This past Friday evening saw the announcement of the International Documentary Association (IDA)’s 28th annual Documentary Awards in a ceremony hosted by Penn Jillette in Los Angeles. I served on the short category committee last year, and co-chaired the student category this year. Here’s the full list of winners:
Career Achievement Award:
Presented to “a filmmaker who has made a major impact on the documentary genre through a long and distinguished body of work,” this year’s award goes to Arnold Shapiro, the Oscar and Emmy-Award-winning producer, director, and writer of SCARED STRAIGHT!, producer of reality TV mainstay BIG BROTHER, and the current A&E series BEYOND SCARED STRAIGHT, among many other credits.
Pioneer Award:
Presented to “acknowledge extraordinary contributions to advancing the non-fiction form and providing exceptional vision and leadership to the documentary community,” this year’s award goes to Sundance Institute’s Documentary Film Program and Fund.
Jacqueline Donnet Emerging Documentary Filmmaker Award:
Presented to “recognize the acheivements of a filmmaker who has made a significant impact at the beginning of his or her career in documentary film,” this year’s award goes to David France, the director of HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE.
Best Feature:
SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN, by Malik Bendjelloul
Best Short:
SAVING FACE, by Daniel Junge and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
Best Continuing Series:
AMERICAN MASTERS, executive produced by Susan Lacy
Best Limited Series:
ON DEATH ROW, by Werner Herzog
David L Wolper Student Documentary Award:
LA CAMIONETA, by Mark Kendall
ABCNews Videosource Award
HARVEST OF EMPIRE, by Peter Getzels and Eduardo López
Humanitas Documentary Award
BITTER SEEDS, by Micha X Peled
Pare Lorentz Award
THE ISLAND PRESIDENT, by Jon Shenk
Best Cinematography
WOMEN WITH COWS, by Peter Gerdehag
Best Editing
ROOM 237, by Rodney Ascher
Best Music
SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN, by composer Sixto Rodriguez with additional score by director Malik Bendjelloul
Best Writing
ANN RICHARDS’ TEXAS, by Keith Patterson
what (not) to doc 