Best of Festival - Sponsored By CBC

"Terminus"

Producer: Carlo Trulli

Director: Trevor Cawood

Production Company: Spy Films

Best Of Saskatchewan – Sponsored by SaskFilm

Wapos Bay: Guardians (Aboriginal)

Producer: Anand Ramayya, Dennis Jackson, Melanie Jackson, Derek Mazur

Director: Dennis Jackson

Production Company: Wapos Bay Productions Inc.

Category Awards

Aboriginal – Sponsored by APTN

Reservation Soldiers

Producer: Trish Dolman, Trish Williams

Director: Lisa Jackson

Production Company: Screen Siren Pictures

Animation – Sponsored by Tyrell Media Corporation

Yellow Sticky Notes

Producer and Director: Jeff Chiba Stearns

Production Company: Meditating Bunny Studio

Children’s Productions – Sponsored by Access Communications

Oma’s Quilt

Producer: Svend-Erik Eriksen

Director: Izabela Bzymek

Production Company: National Film Board Of Canada

Comedy

Jon Dore Television Show: Ready For Love

Producer: John Brunton, Barbara Bowlby, Lindsay Cox, Jon Dore, Ed Macdonald

Director: Matt Hawkins

Production Company: Insight Production Company Ltd.

Drama – Sponsored by Saskatchewan Arts Board

"Terminus"

Producer: Carlo Trulli

Director: Trevor Cawood

Production Company: Spy Films

Experimental – Sponsored by Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television

Machine With Wishbone

Producer and Director: Randall Okita

Lifestyle – Sponsored by The City Of Yorkton

Sarah’s House: Basement

Producer: Michael Prini, Sarah Richardson

Director: Andrea Griffith, Lissa Fraser Kerr

Production Company: Primevista Television Inc.

Performing Arts & Entertainment – Sponsored by RBC Financial Group

End Of The Rope

Producer and Director: Eva Colmers

Production Company: No Problem Productions

Youth Productions –Sponsored by Sasktel

I Have Seen The Future

Producer and Director: Cam Christiansen

Production Company: The Thinktank

Documentary – Arts/Culture – Sponsored by Multicultural Council Of Saskatchewan

Embracing Da Kink

Producer: Trey Anthony, Joel Gordon

Director: Joel Gordon

Production Company: V-Formation Productions Inc.

Documentary – History - Sponsored by History Television

Secret Of The Snake Goddess, The

Producer: Ed Barreveld

Director: Christian Bauer, Nikos Dayandas

Production Company: Storyline Entertainment Inc.

Documentary – Nature/Environment – Sponsored By SaskPower

Buried At Sea

Producer: John Wesley Chisholm

Director: John Wesley Chisholm, Kent Martin

Production Company: Arcadia Entertainment Inc.

Documentary – Point Of View – Sponsored by Painted Hand Casino

Daughters Of The Revolution

Producer and Director: Aeyliya Hussain

Documentary – Science/Medicine

Nature Of Things, The: The Science Of The Senses - Touch

Producer: Michael Allder, Merit Jensen Carr, Erna Buffie

Director: Bonnie Dickie

Production Company: Merit Motion Pictures

Documentary – Social/Political

Inside Time

Producer: Jason Young

Director: Annette Clarke

Production Company: National Film Board Of Canada

Documentary Series

Departures

Producer: Steven N. Bray, Jessie Wallace

Director: Andre Dupuis

Production Company: Departures Entertainment Inc.

Craft Awards

Best Director Fiction

Colony, The (Aboriginal)

Producer: John Christou

Director: Jeff Barnaby

Production Company: Eye Steel Film

Best Director Non-Fiction

Departures: Ascension Island (Doc Series)

Producer: Steven N. Bray, Jessie Wallace

Director: Andre Dupuis

Production Company: Departures Entertainment Inc

Research – Sponsored by MidCanada Production Services

Nature Of Things, The: The Science Of The Senses - Touch (Doc- Science/Medicine)

Producer: Michael Allder, Merit Jensen Carr, Erna Buffie

Director: Bonnie Dickie

Research: Bonnie Dickie, Donna Gall, Elizabeth Klinck, Wendy Rowland

Production Company: Merit Motion Pictures

Special Awards

Emerging Filmmaker – Sponsored by SMPIA

Sur La Terre Comme Au Ciel

Producer and Director: Herve Demers

Production Company: Les Films Herve Demers

Founder’s Award – Presented by The Yorkton Short Film & Video Festival

Buried At Sea

Producer: John Wesley Chisholm

Director: John Wesley Chisholm, Kent Martin

Production Company: Arcadia Entertainment Inc.

NFB Kathleen Shannon Award – Sponsored by The National Film Board Of Canada

Shattered Dreams

Producer: Gina Binetti, Marta Nielsen and Ian Brewster

Director: Marta Nielsen

Production Company: Eternity Inc.

Jury Awards

Super Phoenix

Producer and Director: Sylvie Rosenthal

Production Company: Les Productions Sylvie Rosenthal

Capturing A Short Life

Producer and Director: Sheona McDonald

Production Company: Dimestore Productions Inc.

Hitler’s Canadians

Producer: Ed Barreveld

Director: Douglas Williams

Production Company: Storyline Entertainment Inc.

The Domestic Competition award went to the film "Leviathan" by Simon Bogojeviæ Narath. The film was also awarded with Veronika's Skull (+ a sum of 1.000 euros), handed out by the Domestic Jury members - last year Domestic Competition winner Renata Poljak and Jude Goldrey from Lifesize Pictures, UK.

The reAnimated Veronika award for best animation went to the film "One Rat Short" by Alex Weil. Croatian film "I'll Kill You" by Nikola Strasek was presented with the award for best documentary and the award for best experimental film went to Raymond by BIF (all the film were also awarded with a sum of 500 euros).

The audience award, Vox Veronika, went to the Belgian film "Tango" by Guido Thys (with a remarkable average grade of 4.85).

The International Jury also gave out two special mentions, to the film "Graphitti" by Vano Burduli from Georgia, and the film "Family Reunion" by Isold Uggadottir from Island.

“We were thrilled by the high calibre of films we had to choose from this year” Festival Jury Chairman Wilson da Silva said as he announced the winners at a rooftop party at Queensland Museum South Bank to celebrate the close of a successful National Science Week

Scottish film "The Colour of Sound" took out Best Film “for the engaging way it conveyed a whole tapestry of science,” da Silva said to the crowd.

Local filmmaker Vickie Guest was on-hand to accept her award for organ-donation doco "Over My Dead Body," and told Festival guests she was thrilled to have her film recognized.

Australia’s ABC TV took out three categories in the internationally competitive film festival, which received over 150 entries from 31 countries.

ABC producer Richard Smith was announced as Best Director for his study of the journey of oil from its birth in the prehistoric past to its role in our greenhouse future, "Crude," while Rory McGuinness took Best Cinematography for "The Big Blue" and producer/director Klaus Toft took the gong for Best Science Television for "Thunderheads."

Interestingly, "The Big Blue" and "Thunderheads" were among the final films produced by ABC TV’s Natural History Unit, which was closed by the national broadcaster earlier this year.

A young Victorian filmmaker, Kristian Lang, took Best Student Film for his 3rd grade class project "Photosynthesis: How it works."

Aside from Kristian’s age and aside from the film’s technical assurance, SCINEMA Festival Director Cris Kennedy announced to the party while presenting Kristian with his trophy, “the film got to the essence of successful science communication, which is to condense complex issues into a vehicle that explains science simply, and in a fun way.”

Kristian’s proud parents were on hand to watch the ten-year-old Ascot Vale Primary School student receive his first international film festival prize.

Other Festival winners included Spain’s Pablo Garcia-Lopez take Best Animation or Experimental for his short film "Expedition to the Brain," while the US production "The Brain Fitness Program" took the Award for Technical Merit.

The awards night brought the 2008 SCINEMA Festival of Science Film to a close. In its eighth year, the festival screened in 150 cities across Australia, and a few in India, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

A partnership between CSIRO and Cosmos Magazine, the Festival runs under the support of the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science and Research through its National Science Week program.

Festival winners were:

Best Film – "The Colour of Sound" (Scotland)

Producer: Karen Smyth

Director: Vince Hunter for La Belle Allee Productions

An exploration of the crucial role sound plays in our lives

What the Jury said: This was a beautifully shot, contemporary and relevant study of a whole tapestry of science, that was engagingly told.

Media contact: Karen Smyth on info@labelleallee.com

Best Director – Richard Smith for "Crude" (Australia) produced for ABC TV

Crude is the story of the incredible journey of oil, from its birth in the prehistoric past to its role in our greenhouse future.

What the Jury said: An ambitious ride through a spectrum of sciences, from history, palaeontology, geology and the atmospheric sciences, in a rollicking cauldron of sights and sounds.

Best Cinematography – Rory McGuinness for "The Big Blue"

Producer: Jeni Clevers for ABC TV

This blue-chip documentary reveals the secrets of the planet's largest living creature, the Blue Whale.

What the Jury said: A feast for the eyes focusing on one of our least-known treasures.

