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 2007 IDA Awards Competition IDA Announces the 2007 IDA Award Winners FEATURE DOCUMENTARY AWARD 
* WINNER * A WALK TO BEAUTIFUL
Mary Olive Smith, director Amy Bucher, co-director Steve Engel, Mary Olive Smith, producers Steve Engel, exec. producer Engel Entertainment, Inc. PBS/WGBH International/NOVA A Walk to Beautiful tells the stories of five courageous women in Ethiopia who have suffered from devastating childbirth injuries and have been shunned by their family and villages. As they fight to regain their lives, we are no longer in the heart of Africa; we're in the hearts of these women. 
CRAZY LOVE
Dan Klores, director/producer Fisher Stevens, producer Dan Klores, writer Shoot the Moon Productions, Greenstreet Productions, Magnolia Pictures Crazy Love tells the astonishing story of the obsessive roller-coaster relationship of Burt and Linda Pugach, which shocked the nation during the summer of 1959. Burt, a 32-year-old married attorney, and Linda, a beautiful, single 20-year-old girl living in The Bronx, had a whirlwind romance that culminated in a violent and psychologically complex set of actions that landed the pair's saga on the cover of endless newspapers and magazines. With the cooperation of Burt, now 79, and Linda, 68, filmmaker Dan Klores examines the human psyche and the concepts of love, obsession, insanity, hope and forgiveness. 
OPERATION HOMECOMING: WRITING THE WARTIME EXPERIENCE
Richard E. Robbins, director/producer Tom Yellin, executive producer The Documentary Group, PBS Unlike any documentary yet to emerge from the war in Iraq, Operation Homecoming explores the first-hand accounts of American soldiers through their own words. Built upon a project created by the National Endowment for the Arts to gather the writing of soldiers who have participated in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the film presents a profound window into the human side of America's current conflicts. 
SICKO
Michael Moore, director Michael Moore, Meghan O’Hara, producers Michael Moore, writer Dog Eat Dog Films, Lionsgate Films, The Weinstein Company Opening with profiles of several ordinary Americans whose lives have been disrupted, shattered and, in some cases, ended by health care catastrophe, SiCKO makes clear that the crisis doesn't only affect the 47 million uninsured citizens; millions of others who dutifully pay their premiums often get strangled by bureaucratic red tape as well. After detailing just how the system got into such a mess, we visit countries such as Canada, Great Britain and France, where all citizens receive free medical benefits. Finally, Moore gathers a group of 9/11 rescue workers--now suffering from debilitating illnesses--who have been denied medical attention in the US. He takes them to a most unexpected place, and in addition to receiving care, they also engage in some unexpected diplomacy.  TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE
Alex Gibney, director/producer Eva Orner, Susannah Shipman, producers Alex Gibney, writer X-Ray Productions, THINKFilm, Discovery Channel Taxi to the Dark Side examines the death of an Afghan taxi driver at Bagram Air Base from injuries inflicted by US soldiers. In an unflinching look at the Bush administration's policy on torture, filmmaker Alex Gibney takes us from a village in Afghanistan to Guantanamo Bay--and straight to the White House. SHORT DOCUMENTARY AWARD 
* WINNER * A SON'S SACRIFICE
Yoni Brook, director Musa Syeed, producer Marco Williams, executive producer Foment Films, ITVS/PBS A Son's Sacrifice follows the journey of Imran, a young American Muslim who confronts his roots at his father's slaughterhouse in New York City. On the holiest day of the year, Imran must lead his community in a sacrifice that forces him to define himself as a Muslim and a son.  BLACK AND WHITE
Zam Salim, director John Archer, producer Hopscotch Films David Gillanders is an internationally acclaimed photojournalist. Black and White follows him from the mean streets of Glasgow's East End, where he documents the city's knife crime, to the Ukraine, where he is on a mission to bring the hellish underground existence of the country's street kids to the world's attention. 
BODY & SOUL: DIANA & KATHY
Alice Elliott, director/producer Simone Pero Audi, producer Welcome Change Productions, Laverne Berry, Esq. Body & Soul: Diana & Kathy invites you to witness the mysterious and intimate relationship of a couple some would call profoundly disabled. The film chronicles how they sustain their activism and friendship when an accident nearly drives them apart--but they finally admit that they are so deeply entwined they should be buried together. 
THE FIGHTING CHOLITAS
Mariam Jobrani, director/producer Kenny Krauss, producer Moto Films, At Risk Films/Sarah Jo Marks The Fighting Cholitas is about a group of strong and bold female Bolivian wrestlers. These indigenous Indian women jump into the ring every Sunday in their traditional, vibrant multi-layered skirts and perform the acrobatic maneuvers of Lucha Libre (a blend of Mexican and American professional wrestling). The Fighting Cholitas documents this popular weekly fight and goes behind the scenes to find out who these women are and what draws them to this unusual sport. 
