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.
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