Best Experimental/Animation – "Expedition to the Brain" (Spain)

Producer & Director: Pablo Garcia-Lopez

An animated journey, using Cajal's original historical slides about the discovery of neurons.

What the Jury said: The film explored the human brain as a Fantastic Voyage into a microscopic world that touched on the history of neuroscience, with an individual style that owed a debt to be Cajal and Jules Verne.

Best Student Film – "Photosynthesis: How it works" (Victoria, Australia)

Producer and Director: Kristian Lang for Ascot Vale Primary School A simple look at how photosynthesis works, made for the filmmaker's 3rd grade class.

What the Jury said: Aside from Kristian’s age (10) and aside from the film’s technical assurance, the film got to the essence of successful science communication, which is to condense complex issues into a vehicle that explains science simply, and in a fun way.

Best Science Television – "Thunderheads" (Australia)

Producer & Director Klaus Toft for ABC TV

Thunderheads follows an intrepid group of storm-chasers into the heart of a thunder storm to look for the role clouds play in climate change.

What the Jury said: A film that gave you a sense for what science should be about – a quest, adventure, passion, perseverance and collaboration. This is what science television should be.

Award for Scientific Merit – "Brain Fitness Program" (USA)

Producer: Lennlee Keep

Director: Eli Brown for Santa Fe Productions

Based on the concept of neuroplasticy, the Brain Fitness Program shows the power of the brain to change, adapt and rewire itself.

What the Jury said: For tackling a very new area of neuroscience – a confident film that covered its science well and left you with a sense of hope.

Prix du Jury – "Over My Dead Body" (Australia)

Producer: Vickie Guest Director: Ian Walker for VizPoets

Stripped down to its sellable parts, the recycled human body can be repackaged and sold for around $200,000. Skin and bone form the dead are part of a new resources boom.

What the Jury said: This film tells a challenging and important story in an offbeat way that engages the viewer and conveys the importance of organ donation.

- Grand Prize of festival for the best artistic achievment

MAKING RAIN by Liivo Niglas and Frode Storaas

as the best scientific audiovisual recording

CONFLUENCES - EMERILLON OF FRENCH GUIANA by Perle Møhl

as the best film on survival of indigenous peoples

LAST JOIK IN SAAMI FORESTS by Hannu Hyvönen

as the best film on relationship between man and nature

OAK #419 by Robert Harding Pittman, the special mention of jury as the significant film on citizen¹s movement

PARADISE by Jerzy Sladkowski

as the Prize of French Amabassador

Members of the international jury:

Kersti Uibo (Chairman)

Priit Pedajas

Mati Põldre

Elo Liiv

Pille Runnel

Õie Sarv

ALYOSHA by Meelis Muhu

- as the best Estonian film

Jury for Estonian films:

Edward Lucie-Smith

Carol Salter

Andreas Fischer-Hansen

The Estonian People¹s Award according to the televoting on Estonian TV:

MOTHER by Antoine Cattin and Pavel Kostomarov

The Audience Award: "Red Gold"

Director: Ben Knight & Travis Rummel

The Charlie Fowler Award: "King Lines"

Director: Peter Mortimer

The Festival Director's Award: "Red Gold"

Director: Ben Knight & Travis Rummel

Aspiring Filmmaker's Award: "Throw Down Your Heart"

Director: Sascha Paladino

Kidz Kino Awards: "Best Nature Film: Once Upon a Tide"

Director: Gesine Kratzner and Drew Takahashi

Best Cartoon: "Cat Man Do"

Director: Simon Tofield

Funniest Film: "Sid"

Director: Jeff Scher

Best Cultural Film: "Shikashika"

Director: Stephen Hyde

Most Inspiring Film: "The King Of Telluride"

Director: Raphael Berrios, Isabel Marlens

AWARDS:

The Mountainfilm Prize - $5,000

This $5,000 cash prize goes to one of the nonprofits or real-life heroes featured in a film, presentation or gallery exhibit at this year’s festival. Because everyone deserves our appreciation and support, just being eligible for the Mountainfilm Prize entitles each of them to $300 cash.

If you’re moved by what you see in these Mountainfilm Prize nominees and want to increase the prize pool, grab your cellphone. Text to Give is a cutting-edge technology that allows you to contribute simply by texting 90999, keyword mtfilm. Each $5 contribution (feel free to text more than once) will go directly into the general prize pool and help bump the amount we can reward these worthy causes. If you don’t know how to text, ask a volunteer—preferably someone born after 1980.

Click here for a list of the amazing people and organizations who are eligible, and here for a list of the judges who will have the near-impossible job of deciding the winner.

The Audience Award - $1,000

Some distributors think the audience award is a much better harbinger of success for a film than a juried award. Please vote for the Audience Award (by secret ballot at the Closing Picnic and Awards Ceremony). Remember, voting helps ensure a productive and thriving democracy and, if nothing else, assists the filmmaker with a prize of $1,000.

The Charlie Fowler Award - $1,000

Charlie was a mainstay of Mountainfilm for many years, and while we miss him terribly, we find some comfort in knowing his presence is with us for this award. The judges will try their best to discern which mountaineering or climbing film Charlie would have liked most for this $1,000 prize.

Aspiring Filmmaker’s Award - $500

A panel of student filmmakers from Telluride and beyond decide this $500 prize, and Mountainfilm staff determines which films are eligible.

The Festival Director’s Award - $500

It’s unlikely any distributors care about this award. It’s totally arbitrary (and certainly not democratic), but at least it’s completely transparent. This $500 prize goes to a film that David Holbrooke has chosen from this year’s program.

Mountainfilm Prize Nominees

These eight nonprofit organizations—groups associated with programming in the festival this year—are nominated for the Mountainfilm Prize. Each organization will receive $300, and the grand prize winner collects $5,000.

Biodiesel America

(Fields of Fuel: film)

Eden Again

(Azzam Alwash: presentation)

Elephant Nature Park

(Losing the Elephants: film)

Free the Slaves

(Contemporary Slavery: presentation; Dreams Die Hard: film)

Glen Canyon Institute

(Drowning River: film & In Depth)

Grupo Cultural Baguncaco

(Alagados: film; gallery)

Tara Llanes Heart of a Champion Road to Recovery Fund

(Tara Llanes & Anne Keller: presentation; gallery)

Trout Unlimited

(Red Gold film)

2008 mountainfilm jury

The Mountainfilm Prize Jury

Adrian Belic

Adrian Belic began making films in elementary school with his brother Roko. The brothers’ first commercial documentary, Genghis Blues, was winner of the 1999 Sundance Audience Award, nominated for an Academy Award Nomination and, of course, a memorable hit at Mountainfilm. Adrian’s latest project—Beyond the Call, a feature documentary about three Americans who travel to the world’s war zones delivering lifesaving humanitarian aid—has won awards at festivals across the world, including Best of Festival at Mountainfilm 2006. We hope he brings his moustache to Mountainfilm this year.

Jeanmarie Condon

Jeanmarie Condon has made many award-winning documentaries for ABC News and is now a senior producer at Nightline. She believes documentary filmmakers "hold up a mirror to society, documenting its frustrations, exploring its faults, calling for justice, clarifying its present and preserving its sense of history." Of her work as a journalist, Jeanmarie says, “I do this work above all because I believe that it is our ability to empathize with one another that, even in our darkest hours, continues to save us." This is her first time attending Mountainfilm.

Susan Saint James

Susan Saint James has had a memorable film and television career (McMillan and Wife, Kate and Allie, Love at First Bite), but we know her here in Telluride more as a neighbor and good friend to Mountainfilm. We also know her as the mother of five great kids. Two of which, Charlie and Willie Ebersol, will show their second film—Don’t Look Down—at Mountainfilm this year.

The Charlie Fowler Award Jury

Brad Wieners

Brad Wieners is the editor of Men's Journal. He was formerly executive editor of National Geographic Adventure and senior editor at Outside. He is co-creator of two books: Burning Man and Reality Check: Here's the Real Future, a survey of technologies promised in popular culture. His travels have taken him to Alaska, Amsterdam, Arctic Norway, Argentina and a number of other regions that don't begin with the first letter of the alphabet. He lives with his family in Nyack, New York, and looks forward to rowing on the Hudson this summer.

Hilaree O'Neill

Hilaree O’Neill is a skiing and adventure globetrotter. As a ski mountaineer, she has climbed and skied in such places as India, Russia, China and Tibet, Mongolia, Alaska, Canada, the Isle of South Georgia, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile. As a North Face athlete, she’s worked on adventure films with Warren Miller, NBC and the Outdoor Life Network. For the past seven years, when not traveling around the world, Hilaree has called Telluride home.

Majka Burhardt

Majka Burhardt is a writer, climber and guide who lives in Boulder, Colorado. Her latest book is Vertical Ethiopia: Climbing Toward Possibility in the Horn of Africa. Majka’s non-fiction writing has appeared in various magazines, including Men’s Health, Climbing, The Explorers Journal, Women’s Adventure and the Patagonia catalogue. She is currently finishing her first novel.