FREEHELD
Cynthia Wade, director Vanessa Roth, Matthew Syrett, producers Lieutenant Films Inc. Freeheld follows the battle of Laurel Hester, a dying police officer who fights to transfer her pension to her domestic partner, Stacie Andree. As her elected officials, the Freeholders, stand against her--and the town explodes around her--Laurel races against time to provide for the love of her life. IDA/ALAN ETT MUSIC DOCUMENTARY AWARD 
* WINNER * WE ARE TOGETHER (THINA SIMUNYE)
Director/Producer: Paul Taylor Producer: Teddy Leifer Writers: Paul Taylor and Slindile Moya Rise Films, HBO Documentary Films, The Channel 4 British Documentary Film Foundation Filmed over three years, We Are Together tells the remarkable and moving tale of a group of children who use music to overcome hardship and loss. It is the story of an orphanage, unlike one you've ever seen before, and of the drive of these remarkable young singers and their teachers to make it to London for a series of concerts. 
4
Director/Producer: Tim Slade Producer: Joanna Buggy Vast Productions, ITVS International In each of the four seasons, four outstanding violinists guide us on an extraordinary journey through their four distinct homelands--from the springtime blossoms of Japan into the blistering heat and thunderstorms of an Australian summer; from a joyful autumn in New York to the unforgiving cold and human warmth of a Finnish winter. The resonant and much-loved Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi and the timeless stories they tell form the backbone of the bold and engaging celebration of friendship, homeland and the cycles of life. 
CHOPS
Director/Producer: Bruce Broder Producer: Tim Cremin Winnercomm, Inc., Arts Alliance America Chops tells the story of a group of kids, born with extraordinary musical ability, who learn to make the most of their gifts in an acclaimed public school jazz program in Jacksonville, Florida. From their early, squeaky scales to their soaring improvisational solos, we have a front-row seat for their fascinating transformation. 
NOTE BY NOTE: The Making of Steinway L1037
Director/Producer: Ben Niles Plow Productions, LLC The most thoroughly handcrafted instruments in the world, Steinways are as unique and full of personality as the world-class musicians who choose them above all others. Note by Note follows the creation of a Steinway concert grand, exploring the relationship between the musician and the instrument, chronicling the manufacturing process, and investigating what makes each Steinway unique and why that's important. 
WAR/DANCE
Directors: Sean Fine, Andrea Nix Fine Producer: Albie Hecht Fine Films, Shine Global, THINKFilm, Sundance Channel Set in Northern Uganda, a country ravaged by more than two decades of civil war, War/Dance tells the story of three children whose families have been torn apart and who currently reside in a displaced persons camp in Patongo. When they are invited to compete in a music and dance festival, their historic journey to their nation's capital becomes an opportunity to regain part of their childhood and taste victory for the first time in their lives.
HONOREES
IDA LIMITED SERIES AWARD 
* WINNER * THE SUPREME COURT
Thomas Lennon, director Mark Zwoniter, series producer Jody Sheff, executive producer Hidden Hill Productions for Thirteen/WNET New York, PBS It is known as the court of last resort, where nine judges appointed for life make monumental decisions that govern our everyday lives. With immense power and considerable mystery, the court of final appeal has helped author the history of America. The series profiles the inner workings of the Supreme Court--the ultimate interpreter of the United States Constitution. ADDICTION Jon Alpert, Joe Berlinger, Kate Davis, Susan Froemke, Liz Garbus, Chris Hegedus, David Heilbroner, Eugene Jarecki, Ellen Goosenberg Kent, Barbara Kopple, Albert Maysles, D.A. Pennebaker, Alan Raymond, Susan Raymond, Bruce Sinofsky, Jessica Yu, directors John Hoffman, Susan Froemke, producers Sheila Nevins, executive producer HBO Documentary Films, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, HBO COMING OUT STORIES Karen Goodman, Kirk Simon, directors/producers Lauren Lazin, Eileen Opatut, executive producers Simon & Goodman Picture Company, LOGO, a Viacom company THE HILL Ivy Meeropol, director/producer Xan Parker, Elizabeth Holder, producers Lynne Kirby, executive producer Roland Park Pictures/Sundance Channel IDA CONTINUING SERIES AWARD 
* WINNER * THIS AMERICAN LIFE
