Midnight Family directed by Luke Lorentzen
Midnight Family directed by Luke Lorentzen

Midnight Family directed by Luke Lorentzen snagged the prestigious Grand Jury Award at the 2019 edition of Sheffield Doc/Fest. The jury applauded the film saying, “We also felt this film was a true celebration of the potential of independent filmmaking.”

The Jury also gave a Special Mention to Hazzan Fazili’s Midnight Traveller and Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts For Sama, described as two unique and unforgettable films examining the most pressing human rights crisis of our generation.

For the first time this year, Sheffield Doc/Fest presented the International Award which honors the best new international non-fiction film to Earth by Nikolaus Geyrhalter.

FOR SAMA. Sama pictured in September 2016, in the bombarded east of the city with a placard in response to US presidential candidate Gary Johnson’s infamous gaffe “What’s Aleppo” – Courtesy of Channel 4, Copyright Waad al-Kateab.
FOR SAMA. Sama pictured in September 2016, in the bombarded east of the city with a placard in response to US presidential candidate Gary Johnson’s infamous gaffe “What’s Aleppo” – Courtesy of Channel 4, Copyright Waad al-Kateab.

The Audience Award, in memory of Dr Clifford Shaw, and voted for by the Sheffield Doc/Fest audience went to For Sama, directed by Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts.

Says Melanie Iredale, Interim Director, Sheffield Doc/Fest: “This year has been remarkable for the quality of the extraordinary, often personal, timely stories we’ve had the privilege to witness these last six days, on the cinema screens, at our Alternate Realities exhibition and in our Talks programme. I am immensely proud that the majority of these stories were voiced by women, shifting the historical imbalance in representation, including 57% of films in competition and 50% of Alternate Realities projects in competition. Our winners tonight demonstrate internationalism and urgency; among them stories about healthcare, the Syrian conflict, climate change and human rights in China – as well as showing us the creative and technical possibilities of non-fiction filmmaking and digital art”

JURY AWARDS – FILM

GRAND JURY AWARD

WINNER: Midnight Family directed by Luke Lorentzen
SPECIAL MENTION: For Sama directed by Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts and Midnight Traveller directed by Hassan Fazili

INTERNATIONAL AWARD

WINNER: Earth directed by Nikolaus Geyrhalter
SPECIAL MENTION: MOTHER directed by Kristof Bilsen

ART AWARD SUPPORTED BY MUBI

No Data Plan directed by Miko Revereza

TIM HETHERINGTON AWARD SUPPORTED BY DOGWOOF

One Child Nation directed by Nanfu Wang and Jialing Zhang

NEW TALENT AWARD

About Love directed by Archana Atul Phadke

YOUTH AWARD

WINNER: Baracoa directed by Pablo Briones and The Moving Picture Boys
SPECIAL MENTION: Jawline directed by Liza Mandelup

SHORT AWARD

America directed by Garrett Bradley

ALTERNATE REALITIES JURY AWARDS

BEST DIGITAL EXPERIENCE AWARD

Echo created by Georgie Pinn, Kendyl Rossi

BEST DIGITAL NARRATIVE AWARD

Le Lac created by Nyasha Kadandara

AUDIENCE AWARDS: FILM & ALTERNATE REALITIES

DOC AUDIENCE AWARD

For Sama / Waad al-Kateab, Edward Watts / Syria, UK

ALTERNATE REALITIES AUDIENCE AWARD SUPPORTED BY REWIND

Algorithmic Perfumery

PITCH WINNERS

THE WHICKERS PITCH

Film & TV Funding Award

Winner: £80,000 to make their first feature-length documentary awarded to All That Remainsby Amanda Mustard

Runner up: £15,000 contribution awarded to Anna Oliker for AZ House

THE BBC THREE PITCH (SUPPORTED BY THE BBC)

BBC Three is passionate about telling compelling stories from across the whole nation and championing new talent. Emerging filmmakers from the North have been invited to pitch their ideas to a panel of BBC commissioners, including BBC Three Controller Fiona Campbell, for the prize of a documentary commission for BBC Three.

Prize: a documentary commission for BBC Three

Winners:

Rebecca Southworth

Ashley Turner

THE JOSEPH ROWNTREE FOUNDATION X GUARDIAN PITCH (SUPPORTED BY THE JOSEPH ROWNTREE FOUNDATION)

Awarded to filmmakers presenting ideas for short documentaries that explore the nature and impact of poverty in the UK, in a way that can open up minds, improve public understanding of the issue and start to shift attitudes towards some of the most marginalised people and communities.

JRF and the Guardian are looking to support two short films with funding and global release via theguardian.com

Winners:

Edwin Mingard and Elizabeth Benjamin (Stoke Film)
Hazel Falck – United Voices of the World

THE CHANNEL 4 FIRST CUT PITCH (SUPPORTED BY CHANNEL 4)

A commission from Channel 4 for their first 60’ film and one-month fully-paid development and mentorship with an indie to support the development of their idea.

Winner:

Ashley Francis-Roy

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