BBC Natural History Unit

Executive Producer: Tim Martin

Producer: Vanessa Berlowitz & Jeff Wilson

Sapphire Award, Second Place: "Crash: A Tale of Two Species"

NATURE Thirteen/WNET New York &

ArgoFilms Co-Production

Executive Producer: Fred Kaufman

Producer: Allison Argo

Special Jury Award: "The Last Trimate"

Fork Films

Producers: Stephen Van Mil & Pria Viswalingam

Montana Filmmaker Award: "Fish and Cow"

Producer: Geoff Stephens

Director: Rick Smith

Best Narration: "The Cold Blooded Truth"

BBC Natural History Unit

Executive Producer: Sara Ford

Producer: Miles Barton

Best Use of Music: "Reindeer Girls"

Burning Gold Productions &

BBC Co-Production

Executive Producer: Tim Martin

Producers: Steve Nicholls & John Capener

Best Educational Value: "Sports Stars"

BBC Natural History Unit

Executive Producer: Wendy Darke

Producer: Stuart Derrick

Best Scientific Content: "The Cold Blooded Truth"

BBC Natural History Unit

Executive Producer: Sara Ford

Producer: Miles Barton

Best Animal Behavior: "Animal Genius"

National Geographic Television

Executive Producer: Keenan Smart

Series Producer: David Hamlin

Producers: Adam Geiger, David Hamlin &

Leslie Schwerin

Best Cinematography: "White Falcon, White Wolf"

NATURE Thirteen/WNET New York &

BBC Co-Production

Executive Producers: Fred Kaufman for NATURE

& Tim Martin for BBC

Producer: Fergus Beeley

Best Sound Design: "White Falcon, White Wolf"

NATURE Thirteen/WNET New York &

BBC Co-Production

Executive Producers: Fred Kaufman for NATURE

& Tim Martin for BBC

Producer: Fergus Beeley

Best Editing: "Snow Leopard: Beyond the Myth"

BBC Natural History Unit

Executive Producer: Tim Martin

Producer: Vanessa Berlowitz & Jeff Wilson

Best Script: "Crash: A Tale of Two Species"

NATURE Thirteen/WNET New York & ArgoFilms

Co-Production

Executive Producer: Fred Kaufman

Producer: Allison Argo

Best Conservation Message: "The Bangui Connection"

Camerapix

Executive Producer: Karl Ammann

Best Use of Graphics or Animation: "The Cold Blooded Truth"

BBC Natural History Unit

Executive Producer: Sara Ford

Producer: Miles Barton

Graphic Designer: Mick Connaire

Best Storyline: "Saving Luna"

Mountainside Films Ltd.

Producer: Suzanne Chisholm

Best Cultural Message: "5X5, Voices of Change from the Forests of Indonesia"

Handcrafted Films & Grekko Studios Co-production

Executive Producers: John Hudson & Hugh Speechly, DFID

Producers: Tim Lewis & Ridzki R Sigit

Director: Paul Redman & Nanang Sujana

Best of Category Awards

Best Advertising/PSA/Promo: "Destination Earth"

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Executive Producer: Wade Sisler

Producer: Liz Smith

Best Amateur: "The Flying Dustbin"

Producer: Raymond Besant

Best Children’s Program: "Sports Stars"

BBC Natural History Unit

Executive Producer: Wendy Darke

Producer: Stuart Derrick

Best Children’s Series: "Saving Planet Earth – Cheetahs"

BBC Natural History Unit

Executive Producer: Sara Ford

Producer: Jo Robinson

Best Conservation & Environmental Issue: "Crash: A Tale of Two Species"

NATURE Thirteen/WNET New York &

ArgoFilms Co-Production

Executive Producer: Fred Kaufman

Producer: Allison Argo

Best Ecosystem: "Waterland – Ganges"

BBC Natural History Unit

Executive Producer: Brian Leith

Producers: Dan Rees & Ian Geay

Best Government Agency: "5X5, Voices of Change from the Forests of Indonesia"

Handcrafted Films & Grekko Studios Co-Production

Executive Producers: John Hudson & Hugh Speechly, DFID

Producers: Tim Lewis & Ridzki R Sigit

Director: Paul Redman & Nanang Sujana

Best Human-Wildlife Interactions: "Snow Leopard: Beyond the Myth"

BBC Natural History Unit

Executive Producer: Tim Martin

Producer: Vanessa Berlowitz & Jeff Wilson

Best Independent: "Waterlands"

RSPB Film Unit

Producer: Mark Percival

Best Newcomer: "The Last Trimate"

Fork Films

Producers: Stephen Van Mil & Pria Viswalingam

Best News: "Borneo Rainforest"

BBC News

Producer: Nora Dennehy

Best Non Broadcast: "Waterlands"

RSPB Film Unit

Producer: Mark Percival

Best Point of View: "Blinders"

McMoss Productions, Inc.

Executive Producer: Donald Moss

Best Presenter/Host: "Saba and the Rhino’s Secret

Animal Planet International"

Presenter: Saba Douglas Hamilton

and "The Cold Blooded Truth"

BBC Natural History Unit

Presenter: David Attenborough

Best TV Program Under $250,000 Budget: "The Crayfish in the Jam Jar"

nautilusfilm GmbH

Executive Producer: Udo A. Zimmermann

Producer: Jan Haft

Best TV Program $250,000 to $500,000 Budget: "Reindeer Girls"

Burning Gold Productions &

BBC Co-Production

Executive Producer: Tim Martin

Producers: Steve Nicholls & John Capener

Best TV Program Over $500,000 Budget: "Armored Giants"

BBC Natural History Unit

Executive Producer: Sara Ford

Series Producer: Miles Barton

Producer: Adam White

Best TV Series Under $250,000 Budget: "Meerkat Manor"

Animal Planet & Oxford Scientific Films Co-Production

Executive Producers: Mick Kaczorowski & Mark

Wild for Animal Planet & Clare Birks for OSF

Producer: Renoir Tuahene

Best TV Series $250,000 to $500,000 Budget: "Animal Genius"

National Geographic Television

Executive Producer: Keenan Smart

Series Producer: David Hamlin

Producers: Adam Geiger, David Hamlin &

Leslie Schwerin

Best TV Series Over $500,000 Budget: "Life in Cold Blood – The Cold Blooded Truth"

BBC Natural History Unit

Executive Producer: Sara Ford

Producer: Miles Barton

Best Theatrically Released: "Arctic Tale"

National Geographic Films

Executive Producers: Tim Kelly, John Bard

Manulis, & Michael Rosenfeld

Co-Executive Producer: Kevin McCarey

Producers: Adam Leipzig & Keenan Smart

Best Youth Group Under Age 13: "Refuge"

Producers: Thane Morin and Jordan English

Best Youth Group Over Age 13

Tipping Point

Producer: Mike Wham

This award is given to a filmmaker who has made a major impact on the documentary genre through a long and distinguished body of work. While equally known for his narrative films, Encounters at the End of the World (see below) is the latest in a long list of enduring documentaries from Herzog, including Grizzly Man, White Diamond, My Best Fiend, Little Dieter Needs to Fly and Land of Silence and Darkness. Encounters was released earlier this year from Image/THINKFilm, to much critical and audience acclaim.

"With the onslaught of new technologies such as digital effects and Photo Shop, and new forms of ‘reality TV' and virtual realities in cyberspace, our sense of reality is challenged in an unprecedented way," said Herzog. "Documentary filmmaking is called upon to find new answers. In these times of re-definition, it is a particular honor for me to receive the award from the IDA."

"Werner is a true original, and we are extremely proud to recognize his vast and unique contributions to the evolving art of nonfiction film," said IDA's Interim Executive Director Eddie Schmidt.

In previous years, IDA has bestowed its Career Achievement award on documentary luminaries such as Sheila Nevins, Michael Apted, Ken Burns, Albert Maysles, Haskell Wexler and last year's recipient, Michael Moore.

During this December's awards show, five documentary feature-length films and five documentary shorts will compete for the organization's top film honors, with nominations announced later this fall. Other annual awards presented at the event include its Pioneer Award, Preservation & Scholarship Award and the new Avid Excellence In Editing Award, sponsored by the industry's editing giant.

The IDA Documentary Awards are currently in their 24th year.

The Best South African Documentary winner is: "Shamiela’s House"

directed by Robyn Rorke

And the Best International Documentary winner is:

"Angel’s in the Dust"

directed by Louise Hogarth

Almost 6000 festival goers voted in both Johannesburg and Cape Town. The Audience Award referee was Professor Tim Dunne, Head of Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town.

The Top 3 South African Films are:

1. "Shamiela’s House" directed by Robyn Rorke

2. "Zulu Surf Riders" directed by Andrè Cronje and Carlos Francisco

3. "The Shaman’s Apprentice" directed by Catherine Winter

The Top 3 International Films are:

1. "Angels in the Dust" directed by Louise Hogarth

2. "Iron Ladies of Liberia" directed by Siatta Scott Johnson and Daniel Junge

3. "Stranded – I’ve come from a plane that crashed on the mountains" directed by Gonzalo Arijon

“Encounters values the Audience Awards as they are a gauge of audience tastes and preferences. We are grateful to our festival-goers that attended the screenings, gave critical input to the filmmakers through our Q&A and panel discussions and voted for our Audience Award. It has become evident that South Africa has the capacity to grow an intelligent and engaged documentary film audience. We will continue with the Awards which give us insight when selecting for next year, “said festival director Mandisa Zitha.

