DocsBarcelona: The Winners
I received the English language press release from DocsBarcelona. Here it comes in a slightly edited version:
DocsBarcelona 2018 ends consolidating the growth that began in the 20th edition of the festival, with an increase of days and audience. The 21st edition of the International Documentary Film Festival of Barcelona has hosted 66 sessions and one month of online screenings reaching more than 20,000 spectators, with an average of 133 people per session.
Also, the activities dedicated to the industry and professionals have had an extensive follow-up, with 1,800 attendees.
The main winner of DocsBarcelona 2018 was The Distant Barking of Dogs, whom the jury chaired by Paco Poch joined by Jessica Murray, Xavi García Puerto and Montse Armengou awarded the DocsBarcelona TV3 Award for Best Documentary. Directed by Simon Lereng Wilmont, this film portrays the life of Oleg, a Ukrainian boy, and his grandmother, in a border area where they often live with anti-aircraft fire and missile attacks. The Jury said this is a “film that takes care of photography with a detailed and delicate observation. A look that allows us to listen to the most vulnerable”.
Also, the jury gave a Special Mention to Miss Kiet’s Children, by Petra Lataster-Czisch and Peter Lataster, about a Dutch teacher who welcomes
and teaches refugee children “because beyond a careful style that puts the focus on children as protagonists, it reveals to us a teacher who is a model example of how to be solidary, peaceful and positive.”
The New Talent Award, awarded to debut filmmakers, was given to the Argentinian directors of El Espanto, Martín Benchimol and Pablo Aparo, “because it from a peculiar theme through a great staging and time control, half-distance and humour, gives us a very human movie that speaks very well about the future of these young directors. ”
The Official Section Latitud, sponsored by Antaviana Films, the Jury formed by Sumpta Ayuso, Anna Rebés and Oriol Font awarded the Chilean film Robar a Rodin, by Cristóbal Valenzuela, which “definitely surpasses the fiction, and takes us through a journey with increasing curiosity and a narration full of surprises”.
The What the Doc! Jury awarded The Prince and the Dybbuk, by Elwira Niewiera and Piotr Rosołowski, “to turn the history of cinema into an existential dilemma through a set of sensations that confronts fantasy and reality, cinema and life “.
The Amnistia Internacional Catalunya Award, awarded by a Jury of members of the organization, was given to The Congo Tribunal, by Milo Rau.
DocsBarcelona 2018 Awards
- DocsBarcelona TV3 Best Film Award: The Distant Barking of Dogs
- Special Mention of the Jury: Miss Kiet’s Children
- New Talent Award: El espanto
- DocsBarcelona Latitud Award: Robar a Rodin
- What The Doc! Award: The Prince and the Dybbuk
- Amnistia Internacional Catalunya Award: The Congo Tribunal
- Audience Award: Petitet
- DOC-U Award: Nobody is Perfect
- Docs&Teens Award: El viatge de l’Unai
DocsBarcelona of the Month Award: Angry Inuk