The Birth of a Nation, a film about preacher Nat Turner and the slave rebellion he orchestrated in 1831 Virginia, won the top prizes at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival and subsequently sold to Fox Searchlight for a record deal. Like the 2013 Best Picture Winner 12 Years A Slave, the horrific nature of the times that the film encompasses includes scenes that are extremely troubling to watch, but being uncomfortable is necessary sometimes to fully grasp an auteur’s point. Also like 12 Years A Slave, this is a very well made and exceptionally acted film.  Tier 2 – Runner Up