The 10th edition of Encounters ended last weekend with full houses in Cape Town. The Festival enjoyed great attendances at the Industry events in both Johannesburg and Cape Town.

1st Prize: "Encounters at the end of the world,"

Director: Werner Herzog, USA, Germany

2nd Prize: "A Promise to the Dead: The exile journey of Ariel Dorfman,"

Director: Peter Raymont, Canada

Special mention: "The thirst of a stone sea,"

Director: Vladimir Perovic, Montenegro

Medium length films

The jury for the medium length category included: Matthias Bergman, Dimitris Yatzouzakis and Sawsan Darwaza.

1st Prize: “Paradise – Three Journeys In This World”

Director: Elina Hirvonen from Finland.

Jury Comments: “Three Journeys …” we chose it as a first prize because this film confronts us with the current problem of illegal immigrants.

It orchestrates their pain, poverty, and distress into the form of a cinematographic poem.

2nd Prize: “The Nuclear Come Back” from New Zealand,

Director: Justin Pemberton.

The Nuclear Come Back gives us a sharp and sober access to a complicated and controversial issue. It very clearly contrasts the revival of the nuclear power plants that are sold to us by the nuclear industry as a solution for the climate change versus the costs and dangers of this technology that will last for 100.000 years.

Special Mention for the film “Black River”

Director: Surendra Manan from India.

Black River reveals how religious energy can be transcended into action for saving the natural recourses people live on.

Special Mention for the film “Uncle Mitte”

Director: Wijnand van Ginkel from the Netherlands.

A film that arrives to a silent eloquence using the cinematographic tools to capture moments of human life in the middle of the wilderness without manipulating the scenery.

Short length films

The short film length jury committee consisted of Marianthi Irakleidou, Fereydoun Faryad and Iannis Shizas, noted the impressive upgrade of short film length films and the creative motivation of the new generation of cinematographers.

1st Prize: "Apna Aloo Bazaar Becha - From substinence ecology to the market"

Director: Pankaj H Gupta, India

2nd Prize: "Mbeubeus"

Director: Simona Risi, Italy

Special Mentions to:

“Apna Aloo Bazaar Becha - From subsistence ecology to the market” by Pankaj H. Gupta, for the holistic approach of the traditional agriculture problems

“Mbeumbeus”, by Simona Risi, for her message about recycling in parallel with a report about third world misery.

Greek Film Center Award for best greek film

1st Prize: "Cyclown Circus"

Director: Dimitris Sfiris

1st Prize: "The ash that remains"

Director: Nikos Kavoukidis

Special mention: "The Cup"

Director: Giannis Bougioukas

Special mention: "Love lessons for revolutionary action"

Director: Nikos Alevras

Audience awards

"War/Dance"

Director: Sean Fine & Andrea Nix, USA

"Erato"

Director: Angelos Spartalis, Greece

Also were awarded:

Best First Documentary: “La Reina del Condón”

by Silvana Ceschi and Reto Stamm, (Switzerland)

Best Short Documentary: “Death Valley Superstar”

by Michael Yaroshevsky (Canada)

Special Mention was awarded to “Rakushka”

by Dmitiy Lavrinenko (Russia).

In OFF Docúpolis section was awarded the film “The Mosquito Problem”, by the Bulgarian Andrey Paounov.

Apart from the official categories, Docúpolis gave honorific awards.

The award Tercer Ojo to Best experimental documentary was for “Solo”

by Maciej Pisarek (Poland)

The Human Rights Award was for “Fighting the silence”

by Lles and Femke van Velzen (Holand)

The best Latin-american Documentary was for Andres di Tella’s “Fotografías” (Argentina)

Audience Award was for “Mari Carmen España. El final del silencio”, by Martin Jonson and Pontus Hjorthén.

Switzerland closed with the presentation of the coveted eight Golden Roses Awards. They were presented to the winners by leading Swiss personalities, including Freddy

Burger, chairman of Freddy Burger Management, which owns the rights to the Rose d’Or Festival, and Swiss-native Kiera Chaplin, granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin, who presented the award for Best Entertainer. Well-known Dutch comedian and musical virtuoso Hans Liberg hosted the evening.

Urban Frye, festival director, presented Ben Silverman, co-chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios, with the 2008 Honorary Rose. “The winner of this award is carefully considered by the Rose d'Or organization and presented to someone who is renowned in the industry for their contribution to television,” Frye said. “ Ben Silverman has transformed the television business model and is continually pushing the boundaries of this ever-expanding medium. Ben personifies this award and I am delighted to present him with the 2008 Honorary Rose.”

The Festival received a new record of 402 programs, entered by 181 companies across 34 countries. From these, a pre-selection jury nominated 75 programs from 55 companies and 19 countries to compete in their respective categories.

A high-profile group of 19 jury members narrowed this field to the top winners in each of the following eight categories: Arts Documentary, Comedy, Drama, Sitcom, Entertainment, Game Show, Performing Arts, and Reality. Special Awards were presented for Best Entertainer and Best of 2008.

“This year's programs were of exceptional quality, which presented our international jurors with a challenging task. However, the caliber of entries proves not only that the Rose d'Or is back at the heart of European creativity, but also that it is possible to create programs with cross-cultural and cross-generational appeal,” Frye added.

The winners are as follows:

ARTS DOCUMENTARY

“Strictly Bolshoi” (76-minute documentary film)

Production Company: Ballet Boyz Productions Ltd. - UK

Broadcaster/Distributor: Channel 4 – UK

This intimate and thrilling film follows the world’s most sought-after ballet choreographer, Christopher Wheeldon, as he becomes the first Englishman to be invited to create a new work for the legendary Bolshoi Ballet.

COMEDY

“Kombat Opera Presents…” (30-minute comedy series)

Production Company: Avalon Television - UK

Broadcaster/Distributor: BBC – UK

“Kombat Opera Presents…” is a cross-genre format in which a cast of opera singers parody major television formats. It's an inspired idea that opens the door to a whole new genre: culture-clash TV.

DRAMA

“Skins” (60-minute series)

Production Company: Company Pictures / Storm Dog Films - UK

Broadcaster/Distributor: E4 – UK

“Skins” is an offbeat comedy/drama series about a group of teenagers who push boundaries, both at home and abroad. The action is enhanced by an irreverent comedic approach, which in no way reduces its emotional impact.

SPECIAL MENTION

In the drama category a special mention was given to:

“The Street II” (60-minute series)

Production Company: Granada Productions - UK

Broadcaster/Distributor: BBC - UK

“The Street II”, now in its second season, follows the lives of the various residents of one street in the northern English city of Manchester.

ENTERTAINMENT

“Hider In The House” (60-minute series)

Production Company: Eyeworks - NL

Broadcaster/Distributor: BBC 2 – UK

“Hider In The House” is a hilarious and engaging children's hidden-camera show. The series pits the wits of children against their parents as they attempt to hide a celebrity in their house for an entire weekend.

GAME SHOW

“Power Of 10” (43-minute game show)

Production Company: Embassy Row - US

Broadcaster/Distributor: Sony Pictures Television Int. – UK

"Power of 10" is a high stakes, adrenaline-filled game show that tests contestants’ knowledge of public thinking and opinion. This primetime studio game show uses questions based on large-scale professional polling results on a range of issues from politics to pop culture.

PERFORMING ARTS

Mozart’s Magic Flute-Onstage and Backstage (207-minute special)

Production Company: tpc tv productioncenter zurich - CH

Broadcaster/Distributor: SF Schweizer Fernsehen (Swiss Television) - CH

An innovative television program, the action centres on a performance of Mozart’s Magic Flute, conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt and directed by Marin Kusej at Zurich Opera House shows. The show is aired live from two parallel perspectives, simultaneously on two different TV channels: front stage on SF 1 and backstage on SF 2.

REALITY

“The Phone” (40-minute film)

Production Company: Park Lane TV Productions - NL

Broadcaster/Distributor: Park Lane TV Productions - NL

The Phone is a movie — a movie played in daily life, with daily people who compete unknowingly, but willingly. The plot features two protagonists caught in a world no one knew existed; a parallel world that is all around us, but only visible to those who pick up `The Phone`.

SITCOM

“The IT Crowd” (25-minute series)

Production Company: talkbackTHAMES - UK

Broadcaster/Distributor: Channel 4 – UK

An office IT department is the setting of this sitcom. But far from being the second-class citizens of the corporate world, these IT guys are the heroes of this business.

In addition, special prizes were also awarded to:

BEST ENTERTAINER

“Peter Serafinowicz” (30-minute)

The Peter Serafinowicz Show

Production Company: Objective Productions/Hey Hey Hey Ltd. - UK

Broadcaster/Distributor: BBC - UK

Star of “The Peter Serafinowicz Show”, Peter is well-known UK comic actor, voice artist and composer. Through his impressions of familiar faces, Peter creates a world in which the likes of Al Pacino and Simon Cowell mingle with his own quirky creations, such as an impressively incompetent private investigator.