Created By Ira Glass/Chicago Public Radio Chris Wilcha, director Diane Cooke, Jane Feltes, Sarah Koenig, Lisa Pollak, Alissa Shipp, Nancy Updike, producers Julie Snyder, Alex Blumberg, Ira Glass, Banks Tarver, Ken Druckerman, Christine Vachon, Jocelyn Hayes, executive producers Left/Right, Killer Films, Chicago Public Radio, Showtime Networks Episodes Submitted: “Reality Check,” “Growth Spurt,” “The Cameraman,” “God’s Close-Up” In the same spirit of the award-winning public radio show, the televised version of This American Life takes 30-minute looks at stories from all over the country. Host and executive producer Ira Glass and a small team of radio producers and filmmakers spent six months on the road--traveling to Iowa pig farms, following a first-time filmmaker in California and photographing a raucous night at an Illinois hot dog stand. The result is true stories that are surprising, emotional and often funny. 30 DAYS Morgan Spurlock, RJ Cutler, Ben Silverman, H.T. Owens, executive producers Keith Hoffman, Max Swedlow, supervising producers Actual Reality, Reveille, FX Networks Episodes Submitted: “Atheist/Christian,” “Immigration,” “Jail,” “Outsourcing” AMERICAN EXPERIENCE Mark Samels, executive producer Sharon Grimberg, series producer PBS Episodes Submitted: “Alexander Hamilton” (Muffie Meyer, dir.), “The Gold Rush” (Randall MacLowry, dir.), “New Orleans” (Stephen Ives, dir.), “Summer of Love” (Gail Dolgin, Vicente Franco, dirs.) AMERICAN MASTERS Susan Lacy, executive producer Prudence Glass, series producer Julie Sacks, series supervising producer Thirteen/WNET New York, PBS Episodes Submitted: “Andy Warhol: A Documentary Film” (Ric Burns, dir./prod., Donald Rosenfeld, Daniel Wolf, prods.), “John Ford/John Wayne: The Filmmaker and the Legend” (Sam Pollard, dir., Ken Browser, prod.), “Novel Reflections on the American Dream” (Michael Epstein, dir./prod., Julie Sacks, prod.), “Woody Guthrie: Ain’t Got No Home” (Peter Frumkin, dir./prod., Susan Levene, prod.) WIDE ANGLE: SEASON FIVE Pamela Hogan, Andy Halper, series producers Stephen Segaller, executive producer Thirteen/WNET New York, PBS Episodes Submitted: “18 with a Bullet” (Ricardo Pollack, dir./prod.), “Back to School” (Judy Katz, prod./writer), “Class of 2006” (Gini Reticker, dir./prod./writer.; Charlotte Mangin, prod.), “Democracy in the Rough” (Fred de Sam Lazaro, prod./writer) IDA ABCNEWS VIDEOSOURCE AWARD 
* WINNER * SPUTNIK MANIA
David Hoffman, director Eric Reid, producer Jay Walker, executive producer Varied Directions International The launch of Sputnik 50 years ago almost triggered World War III, if not for a private agreement among two ex-generals. Now, with the help of recently released documents from the former Soviet Union, the full story of how close we came to global nuclear war can be told for the first time. AMERICAN/SANDINISTA Jason Blalock, director/producer University of California at Berkeley HALF-LIFE: A JOURNEY TO CHERNOBYL Phil Grabsky, David Bickerstaff, directors Phil Grabsky, producer Seventh Art Productions MY KID COULD PAINT THAT Amir Bar-Lev, director/producer John Battsek, executive producer Axis Films, Passion Pictures, Sony Pictures Classics, A&E IndieFilms NANKING Bill Guttentag, Dan Sturman, directors Ted Leonsis, Michael Jacobs, producers Bill Guttentag & Dan Sturman & Elisabeth Bentley, writers (screenplay) Bill Guttentag & Dan Sturman, writers (story) Agape Multimedia Partners, LLC; THINKFilm; HBO RAPSODIA DO ABSURDO Cláudia Nunes, director/executive producer STEAL A PENCIL FOR ME Michele Ohayon, director/producer Theo Van De Sande, producer Michele Ohayon, writer Diamond Lane Films Inc., Red Envelope Entertainment WHITE LIGHT/ BLACK RAIN Steven Okazaki, director/producer Farallon Films/ HBO Documentary Films, HBO IDA PARE LORENTZ AWARD 
* WINNER * WHEN THE LEVEES BROKE: A REQUIEM IN FOUR ACTS Spike Lee, director/producer Sam Pollard, producer 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks/HBO Documentary Films, HBO As the world watched in horror, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans on Aug. 29, 2005. Like many who watched the unfolding drama on television news, director Spike Lee was shocked not only by the scale of the disaster, but by the slow, inept and disorganized response of the emergency and recovery effort. Watching his fellow Americans suddenly turned into "refugees" in their own country, Lee was moved to document this modern American tragedy. Lee and his team selected to interview close to 100 people from diverse backgrounds and