Soul Patrol, directed by J.M. Harper, has won the Directing Award: U.S. Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival. The honor recognizes Harper’s work uncovering a largely untold chapter of American military history: the first all-Black special operations unit to serve during the Vietnam War.
Premiering in the U.S. Documentary Competition, Soul Patrol centers on members of the Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP), an elite unit tasked with high-risk missions deep behind enemy lines. The film follows Ed Emanuel and his fellow soldiers as they recount their experiences in combat—while simultaneously navigating life as Black Americans during the height of the Civil Rights Movement.
As the men fought overseas, they were acutely aware of the contradictions waiting for them back home. Soul Patrol explores that tension, examining how these soldiers risked their lives for a country that continued to deny them full equality. The documentary is framed around a reunion of surviving unit members more than fifty years after the war, where candid conversations reveal themes of brotherhood, trauma, resilience, and the emotional weight carried long after their return.
Harper weaves together archival footage, personal film shot during the war, and present-day interviews to construct an intimate and reflective narrative. The film also situates the veterans’ stories within the broader political and social unrest of the late 1960s, highlighting the disconnect many Black veterans faced upon reentering American society.
Produced by Sam Bisbee, Danielle Massie, Harper, Nasir Jones, and Peter Bittenbender, Soul Patrol also counts Ed Emanuel and Davis Guggenheim among its executive producers. The film runs approximately 100 minutes and received strong critical response throughout the festival.
With its Sundance win, Soul Patrol cements itself as one of the most impactful documentaries of the year—honored not only for its historical significance, but for the precision, care, and emotional depth of its direction.
Full List of Winners — 2026 Sundance Film Festival
U.S. Dramatic Competition
- U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic
Josephine / U.S.A. — Director/Writer/Producer: Beth de Araújo - Directing Award
Josef Kubota Wladyka — Ha-chan, Shake Your Booty! / U.S.A. - Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast
The Friend’s House Is Here / U.S.A., Iran - Special Jury Award for Debut Feature
Bedford Park / U.S.A. — Director: Stephanie Ahn - Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award
Take Me Home / U.S.A. — Liz Sargent
U.S. Documentary Competition
- U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary
Nuisance Bear / U.S.A., Canada — Gabriela Osio Vanden & Jack Weisman - Special Jury Award for Journalistic Excellence
Who Killed Alex Odeh? / U.S.A. - Jonathan Oppenheim Editing Award
Matt Hixon — Barbara Forever - Directing Award
J.M. Harper — Soul Patrol - Special Jury Award for Impact for Change
The Lake / U.S.A.
Audience Awards
- U.S. Dramatic — Josephine
- U.S. Documentary — American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez
- NEXT — Aanikoobijigan
- World Cinema Documentary — One In A Million
- World Cinema Dramatic — HOLD ONTO ME (Κράτα Με)
NEXT Awards
- Special Jury Award for Creative Expression
TheyDream - Innovator Award
The Incomer
World Cinema Dramatic Competition
- Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic
Shame and Money - Special Jury Award for Creative Vision
Filipiñana - Special Jury Award for Acting Ensemble
LADY — U.K., Nigeria - Directing Award
Andrius Blaževičius — How to Divorce During the War
World Cinema Documentary Competition
- Grand Jury Prize: Documentary
To Hold a Mountain - Special Jury Award for Journalistic Impact
Birds of War - Special Jury Award for Civil Resistance
Everybody to Kenmure Street - Directing Award
Itab Azzam & Jack MacInnes — One In A Million
Shorts Program Awards
- Short Film Grand Jury Prize
The Baddest Speechwriter of All - U.S. Fiction Jury Award
Crisis Actor - Special Jury Award for Acting
Noah Roja & Filippo Carrozza — The Liars - Special Jury Award for Creative Vision
Paper Trail - Animation Jury Award
Living with a Visionary - Nonfiction Jury Award
The Boys and the Bees - International Fiction Jury Award
Jazz Infernal
Additional Honors
- Sundance Institute Producers Award for Nonfiction (Amazon MGM Studios)
Dawne Langford — Who Killed Alex Odeh? - Sundance Institute | NHK Award
Leo Aguirre — Verano - Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize
In the Blink of an Eye — Directed by Andrew Stanton