BEST OF 2008

“Kombat Opera Presents…” (30-minute comedy series)

Production Company: Avalon Television - UK

Broadcaster/Distributor: BBC – UK

“Kombat Opera Presents…” is a cross-genre format in which a cast of opera singers parody major television formats. It's an inspired idea that opens the door to a whole new genre: culture-clash TV.

Feature: HERB AND DOROTHY

Director: Megumi Sasaki

Short: THE TAILOR

Director: Oscar Perez

Sterling US Feature Award:

Winner: THE GARDEN

Director: Scott Hamilton Kennedy

Special Jury Mention: TROUBLE THE WATER

Directors: Carl Deal and Tia Lessin

Sterling World Feature Award:

Winner: THE ENGLISH SURGEON

Director: Geoffrey Smith

Special Jury Mention: THE RED RACE

Director: Jan Zabeil

Sterling Short Award:

Winner: WHAT WOULD THE DROP KNOW ABOUT THAT? (screens with THE GARDEN)

Director: Jan Zabeil

Honorable Mention: GROUND FLOOR RIGHT

Director: Marlene Schiött Rasmussen

and ONE DAY

Director: Ditte Haarløv-Johnsen

Music Documentary Award:

THROW DOWN YOUR HEART

Directed: Sascha Paladino

Cinematic Vision Award:

THE ORDER OF MYTHS

Director: Margaret Brown

WITNESS Award:

PRAY THE DEVIL BACK TO HELL

Director: Gini Reticker

American Film Market/SILVERDOCS Award:

KASSIM THE DREAM

Director: Kief Davidson

Writers Guild of America Documentary Screenplay Award:

FORBIDDEN LIE$

Director: Anna Broinowski

ACE Grant Winner:

THE ELEPHANT IN THE LIVING ROOM

Directors: Ingrid Demetz, Caroline Leitner (Italy)

To award the Prize “Centaur” and 2000 USD for the best full length documentary film: "ALONE IN FOUR WALLS"

Director: Alexandra Westmeier (Germany)

To award the Prize “Centaur” and 2000 USD for the best short documentary film: 52 PERCENT

Director: Rafal Skalski (Poland)

To award the Prize “Centaur” and 2000 USD for the best short fiction film: 2 BIRDS

Director: Runar Runarsson (Iceland)

To award the Prize “Centaur” and 2000 USD for the best animation film: HOUSE OF SMALL CUBES

Director: Kunio Kato (Japan)

To award a Diploma to the film: UP THE YANTZE

Director: Yung Chang (Canada)

To award a Diploma to the film: ON ALL DAYS

Director: Mikhail Zhdanovsky (Belarus)

To award a Diploma to the film: TELL YOUR CHILDREN

Director: Andras Salamon (Hungary)

To award a Diploma to the film: DON ROBERTO’S SHADE

Directors Juan Diego Spoerer, Hakan Engstrom

(Chili)

To award a Diploma to the film: IN SCALE

Directors: Marina Moshkova (Russia)

To award a Diploma to the film: MADAME TUTLI-PUTLI

Directors Chris Lavis, Maciek Szczerbowski (Canada)

Reasons:

Martin Kubala’s documentary film captures the world of this outstanding European dancer with deep human understanding but without preconceived stereotypes. He does not demonize the drudgery of the ballet profession, nor does he fall for other similar cliches. The basic theme is the swift passage of time, and Daria Klimentova escapes from it by taking a rational approach to managing family and work relations and to expanding her professional activities. The documentary has an unobtrusive but profound mission which avoids preaching and formulating but instead offers an example of a life lived to the full. And all this against the background of the highly stylized world of classical ballet.

Czech Television Prize: "Liverpool Nativity"

BBC Classical Music Television, Velka Britanie/United Kingdom Coproducers

Reasons:

Television Programme Liverpool Nativity does a fabulous job of linking the long tradition of popular music in Liverpool with one of the most wonderful stories of all times, one that has just as much relevance today as it did 2000 years ago. The creators succeeded in producing a sensitive but unsentimentalized update making marvellous use of current television techniques.

Czech Crystal- Category 2: Documentary programs dedicated to music and dance:

"The Maestro Maker – Jorma Panula and his Finnish Conducting School"

Reasons:

With a fresh narrative and sense of humour, this documentary offers an insight into the work of the unique teacher Jorma Panula who has spawned an entire generation of young Finnish conductors and whose goal is to encourage students to develop individuality rather than creating clones of himself. The skillful editing greatly contributed to what the jury felt was a natural, free-flowing and very enjoyable film.

Czech Crystal- Category 2: Documentary programmes dedicated to music and dance:

Herbert von Karajan – "Maestro for the Screen"

Bernhard Fleischer Moving Images GmbH, Rakousko/Austria Coproducers: Rundfunk Berlin- Brandenburg, ARTE, Bayerischer Rundfunk

Reasons:

The makers of the documentary about the relation of conductor Herbert von Karajan to the film and television have managed to express the principal themes and issues regarding the relationship between classical music and television. At the same time the film provides valuable historical and nostalgic insight into the era when money was not the decisive limit for shooting the outstanding performers of their time.

Czech Crystal- Category 3: Musical drama (opera, operetta, musical, dance, ballet etc.): "Tristan und Isolde"

Opus Arte, Velka Britanie/ United Kingdom

Koproducenti/Coproducers: Hans Petri, Ference van Damme, James Whitbourn

Grand Prix GOLDEN PRAGUE: "Ballad for Edvard Grieg"

NRK Program riks Bergen, Norway

Coproducers: SVT YLE/FST

Reasons:

The Grand Prix of this year's Golden Prague Festival goes to The Ballad for Edvard Grieg because of its overall excellence. It is the successful attempt to reach the heart of a masterpiece, the Ballad in G-minor.

Social Documentary Golden Award: "Hong"

Shanghai Media Group, China

Jury’s Word

A beautifully observed film capturing the emotions of a child’s struggle to succeed.

Social Documentary Silver Award: "Japanese Ninjas" Mercurio Cinematografica, Italy

Jury’s Word

The film conveys vividly how the shared passion for cycling unites the very different cultures and environments of Japan and Africa.

History & Biography Documentary Golden Award: "The Rape of Nanking"

Point Du Jour, France

Jury’s Word

This film is an important and searing indictment of the dehumanizing nature of war, using archival footage and honest testimony in a devastatingly effective manner.

History & Biography Documentary Silver Award: "Ma Yin-Chu and the Population Control"

Shanghai Media Group, China

Jury’s Word

A strong story of one remarkable man’s courageous conviction in his scientific conclusions in the face of intense pressures across the stretch of modern Chinese history.

Nature Documentary Golden Award: "Ganges-Water Land"

BBC, UK

Jury’s Word

Beautifully photographed, the film skillfully weaves stories of teeming life in a changeable environment where people are vulnerable and adaptable.

Nature Documentary Silver Award: "Polar Bears-Living on Thin Ice"

NDR Naturfilm, Germany

Jury’s Word

This film tells a strong and moving story, capturing dramatic animal behavior under challenging natural conditions.

Asian Documentary Golden Award: "The Secret in the Satchel"

Public Television Service Foundation of Taiwan, China

Jury’s Word

Brilliantly innovative film that allows teenagers to reveal their brutally honest and harrowing stories of late adolescence.

Asian Documentary Silver Award: "Dancing Alfonso"

Heymann Brothers Films & TTV Productions Ltd, Israel

Jury’s Word

A charmingly intimate insight into the love and passion of old age, using flamenco dance to symbolize the determination to be fully alive in later life.

Special Jury Award for Documentary: "Achieving the Unachievable"

Locomotion, Canada

Jury’s Word

The jury awards a special prize to a film that transcends the category of History and Biography. It is a riveting journey into the imagination of an artist, exploring the boundaries of perception and reality.

TV Film Category

TV Film Golden Award: "Let’s Go to the Movies Tomorrow"

Akson Studio / TVP SA - Film Agency, Poland

Jury’s Word

For conveying very realistically the loss of innocence that was brings by the war and how friendships can survive all in a time of crisis.

TV Film Silver Award: "My Boy Jack, Ingenious" Broadcasting & Franada, UK

Jury’s Word

For conveying palpable pain caused by sacrifice in a war and the complexities of a family in such a situation.

Best Director (TV Film): John Alexander, ("Sense & Sensibility"), BBC, UK

Jury’s Word

Perfect interpretation of the script and characters created by Jane Austen and delivered a visually enlightened and romantic film.

Best Screenplay (TV Film): "Didier Le Pêcheur" (Jury Duty)

GETEVE, France/AT Production, Belgium

Jury’s Word

Strong story telling and development of the plot and sub plots that was unique and intriguing with vivid characterization.

Best Actor (TV Film): Alessio Boni, ("Caravaggio")

Rai Fiction, Italy/GMT Productions, France

Jury’s Word

The film embodied the characters of Carravaggio completely with all his complexities and quirks and insanity.

Best Actress (TV Film): Hattie Morahan ("Sense & Sensibility"),

BBC, UK

Jury’s Word

The most controlled, consistent ad emotionally touching performance.