representing a wide range of opinions. AMERICAN/SANDINISTA Jason Blalock, director/producer University of California at Berkeley GOOD MORNING DANGME Takaya Kawasaki, director/producer New York University, Takaya Kawasaki MADE IN LA Almudena Carracedo, director/producer Robert Bahar, producer Robert Bahar, Almudena Carracedo and Lisa Leeman, writers Semilla Verde Productions, PBS/P.O.V. OPERATION HOMECOMING: WRITING THE WARTIME EXPERIENCE Richard E. Robbins, director/producer Tom Yellin, executive producer The Documentary Group, PBS RAPSODIA DO ABSURDO Cláudia Nunes, director/executive producer RIBBON OF SAND John Grabowska, director/producer Harpers Ferry Center, PBS STANDING SILENT NATION Suree Towfighnia, director Courtney Herman, producer Prairie Dust Films, PBS/P.O.V. A WALK TO BEAUTIFUL Mary Olive Smith, director Amy Bucher, co-director Steve Engel, Mary Olive Smith, producers Steve Engel, exec. producer Engel Entertainment, Inc. PBS/WGBH International/NOVA WHITE LIGHT/ BLACK RAIN Steven Okazaki, director/producer Farallon Films/ HBO Documentary Films, HBO IDA/DAVID L. WOLPER STUDENT DOC AWARD 
* WINNER * LONG HAUL
Erin Hudson, director Rotation Films Stanford University Barreling along freeways from behind the wheels of their big rigs, three women truck drivers share their humor, insight and experience of driving 18-wheelers for a living. Long Haul enriches and challenges every pre-conceived notion of truck driving, while seeking to understand what is gained and what is lost as a woman, a mother and a trucker on the open road. ALAGADOS: SIM, NÃO MAU CONDUTO Sylvia Johnson, director/producer Joselito Crispim, producer Ondina Filmes, Santaluzia Filmes American University BISMILLAH: IN THE NAME OF ALLAH Jolene Pinder, Sarah Zaman, directors/producers Zeppelin Films University of Florida BULLET PROOF VEST May Lin Au Yong, director/producer Steadfast Films Stanford University PBS/P.O.V. GOOD MORNING, DANGME Takaya Kawasaki, director/producer New York University TIJUANA NADA MAS Yolanda Pividal, director/producer Masood Maque, co-producer Placer Prodicciones City College of New York PBS/P.O.V. "SHORT LIST" FOR FEATURE FILM CATEGORY: CRAZY LOVE Director/Producer: Dan Klores Producer: Fisher Stevens Writer: Dan Klores Production Companies: Shoot the Moon Productions, Greenstreet Productions Theatrical Distributor: Magnolia Pictures MANUFACTURED LANDSCAPES Director: Jennifer Baichwal Producers: Nick De Pencier, Daniel Iron Production Company: 2064275 Ontario Inc. Theatrical/Broadcast Distributor: Zeitgeist Films Ltd. MY KID COULD PAINT THAT Director/Producer: Amir Bar-Lev Executive Producer: John Battsek Production Company: Axis Films, Passion Pictures Theatrical Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics Broadcast Distributor: A&E IndieFilms NANKING Directors: Bill Guttentag, Dan Sturman Producers: Ted Leonsis, Michael Jacobs Screenplay by: Bill Guttentag & Dan Sturman & Elisabeth Bentley Story by: Bill Guttentag & Dan Sturman Production Company: Agape Multimedia Partners, LLC Theatrical Distributor: THINKFilm Broadcast Distributor: HBO OPERATION HOMECOMING: WRITING THE WARTIME EXPERIENCE Director/Producer: Richard E. Robbins Executive Producer: Tom Yellin Production Company: The Documentary Group Theatrical Distributor: The Documentary Group Broadcast Distributor: PBS SEPTEMBERS Director/Executive Producer: Carlos Bosch Executive Producer: Tono Folguera Production Company: Bausan Films S. L. Theatrical Distributor: Bausan Films S. L., Sagrera S.A. Broadcast Distributor: Bausan Films S. L., Sagrera S.A. SICKO Director: Michael Moore Producers: Michael Moore, Meghan O’Hara Writer: Michael Moore Production Company: Dog Eat Dog Films Theatrical Distributor: Lionsgate Films, The Weinstein Company TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE Director/Producer: Alex Gibney Producer: Susannah Shipman, Eva Orner Writer: Alex Gibney Production Company: X-Ray Productions Theatrical Distributor: THINKFilm Broadcast Distributor: Discovery Channel A WALK TO BEAUTIFUL Director: Mary Olive Smith Co-Director: Amy Bucher Producers: Steve Engel, Mary Olive Smith Executive Producer: Steve Engel Production Company: Engel Entertainment, Inc. Broadcast Distributor: PBS/WGBH International/NOVA WAR/DANCE Directors: Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine Producer: Albie Hecht Production Companies: Fine Films, Shine Global Theatrical Distributor: THINKFilm Broadcast Distributor: Sundance Channel
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