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Lee Daniels & "Push" Sweep Sundance!

Out director Lee Daniels and Push's young star, Gabourey Sidibe, take their trophy at Sundance.

-- Jamie Murnane from AfterEllen.com

Push: Based on the Novel by Sapphire, swept the Sundance Film Festival over the weekend, winning the grand jury and audience choice awards. Directed by the openly gay Lee Daniels the film has been touted the new The Color Purple, but set in Harlem.

The film's main character is the obese, illiterate 16-year-old Precious Jones, played by newcomer Gabourey Sidibe. Precious is pregnant with her second child — by her father. Comedian Mo'Nique plays Precious' abusive welfare mother. It's such a surprising role for the usually comic Mo'Nique that she also picked up a special jury prize at the festival.

PUSH's Happy Crew: Mariah Carey, Lee Daniels, Mo'Nique & Paula Patton!

It's dark and disturbing, alright, but also incredibly hopeful. Precious triumphs over her extreme adversity thanks to her lesbian teacher (Paula Patton) and social worker (Mariah Carey - yes, Mariah!).

Celebs show up for the PUSH screening at Sundance: (left to rigth) Zoe Kravits, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lee Daniels, Oscar-nominated Michael Shannon & Benjamin Bratt.

According to Huffington Post, Daniels had this to say when accepting the second awfor his film:

"This is so important to me because this is speaking for every minority that's in Harlem, that's in Detroit, that's in Watts, that's being abused, that can't read, that's obese and that we turn our back on. ... And this is for every gay little boy and girl that's being tortured. If I can do this ... ya'll can do this."

One more pic of Mo' and Mariah with Lee. Congrats!

Still, Push has yet to be picked up for distribution, which might be because, as some critics have noted, it could earn an NC-17 rating. However, as Daniels himself noted, the story is so "universal" that it really deserves to be be seen nationwide. Here's hoping it is able to reach us allthe next year.

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