TV Series Category

TV Series Golden Award: "Soldiers Sortie"

Beijing Sanhuan Audio and Video Co./Tianyi Movie & TV Co., China

Jury’s Word

The work is well-made and the characterization is vivid. It explores the spirit of “never giving up” and the sense of responsibility of modern youth.

TV Series Silver Award: "Golden Wedding"

Beijing Television Arts Centre，China

Jury’s Word

The work is close to life and exhibits the social changes and sophisticated human emotions through a married life that lasts half a century, evoking a strong echo in the audience.

Best Director (TV Series): "Zheng Xiaolong" (Golden Wedding)

Beijing Television Arts Centre，China

Jury’s Word

With simple narration and a slow but well-tailored rhythm, the work boasts fine actors and actresses whose performances show the social changes most accurately and naturally.

Best Screenplay (TV Series): "Lan Xiaolong" (Soldiers Sortie)

Beijing Sanhuan Audio and Video Co./Tianyi Movie & TV Co., China

Jury’s Word

With a novel theme and a well-knit structure, the work develops the plot from a unique perspective with its vivid characterization, concise dialogues, and the spirit of “never giving up”.

Best Actor (TV Series): "Zhang Guoli" (Golden Wedding), Beijing Television Arts Centre, China

Jury’s Word

The performance is accurate and vivid, exhibiting the personal charm of the main character from youth to late life in a vivid, coherent and natural way.

Best Actress (TV Series): Jiang Wenli ("Golden Wedding"), Beijing Television Arts Centre, China

Jury’s Word

The performance is exquisite, reserved, and real. With a touching story and vivid characterization, the work has broken through the age limit.

Animation Category

Foreign Animation Golden Award: "Things You Think: Poor and Rich"

Westdeutscher Rundfunk, Germany

Jury’s Word

Having adopted pastel drawing, the work is relaxing and fresh. The well-tailored child language explains vividly the differences between “the poor and the rich”.

Foreign Animation Silver Award: "Labyrinth"

IRIB, Iran

Jury’s Word

Combing the three simple colors---black, white and red---and the sophisticated digital technology, the work has incisively expressed people’s fear of war.

Animation Golden Award (China): "Big-eared Tutu Season"

Shanghai Film Group/Shanghai Animation Film Studio, China

Jury’s Word

With a lucid and lively style, the work arranges the language of adults and children in an ingenious and humorous way, offering the audience a fresh experience.

Animation Silver Award (China): "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf"

Creative Cartoon Network, China

Jury’s Word

The work has a novel structure and cute images. The language used is trendy and relaxing.

Best Animation Creation (China): "Chick Wants to Fly" Jilin College of the Arts Animation School, China

Jury’s Word

Integrating Chinese brush drawing and modern advanced animation techniques, the work achieves a balance between maintaining Chinese tradition and making new breakthroughs.

Kim Cattrall was on hand to receive the NBC Universal Award of Distinction, and producer Jon Plowman accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Grand Prize was given to:

“White Light/Black Rain: The destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki”.

Children's Programs – In partnership with DECODE/halifaxfilm/Studio B – DHX Media Companies:

"How the Gimquat Found Her Song"

Producer: Trace Pictures/Oz Media

Country: Canada

Animation Programs – In partnership with: KBS (Korean Broadcasting System):

"Charlie and Lola Series 3: I can dance like a dancer"

Producer: Tiger Aspect Productions Ltd.

For: Cbeebies

Country: UK

Youth Programs – In partnership with Shaftesbury:

"The Baby Borrowers on Holiday"

Producer: Love Productions

Country: UK

Lifestyle Programs and Light Information– In partnership with Searchlight:

"How to Look Good Naked"

Producer: Maverick

For: Channel 4

Country: UK

Reality Format Programs – In partnership with CBC/Radio-Canada:

"Intervention"

Producer: GRB Entertainment in association with A&E Television Network

For: A&E Television Network

Country: USA

Arts Documentaries – In partnership with The Banff Centre:

"What Remains: Life and Work of Sally Mann" (Cinemax Reel Life):

Producer: HBO Documentary Films in association with Stick Figure Productions, BBC, and Cactus Three

Country: USA

Performance Programs – In partnership with CTV Television Inc.:

"Car Men"

Producer: NPS/ARTE/ESKá Televize

For: NPS

Country: Netherlands, Czech Republic, Germany

Interactive Program Enhancements – In partnership with Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Co.:

"Odd Job Jack"

Producer: Smiley Guy Studios

Country: Canada

Internet Only Programs - In partnership with: Alberta Film, Calgary Economic Development, Edmonton Tourism - Edmonton Film Commission:

NFB Filmmaker in residence

Producer: The National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

Country: Canada

Mobile Programs & Enhancements – In partnership with Penguin Films:

"The Border: Interactive"

Producer: White Pine Pictures with Stitch Media

For: CBC

Country: Canada

Comedies – In partnership with Just for Laughs:

"Extras: Episode 9 - Daniel Radcliffe"

Producer: BBC and HBO Entertainment

Country: UK, US

Lifetime Achievement:

Jon Plowman, Producer

Social & Humanitarian Programs - In partnership with: History Makers: Summit of International History and Current Affairs Producers:

"Jerusalem is Proud to Present"

Producer: Bador Productions in association with Yona Production

For: Chennel 8-Noga Communications & Channel 2- Keshet

Country: Israel

Political Documentaries – In partnership with Documentary Organization of Canada:

"Iron Ladies of Liberia"

Producer: Just Media in association with Gabriel Films and Independent Television Service (ITUS) and Steps International.

For: ARTE

Country: Liberia, USA, South Africa, Denmark

History & Biography Programs – In partnership with Rogers Communications Inc.:

"White Light/Black Rain: The destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki"

Producer: HBO Documentary Films in association with Farallon Films

Country: USA

Investigative & Current Affairs Programs - In partnership with: A&E Television Networks:

"Dispatches: Meeting the Taliban"

Producer: October Films

For: Channel 4

Country: UK

NHK Best Asian Program – In partnership with NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation):

"White Light/Black Rain: The destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki"

Producer: HBO Documentary Films in association with Farallon Films

Country: USA

Popular Science & Technology Programs – In partnership with SAIT Polytechnic:

"My Brilliant Brain"

Producer: Windfall Films In association with FIVE

For: National Geographic Channels International

Country: UK/USA

Environmental Programs – In partnership with Canwest:

"The Human Foot Print"

Producer: Touch Prods

For: E4 (Channel 4)

Country: UK

Wildlife & Natural History Programs – In partnership with WGBH:

"Four Wings and a Prayer"

Producer: Primitive Entertainment Inc. in association with Filmes a Trois,

The National Film Board of Canada, and NHK

For: The Documentary Channel

Country: Canada, France, Japan

Best Canadian Program – In partnership with Playback:

"Ghosts of the Yangtze" (Up the Yangtze)

Producer: EyeSteelFilms in association with National Film Board of Canada

For: National Geographic Channels International

Country: China, USA, Canada

Best Canadian Program – In partnership with Playback:

"The Real Superhumans and the Quest for the Future Fantastic"

Producer: Bird Plane Productions Inc. in association with Proper Television Inc.

For: Discovery Channel

Country: Canada

Telenovela & Serial Programs – In partnership with Shure Incorporated:

"Turkish for Beginners: Season 2"

Producer: Hofmann &Voges Entertaiment GmbH

For: ARD / BR

Country: Germany

Made-for-TV Movies – In partnership with Sony of Canada Ltd.:

"Stuart, A Life Backwards"

Producer: Neal Street Productions

For: BBC/HBO

Country: UK

Mini-Series – In partnership with Deluxe Vancouver | Toronto:

"Cranford"

Producer: BBC Drama Production / WGBH Boston in association with Chestermead Ltd.

Country: UK, US

Continuing Series – In partnership with the Independent Production Fund:

"Skins"

Producer: Company Pictures

For: E4 (Channel 4)

Country: UK

Special Jury – Best Documentary:

"Iron Ladies of Liberia"

Producer: Just Media in association with Gabriel Films and Independent Television Service (ITUS) and Steps International.

For ARTE

Country: Liberia, USA, South Africa, Denmark

Special Jury – Feature Length Documentary:

"What Remains: Life and Work of Sally Mann" (Cinemax Reel Life)

Producer: HBO Documentary Films in association with Stick Figure Productions, BBC, and Cactus Three

Country: USA

Special Jury – Best Drama:

"Stuart, A Life Backwards"

Producer: Neal Street Productions

For: BBC/HBO

Country: UK

Special Jury – Best Entertainment:

"Extras: Episode 9 - Daniel Radcliffe"

Producer: BBC and HBO Entertainment

Country: UK, US

Special Jury – Best Overall:

"Top Gear"

Producer: BBC

Country: UK

Special Jury – Best Overall

"51st Birch St."

Producer: Copacetic Pictures New York in Association with HBO, ZDF, and ARTE

Country: US, Germany

NBC Universal Canada Award of Distinction:

Kim Cattrall

Grand Prize:

"White Light/Black Rain: The destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki"

Producer: HBO Documentary Films in association with Farallon Films

Country: USA

The Banff World Television Festival is a not-for-profit event produced by Achilles Media Ltd., an international events management company serving the television and digital media industries. Achilles Media Ltd. events include: History Makers: International Summit of History & Current Affairs Producers, nextMEDIA events, Canadian Innovation Exchange (CIX) and NATPE Mobile++.

