Just got an excited call from Tom White direct from Sundance letting me know that the jury and audience award winners had just been announced. I could hear the music coming through his phone as the celebration of the last night of the festival begins. Congrats to all the filmmakers, whether on the awards list or not!
The U.S. Documentary Competition jury consisted of Patrick Creadon, Carl
Deal, Andrea Meditch, Sam Pollard and Marina Zenovich. The World Documentary Competition jury included Gillian Armstrong
(Australia), Thom Powers (U.S.); and Hubert Sauper (France).
Here's the list of doc winners, pilfered directly from the Sundance press release:
The Grand Jury Prize: U.S. Documentary was
presented to We Live in
Public,directed by Ondi Timoner. The
film portrays the story of the Internet's revolutionary impact on human
interaction as told through the eyes of maverick web pioneer, Josh Harris,
and his transgressive art project that shocked New
York.
We Live in Public Trailer
The World Cinema Jury Prize:
Documentary was presented to Rough
Aunties, directed by Kim Longinotto. Fearless, feisty and unwavering, the
'Rough Aunties' protect and care for the abused, neglected and forgotten
children of Durban, South Africa. United Kingdom
The Audience Award presented by Honda: U.S.
Documentary was presented to The Cove, directed by Louie
Psihoyos. The horrors of a secret cove nestled off a small, coastal village
in Japan are revealed by a group of activists.
The Cove trailer
The World Cinema Audience Award: Documentary AND the World Cinema Directing Award: Documentary
were
presented to Afghan Star, directed by Havana Marking. After 30 years
of war and Taliban rule, Pop Idol has come to television in Afghanistan:
millions are watching and voting for their favorite singer. Marking's film
follows the dramatic stories of four contestants as they risk their lives
to sing. Afghanistan/United Kingdom.
The Directing Award: U.S. Documentary was
presented to El General
and
director Natalia Almada. As great-granddaughter of President Plutarco
Eliás Calles, one of Mexico's most controversial revolutionary figures,
the filmmaker paints an intimate portrait of Mexico.
The U.S. Documentary Editing Award was
presented to Sergio. Directed by Greg Barker and edited by Karen Schmeer,
the film examines
the role of the United Nations and the international community through the
life and experiences of Sergio Vieira de Mello, the U.N.'s High
Commissioner for Human Rights.
The World Cinema Documentary Editing Award was
presented to Burma VJ. Directed by Anders Østergaard and edited by
Janus Billeskov Jansen and Thomas Papapetros. The film takes place in
September 2007 as Burmese journalists risk life imprisonment to report from
inside their sealed-off country. Denmark. Click here for my initial thoughts on Burma VJ.
The Excellence in Cinematography Award: U.S.
Documentary was presented to The September Issue. With
unprecedented access, director R.J. Cutler, cinematographer Bob Richman and
their crew shot for nine months to capture editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and
her team preparing the 2007 Vogue September issue, widely accepted
as the "fashion bible" for the year's trends. Click here to read my write up of the film.
The World Cinema Cinematography Award: Documentary
was presented to Big River
Man, John
Maringouin's documentary about at an overweight, wine-swilling Slovenian
world-record-holding endurance swimmer who resolves to brave the mighty
Amazon in nothing but a Speedo. U.S.A./United Kingdom
A World Cinema
Special Jury Prize: Documentary was presented to Tibet in Song directed by Ngawang Choephel.
Through the story
of Tibetan music, this film depicts the determined efforts of Tibetan
people, both in Tibet and in exile, to preserve their unique cultural
identity. Choephel served six years of an 18-year prison sentence for
filming in Tibet. Tibet
A Special Jury Prize: U.S. Documentary was presented to Good
Hair, directed by Jeff Stilson, in which comedian Chris Rock travels
the world to examine the culture of African-American hair and
hairstyles. Click here for pics from the premiere.
BUT WAIT, you say...what about all those fantastic narrative features at the fest? Which ones won awards? Check out the official Sundance announcement for a full list of winners.
