Alumna Lindsay Utz in her directorial debut earned a World Cinema Documentary Audience Award for “Prime Minister” at the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 31.
Utz and Michelle Walshe, co-directors of the 102-minute documentary, highlighted the vulnerability of leadership telling the story about Dame Jacinda Ardern’s five years in office as New Zealand’s Prime Minister.
The film uses home footage taken by Ardern’s husband Clarke Gayford, who also worked on the project as a producer and director of photography.
Los Angeles Times entertainment and arts deputy editor Matt Brennan called the 102-minute film “an uncommonly revealing portrait of leadership in action.”
- New Zealand Herald | “Documentary on Dame Jacinda Ardern wins award at Sundance Film Festival”
- The Guardian | “Prime Minister: Jacinda Ardern documentary featuring home videos debuts at Sundance”
Utz (BA ’03, Media Arts) is an award-winning documentary film editor whose work has shaped some of the most compelling nonfiction films of recent years. She edited American Factory, the Academy Award-winning documentary that earned her an Emmy nomination, as well as acclaimed films like Bully, Quest, Miss Americana, and The World’s A Little Blurry. Her projects span intimate character studies and cultural deep dives, including documentaries on pop icons Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish.
Utz’s passion for documentary filmmaking began at the University of Arizona, where a History of Documentary class taught by School of Theatre, Film & Television Professor Beverly Seckinger introduced her to cinema verité. Inspired by classic nonfiction films like Salesmen and Night and Fog, she switched her major to media arts and immersed herself in documentary storytelling, often working late into the night on editing projects. Her early talent was evident—her first student documentary stood out, and her dedication to the craft set her on a path to success.
A founding member of the School of Theatre, Film & Television’s Industry Council, Utz remains engaged with her alma mater, mentoring the next generation of filmmakers. In recognition of her contributions to the field and her ongoing support of the university, she was named the College of Fine Arts’ 2021 Alumna of the Year.