Oscar 2015 Prediction: Is 'Whiplash' an Oscar Contender After Winning Sundance Grand Prize?

On Saturday, Jan. 25 "Whiplash" was crowned with the Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury award and the Audience Award in the dramatic competition.

The new film, starring Miles Teller and J.K Simmons, tells the story of a young musician's struggles to make it as a top jazz drummer.

The film opened the festival and garnered rave reviews with Peter Debruge from Variety writing, "Demolishes the cliches of the musical-prodigy genre, investing the traditionally polite stages and rehearsal studios of a topnotch conservatory with all the psychological intensity of a battlefield or sports arena."

Todd McCarthy from the Hollywood Reporter also gave the film a good review and wrote, "Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons go toe-to-toe in a potent drama about an ambitious young drummer and his abusive teacher."

"Whiplash" was picked up by Sony Pictures Classics and therefore could be the first Oscar candidate of the year.

Sony Pictures Classics has distributed some of the most important films of the last few years including "Amour," "Midnight in Paris," and "A Separation." This year, the company was responsible for the release of Woody Allen's "Blue Jasmine," which garnered three Academy Award nominations. With Sony releasing "Whiplash" later this year, there will likely be a lot of buzz and possibly awards attention.

Additionally, several Grand Jury winners at Sundance have gone on to get nominated for Oscars. In 2012, "Beasts of the Southern Wild" won the award and later received four Academy Award nominations including Best Picture. Others include "Precious," "Winter's Bone" and "Frozen River"; "River" did not receive a Best Picture nomination but received two nods for screenplay and Best Actress.

However, it is important to note that several Grand Prize and Audience award winners have not been successful at the Academy Awards. For example, "Fruitvale Station" was not successful this past year in the Oscar race. Even though it had the Weinstein Company behind it, the movie was ultimately snubbed in every category and only scored awards in indie circles. "Quinceanera" similarly failed to get Oscar nominations and even missed the majority of awards season.

"Whiplash" was produced by David Lancaster and Michel Litvak and was directed by Damien Chazelle. The movie also stars Austin Stowell, Melissa Benoist, and Jayson Blair.