of the most popular internet video phenomena of the last few years, with its first episode alone generating over 2.4 million views on YouTube. The series features sauced young historians recounting a favorite historical event with marquee celebrities such as Michael Cera and Danny McBride acting out the narration, hiccups and all.

Fans of Drunk History will remember Kirkman from episode three, in which she slurred through the story of Oney Judge, George Washington’s one-time slave. In the Sundance winner, Kirkman tells of Frederick Douglass’s visit to President Lincoln. The abolitionist and the former president are played by Don Cheadle and Will Ferrell, respectively. Watch some clips of “Drunk History: Douglass and Lincoln”:

“Drunk History: Tesla and Edison,” was also featured at Sundance this year, and while it failed to win any awards, Duncan Trussell, besotted by a six-pack of beer and half a bottle of absinthe, promises to tell the story of the rival inventors like you’ve never heard it before with the help of John C. Reilly and Crispin Glover.

The Jury Prize in International Short Filmmaking went to Australian directors Mark Albiston and Louis Sutherland for their “The Six Dollar Fifty Man” about a boy dealing with playground bullies.

The list of Honorable Mentions in Short Filmmaking from the Sundance jury is below, courtesy of indieWire:

“Born Sweet” USA (Director: Cynthia Wade)—Arsenic-laced water has poisoned a 15-year-old-boy from a small, rural village in Cambodia, who fashions dreams for karaoke stardom.

“Can We Talk?” United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: Jim Owen)—Vince gets way more than he bargains for when he dumps his girlfriend. Again.

“Dock Ellis & The LSD No-No” USA (Director: James Blagden)—In celebration of the greatest athletic achievement by a man on a psychedelic journey, here’s the animated tale of Dock Ellis’ legendary LSD no-hitter.

“How I Met Your Father” Spain (Director and screenwriter: Alex Montoya)—Every couple has their story, some more romantic than others.

“Quadrangle” USA (Director: Amy Grappell)—An unconventional look at two “conventional” couples that swapped partners and lived in a group marriage in the early 1970s, hoping to pioneer an alternative to divorce and the way people would live in the future.

“Rob and Valentyna in Scotland” USA, United Kingdom (Director: Eric Lynne; Screenwriters: Eric Lynne and Rob Chester Smith)—An American abroad travels with his long-lost Ukrainian cousin to the Highlands of Scotland.

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