"This is a film that, we felt, bridged the space of humanistic storytelling at its highest level," the U.S. Narrative Feature category jurors of creative executive Sarah Flores, filmmaker Vuk Lingulov-Klotz, and author Geena Rocero said in a joint statement. "This year, we award 'Ponyboi' for its beautiful writing, performances, and cinematic storytelling. This film is a beautiful blend of personal storytelling that highlights River Gallo's personal journey and interweaves a daring and propulsive thriller. It's a brave invitation to a brave new world, blending skill, joy and heart while exciting us about the future of films."
