Sundance 2010 has come and gone. Some films have been picked up for distribution. Others are weighing whatever offers have been made to them. Many are still waiting for their fate to take its turn.

Among the notable films to have been picked up for distribution (which means you will get to see them in theaters at some point) are Debra Granik's beautifully nuanced, dark and intimate film "Winter's Bone"; Davis Guggenheim's important and comprehensive study of the ailing education system in the U.S., "Waiting for Superman"; Michael Winterbottom's controversially violent film, "The Killer Inside Me"; the wonderfully acted "Blue Valentine"; and the documentary in competition "Family Affair."

While the business of acquisition continues to rage on after Sundance, the coveted competition awards were handed out Saturday night at the Racket Club in Park City.

Kudos should go out to Woodstock's own Leon Gast, who received the best directing award in the documentary category for "Smash His Camera," and, if I may add, this was extremely well-deserved. The film is masterfully done and Gast is indeed one of the best documentary filmmakers of our time.

I should also mention that the film, which was edited in its entirety in Woodstock, was cut by Doug Abel, a great editor who has worked extensively with Errol Morris. Abel lives and works in the Hudson Valley, and while he's not cutting film he's tending to his animals at the Woodstock Animal Sanctuary.

Another special mention should go to writer/director Debra Granik, whose "Winter's Bone" won the Grand Jury prize in the dramatic competition and whose writing won her and her writing and producing partner, Anne Rosellini, the Waldo Scott Screenwriting Award.

"Winter's Bone" is a beautiful, delicate and daring film that most certainly deserves all of this recognition.

Granik's directorial debut a few years ago was the film "Down to the Bone," a dark and unflinching tale that was shot almost in its entirety in the Hudson Valley and discovered the now very successful actress Vera Farmiga.

A few other notable winners: Davis Guggenheim won the Documentary Audience Award for "Waiting for Superman"; Josh Radnor won the Dramatic Audience Award for "happythankyoumoreplease" (with production design by Woodstocker Jade Healy); Sebastian Junger and Tim Hetherington won the Grand Jury Prize, documentary, for "Restrepo"; Josh Fox won the Special Jury Prize, documentary, for "Gasland"; and Mark Ruffalo won the Special Jury Prize, dramatic, for "Sympathy for Delicious."

The talk is that Sundance 2010 was definitely one to remember.

The quality of the films this year was high, especially in the documentary category, but really across the board.

Sundance this year was also innovative. Not only in its programming, which included the new sidebar, "Next," giving a platform to very low or no-budget films with pioneering approaches to the art and craft of filmmaking, but also in its widespread approach, with eight films traveling to eight cities across the country during the festival to exhibit Sundance programming to a wider American audience.

Now that the festival is behind us, the frenzy is gone, and the rush to make sure we don't miss out on a hidden gem or an inspiring new director is over, we can all look back peacefully and reflect on what has transpired.

I think many will agree with me when I say that this was a good Sundance. The independent film world is alive and well despite the economic crash, and although it's harder and harder these days to get funding for a film, those who make it, and there are many, make some great films that are certainly worth seeing.

So look forward to the rest of the year as many excellent films are sure to hit your local art houses.

Until then, stay warm and see you at the movies.

Articly by Meira Blaustein