Productions from England, Japan and the United States took Best of Show “Grand Prix” honors at the 41st annual U.S. International Film And Video Festival.

Winning in the Corporate category was “KPMG Graduate Recruitment Film,” from Jack Morton Worldwide, London. Tops in Education was “Mathematica II: Squaring the Circle,” from NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corp.), Tokyo. The Documentary winner was a PBS production, “NATURE: Unforgettable Elephants,” from Thirteen/WNET, New York City.

The KPMG film demonstrates the global network of auditing, tax and advisory services of KPMG in a lively format designed to attract new college graduates to the firm. “Mathematica” uses animated and real world techniques – such as a comparison of a round cake and a square cake – to teach the pi formula. “Nature: Unforgettable Elephants” represents more than 15 years of work by photographer Martyn Colbeck, who documented the lives of African elephants in Kenya.

Other nominees for the Best of Festival in Corporate were:

“Gebrűder Heinemann Orchestra Film,” BM8 GmbH, Hamburg, Germany, which was made to demonstrate the strength of Gebrüder Heinemann in distribution of goods with respect to security sensitive environments;

“IBM Hermitage Film,” Jack Morton Worldwide, New York City, highlights the IBM project to put the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, online and explains how by promoting access to art helps build a bridge across cultures.

Nominated in Education was “Role of Platelet Production in ITP,” created by Shaw Science Partners, Atlanta. Ga., USA, to explain to hematologists a new drug from GlaxoSmithKlne that will be used to treat immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). The other nominees for Documentary were “J.M.W. Turner,” a profile of the famous 18th century British artist from National Gallery of Art, Landover, Md., USA; and “The Pagan Christ,” created by David Brady Productions, Sandhurst, Ontario, Canada, based on the controversial book by Tom Harpur, “The Pagan Christ: Rediscovering the Lost Light.”

The winners and nominees also won First Place Gold Camera Awards in the competition, which had winners from 23 countries.

The NBC Universal Award of Distinction acknowledges an individual's outstanding career in the broadcast industry. The award will be presented to Ms. Cattrall on Monday June 9th at the Banff World Television Awards. On Tuesday June 10th, Ms. Cattrall will sit down with Bill Carter of the New York Times to discuss her life and career.

Cattrall was a leading force in turning the ground-breaking HBO series Sex and the City into a global phenomenon. Portraying femme fatale Samantha, Cattrall won over the hearts of every woman, by playing it honest and impulsive, bringing out the inner vamp in us all. Cattrall has been highly praised by the critics and recognized with a Golden Globe and 2 Screen Actors Guild awards, plus 5 additional Golden Globe, 4 Emmy and 3 Screen Actors' Guild nominations. With the worldwide syndication of Sex and the City, her portrayal of Samantha is known around the globe.

Cattrall will be seen this summer in John Boorman's The Tiger's Tail with Brenden Gleeson for Sony Classics. Most recently Kim starred in "My Boy Jack," opposite Daniel Radcliffe and David Haig. The film, which aired in the U.K. on ITV, was highly praised by critics and will be airing in the U.S. on April 20th on PBS Masterpiece Theater. She is currently reprising her role as the infamous Samantha Jones, in "Sex and the City: The Movie," which will be released by New Line in May.

"It is with great pleasure that we bestow the NBC Universal Award of Distinction on Kim Cattrall," says Ron Suter, Senior Vice President and General Manager, NBC Universal Television Distribution, Canada. "Having grown up in Vancouver and starred in many films and television programs that have originated in Canada, Kim's distinguished acting career is a prime example of what this award was meant to stand for."

“Ms. Cattrall has an incredibly prolific and successful career in both films and television,” says Jennifer Harkness, Executive Director, BANFF. “It’s a thrill to welcome her to this festival that celebrates the best in the industry.”

The Banff World Television Festival is a not-for-profit event produced by Achilles Media Ltd., an international events management company serving the television and digital media industries. Achilles Media Ltd. events include: History Makers: International Summit of History & Current Affairs Producers, nextMEDIA events, Canadian Innovation Exchange (CIX) and NATPE Mobile++. For more information, visit www.achillesmedia.com. The Banff World Television Festival takes place June 8-11 amid the spectacular Canadian Rockies at the Fairmont Banff Springs in Alberta, Canada. To register, please visit www.banff2008.com

"FGM" (Spain, 2008). Directed by Jon Garaño.

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

Jury: Brigitte Berg (Denmark), Peter Furtado (UK)

Irene Lichtscheidl (Austria), Paul Pissanos (Greece) and Robert A. Rosenstone (USA)

Award for Best International Popular-scientific Documentary Film

"In the Name of Roses"

Director: Thierry Berrod / France 2008 / 52 min.

With charm and humor Thierry Berrod sets off to gather excrements or roses as he calls them. The film offers a look into alchemists’ laboratories as well as much insight into the modern technologies involved in the processing of stools.

CZECH COMPETITION

Jury: Mgr. Pavel Černuška, Ph.D. (Czech Republic), Ing. Marcel Grün (Czech Republic), PhDr. Ivan Klimeš (Czech Republic), Tomáš Škrdlant (Czech Republic) and RNDr. Stanislav Vaněk (Czech Republic)

Award for Best Czech Popular-scientific Documentary Film

"Mr. Parkinson"

Director: Petr Jančárek / CZ 2007 / 26 min.

Coming to terms with a disease that turns one’s life upside down can be done with vast wisdom. A composer of classical music, whose movements have changed to something of a dance creation, wrote parodiable music that compliments the film. Brain surgery and its affects on family life projected on screen.

OTHER AWARDS

Lifetime Achievement Award in Popular-scientific Film: Nigel Marven

A biologist, filmmaker and a long-time BBC associate who has cooperated, among others, with Sir David Attenborough, a leading pioneer in promoting science on television. Today Marven is rightly considered among international celebrities in his field.

Audience Award

"Mr. Parkinson"

Director: Petr Jančárek / CZ 2007 / 26 min.

Coming to terms with a disease that turns one’s life upside down can be done with vast wisdom. A composer of classical music, whose movements have changed to something of a dance creation, wrote parodiable music that compliments the film. Brain surgery and its affects on family life projected on screen.

Student Jury Award

Jury: Vojtěch Hanulík, Zuzka Jašková

Ester Kadlecová, Josef Kaštil, Dominika Linhartová, Rodion Procjuk, Jan Přeček and Tomáš Vynikal

"Peace with Seals"

Director: Miloslav Novák / CZ 2007 / 96 min.

Peace with Seals is an extraordinary viewing experience of peaceful coexistence between seal and man. A feature-length documentary film creation of unique picture poetry produced in the Czech Republic.

SPECIAL MENTION

Vesmír magazine Award for Best Czech Documentary Film in Natural Sciences

"Fish’n’Pills"

Director: Tereza Tara / CZ 2007 / 20 min.

“Females know little about the causes, signs and side effects of hormone pill intake. Males lose their sexuality.” The black and white film tells of environmental hormonal pollution.

Dějiny a současnost magazine Award for Best Czech Documentary Film in the Humanities and Social Sciences

"Forgotten Transports"

Director: Lukáš Přibyl / CZ 2007 / 86 min.

The Forgotten transports to Byelorussia project was gradually developed in the years of 2000 – 2006 and consists of testimonies of individuals that survived practically unknown concentration camps in Latvia, Byelorussia, Estonia and Eastern Poland.

History Today magazine Award for Best International Documentary Film in the Humanities

"Nanking"

Director: Bill Guttentag & Dan Sturman / USA 2007 / 88 min.

The night before the Second World War broke out the Japanese military invaded Chinese territory and occupied the then capital city of Nanking, which subsequently set the stage for Japanese military barbarity and horror.

Award for Best Student Film - V. Ř. E. D.

JÁ (a music video for LAJKY)│Czech Republic, 2008

Director: Miloš Kameník

GUESTS

The 43rd Academia Olomouc - International Festival of Popular-scientific and Documentary Films welcomed the following guests: Josef Abrhám ml., Petr Baran, Václav Bělohradský, Luboš Bělka, Brigitte Berg, David Čeněk, Pavel Černuška, Jakub Červena, Jaroslav Flegr, Peter Furtado, Marcel Grün, Nikolaj Hrib, Vít Janeček, Pavel Jirásek, Ivan Klimeš, Natacha von Kopp, Jiřina Kosíková, Steve L. Lichtag, Irene Lichtsheidel, Petr Lokaj, Daniel Luther, Peter Lynch, Nigel Marven, František Mikeš, Miloslav Novák, Emil Paleček, Paul Pissanos, Lukáš Přibyl, Robert Rosenstone, Alice Růžičková, Martin Řezníček, Otakáro Maria Schmidt, Pavel Smetana, Jiří Straus, Jaroslav Šabata, Martin Škabraha, Tomáš Škrdlant, Pavel Štingl, Jiří Vácha, Stanislav Vaněk and others.

STUDIO

This section included a wide range of discussions, panels, lectures and film screenings. This year's main themes were: Year 1968: Global Revolt; Evolution, or a Miracle?; and Science Inside Out. Audiences had the opportunity to see several internationally renown documentary films, e.g. Project Grizzly, Cyberman, The Herd and A Whale of a Tale, by Canadian filmmaker Peter Lynch who attended the screenings.

The panel Evolution or a Miracle? brought together the supporters and opponents of the intelligent design theory vs. the evolution theory: philosopher Doc. Luboš Bělka, evolution biologist prof. Jaroslav Flegr, theologian and chemist Ing. František Mikeš, PhD., molecular biologist prof. Emil Paleček, and physiologist Prof. MUDr. Jiří Vácha, DrSc.

Prof. Robert A. Rosenstone from the California Institute of Technology gave a remarkable lecture supplemented with film clips that aimed to prove that the treatment of history in film can have a number of other aspects.

Prof. PhDr. Jiří Straus, DrSc. and Ing. Nikolaj Hrib delivered a successful lecture comparing the current practice of criminal investigation with the methods promoted by popular television shows, such as CSI Miami and others.

Alice Růžičková, Vice Dean at FAMU, dedicated her lecture to Czech popular-scientific film in the 1950s.

RETROSPECTIVE

At this year's festival, audiences had a chance to find out more about French filmmaker Jean Painlevé, a pioneer in ocean filmmaking. The screenings were introduced by Painlevé's former associate Brigitte Berg and film historian David Čeněk. Jean Painlevé made nearly 200 films, the AFO selection included e.g., The Sea Horse, The Vampire,

Notre planète la Terre, Hyas et stenorinques, Comment naissent les méduses, etc.

DOC.Port

A comprehensive video library that serves as an representative international market of popular-scientific films that offers a meeting point for producers, buyers, distributors and journalists. Each visitor with the AFO accreditation can visit the Doc.port and watch a broad selection of films. Apart from the competition films Doc.port contains also films that were not selected for the main competition. This year the DOC.Port database included 582 films from 50 countries. Hundreds of visitors watched films on DOC.Port during the festival; after the end of AFO, these films will still be available at the university library.

The winners of this year's Challenge are:

Best Film of the 2008 International Documentary Challege ($1,000 cash award) CLICK WHOOSH

Team: Reel Grrrls

City/Country: Seattle, WA, USA

Genre: Historical

Team Leader: Reid Kuennen

American Documentary | P.O.V. Short Film Award ($1,000 Cash Award & featured on POV Website)

ARS MAGNA

Team: Juicebox

City/Country: Seattle, WA, USA

Genre: Biography/Character Study

Team Leader: Sean Roach

Doc Challenge Original Vision Award BEHOLDER

Team: Boss and Coder 34

City/Country: Brooklyn, NY, USA

Genre: First Person

Team Leader: Eric Daniel Metzgar

Best Directing

STICK AND POUND

Team: It Donned On Me

City/Country: Foster City, CA, USA

Genre: Art

Directed by: www.ItDonnedOnMe.com

Best Editing

I=ME2

Team: Year of the Rooster

City/Country: Sherman Oaks, CA, USA

Genre: Experimental

Edited by: Kevin Thomas

Best Cinematography

STICK AND POUND

Team: It Donned On Me

City/Country: Foster City, CA, USA

Genre: Art

Cinematography by: www.ItDonnedOnMe.com

Best Writing

BEHOLDER

Team: Boss and Coder 34

City/Country: Brooklyn, NY, USA

Genre: First Person

Written by: Eric Daniel Metzgar

Best Soundtrack

THE MIXTRESS

Team: Wideshot Studios

City/Country: Portland, OR, USA

Genre: Biography/Character Study

Arranged by: The Mixtress: Jules Bennett

Best Original Score

JETTY

Team: Fly On The Wall

City/Country: Portland, OR, USA

Genre: Social Issue/Political

Original Score by Bell Plaines & Arlen Kallunki

Best Use of "Change" Theme

PENNYWISE: THE CHANGING FACE OF CHANGE

Team: Lucky Shot

City/Country: Silver Spring, MD, USA

Genre: Social Issue/Political

Best Use of Date Stamp

RED LIGHT BLUES

Team: Abrahami-Netz Productions

City/Country: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Genre: Social Issue/Political

BEST USE OF GENRE AWARDS

Best Use of Art Genre

GHOST BIKE

Team: Go!

City/Country: Toronto, ON, Canada

Best Use of Character Study Genre

ARS MAGNA

Team Juicebox

City/Country: Seattle, WA, USA

Best Use of Experimental Genre

I=ME2

Team: Year of the Rooster

City/Country: Sherman Oaks, CA, USA

Best Use of First Person Genre

BEHOLDER

Team: Boss and Coder 34

City/Country: Brooklyn, NY, USA

Best Use of Historical Genre

CLICK WHOOSH

Team: Reel Grrrls

City/Country: Seattle, WA, USA

Best Use of Music Genre

OLD SOUL

Team: Reel Hard Workin Dogs

City/Country: Washington, DC, USA

Best Use of Nature Genre

FARM TO TABLE

Team: Smoke In Mirror Productions

City/Country: Rutland, VT, USA

Best Use of Social Issue/Political Genre

MEET THE FREEGANS

Team: Shields Films

City/Country: Portland, OR, USA

Best Use of Sports Genre

THE ART OF BALANCE

Team: Surge Media

City/Country: New York, NY, USA

SPECIAL JUDGES AWARDS

Best Use of Archival Footage

PENNYWISE: THE CHANGING FACE OF CHANGE

Team: Lucky Shot

City/Country: Silver Spring, MD, USA

Genre: Social Issue/Political

Best Social Commentary

FIERCELY INDEPENDENT

Team: Higher Rock & Downward Spiral Productions

City/Country: Moab, UT, USA

TAKING ROOT: THE VISION OF WANGARI MAATHAI (Director: Lisa Merton, Alan Dater; USA), the inspiring story of the Nobel laureate whose simple act of planting trees inspired Kenya’s environmental movement, protected the human rights of its people and defended the nation’s democracy, won the Hot Docs Audience Award. Sponsored by History Television, the award is decided by audience ballot.

The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) Prize for best Canadian documentary on international development was awarded to SHOCK WAVES (Director: Pierre Mignault, Hélène Magny) for its courageous portrayal of a country and its people. The documentary shows the powerful impact that community-based radio has in affecting significant change throughout the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The CIDA Jury commended the filmmakers for sharing the risks taken by the Radio Okapi journalists on the ground and for bringing a fresh perspective to this under-reported story. The CIDA Award comes with a $5000 cash prize.

The 2008 Hot Docs top 10, as determined by audience ballot, are:

1. TAKING ROOT: THE VISION OF WANGARI MAATHAI (Director: Lisa Merton, Alan Dater; USA)

2. PLANET B-BOY (Director: Benson Lee; USA)

3. DEAR ZACHARY: A LETTER TO A SON ABOUT HIS FATHER (Director: Kurt Kuenne; USA)

4. THE ENGLISH SURGEON (Director: Geoffrey Smith; UK)

5. TRIAGE: DR. JAMES ORBINSKI’S HUMANITARIAN DILEMMA (Director: Patrick Reed; Canada)

6. ANVIL! THE STORY OF ANVIL (Director: Sacha Gervasi; USA)

7. THE BEETLE (Director: Yishai Orian; Israel)

8. DADDY TRAN: A LIFE IN 3-D (Director: Siu Ta; Canada)

9. STRANDED, I’VE COME FROM A PLANE THAT CRASHED IN THE MOUNTAINS (Director: Gonzalo Arijon; France)

10. ALL TOGETHER NOW (Director: Adrian Wills; Canada)

THE INTERNATIONAL JURY:

Claire Aguilar (producer ITVS, USA), Séverine Barde (cinematographer, Switzerland), Hetty Naaijkens-Retel Helmrich (producer, Netherlands), Andreas Horvath

(director, photogapher), awards the following prizes:

Grand Prix La Poste Suisse – Visions du Réel, CHF 20'000.- to:

THE LIE OF THE LAND

Directed by: Molly Dineen, UK

Prix SRG SSR idée suisse, CHF 10'000.- to:

NUIT DE CHINE

Directed by: Ju An-Qi, France/Italia/China

LE JURY DU PUBLIC:

Claude Bernhard, Camelia Cioara, Vincent Milliard, Vreni Müller-Hemmi, awarded:

Prix du public de la Ville de Nyon, CHF 10'000.- awarded by the Municipalité de Nyon to:

ENTRE OURS ET LOUP (24H DANS LA VILLE DE N.)

Directed by: Denis Sneguirev, France/Russia

LE JURY INTERRELIGIEUX:

Viviane Borderie (France), Gisela Blau (Switzerland), Elâ Gurmen (Turkey), Serge Mulla (Switzerland), decided

Prix du interreligious jury of CHF 5'000.- awarded by the Eglise catholique suisse and by the Conférence des Eglises protestantes de Romandie (CER)

THE EXISTENCE

Directed by: Marcin Koszalka, Poland

and a Special Mention to

ENTRE OURS ET LOUP (24H DANS LA VILLE DE N.)

Directed by: Denis Sneguirev