(May 9, 2016 – Toronto, ON) While the screening part of the 2016 Hot Docs Film Festival continued all weekend, on Friday night at a special presentation at the Isabel Bader Theatre, Hot Docs presented awards to Canadian and international filmmakers, including awards for Festival films in competition and those recognizing emerging and established filmmakers. Following is the complete list of winners:
Best Canadian Feature Documentary Award
KONELĪNE: our land beautiful (D: Nettie Wild; P: Betsy Carson; Canada)
Sponsored by the Documentary Organization of Canada, the award includes a $10,000 cash prize courtesy of Hot Docs.
Special Jury Prize – Canadian Feature Documentary
The Prison in Twelve Landscapes (D&P: Brett Story; Canada, USA)
Sponsored by the Directors Guild of Canada and DGC Ontario, the award includes a $5,000 cash prize courtesy of Hot Docs.
Emerging Canadian Filmmaker Award
Sébastien Rist and Aude Leroux-Lévesque, Living With Giants (Canada)
Sponsored by Jameson First Shot, the award includes a $3,000 cash prize courtesy of Hot Docs.
The jury also acknowledged Random Acts of Legacy (D&P: Ali Kazimi; Canada) with an honourable mention.
Best International Feature Documentary Award
Brothers (D: Aslaug Holm; P: Tore Buvarp; Norway)
Sponsored by Panicaro Foundation, the award includes a $10,000 cash prize courtesy of Panicaro Foundation.
Special Jury Prize – International Feature Documentary
God Knows Where I Am (D: Todd Wider, Jedd Wider; P: Brian Ariotti, Todd Wider, Jedd Wider; USA)
Sponsored by A&E, the award includes a $5,000 cash prize courtesy of Hot Docs.
Emerging International Filmmaker Award
Mike Day, The Islands and the Whales (UK, Denmark)
The award includes a $3,000 cash prize courtesy of Hot Docs.
Best Mid-Length Documentary Award
Dugma: The Button (D: Paul S. Refsdal; P: Ingvil Giske; Norway)
The award includes a $3,000 cash prize courtesy of Hot Docs.
In the Best Mid-Length Documentary category, the jury also acknowledged La Laguna (D&P: Aaron Schock; USA, Mexico) with an honourable mention.
Best Short Documentary Award
The Shining Star of Losers Everywhere (D: Mickey Duzyj; P: Mona Panchal; USA)
The award includes a $3,000 cash prize courtesy of Hot Docs.
Hot Docs is an Academy Award® qualifying festival for short documentaries and, as winner of the Best Short Documentary Award, The Shining Star of Losers Everywhere will qualify for consideration in the Documentary Short Subject category of the annual Academy Awards® without the standard theatrical run, provided it complies with Academy rules.
In the Best Short Documentary category, the jury also acknowledged What Happened to Her (D&P: Kristy Guevara-Flanagan; USA) with an honourable mention.
Outstanding Achievement Award
Presented by the Hot Docs Board of Directors to Steve James
Doc Mogul Award
Presented to Iikka Vehkalahti by the Hot Docs Board of Directors at a special awards luncheon on Monday, May 2.
Don Haig Award
Toronto-based producer Ed Barreveld
The award includes a $10,000 cash prize courtesy of the Don Haig Foundation and Telefilm Canada.
Don Haig Award Pay It Forward Prize
Toronto-based filmmaker Shasha Nakhai
As part of Don Haig award, the recipient, Ed Barreveld, had the opportunity to name an emerging female documentary filmmaker to receive a $5,000 cash prize, courtesy of Telefilm Canada, and professional development opportunities at the Hot Docs Festival to further her career path.
Lindalee Tracey Award
The award, honouring an emerging Canadian filmmaker with a passionate point of view, a strong sense of social justice and a sense of humour, was presented to Michael Chen. The recipient received a $5000 cash prize courtesy of the Lindalee Tracey Fund, $5000 in post-production services from Technicolor, and a beautiful hand-blown glass sculpture by Andrew Kuntz, specially commissioned to honour Lindalee.
The Vimeo On Demand Audience Award and audience top ten favourite films of the 2016 Festival, determined by audience ballot, will be announced today, May 9. Also being announced today is the Canadian Documentary Promotion Award, awarded to the independently-produced feature-length Canadian documentary with a Canadian director that receives the highest rating in the audience poll. A $25,000 cash prize, courtesy of Telefilm Canada, will be awarded to support the marketing and promotion of the film to new Canadian and international audiences.
Canadian Feature Documentary Jury:
Abigail Disney, CEO and President of Fork Films
Richard Abramowitz, innovative leader in independent film distribution and marketing
Vijay Vaidyanathan, CEO of Optimal Asset Management
International Feature Documentary Jury:
Irene Taylor Brodsky, Oscar®-nominated and Emmy and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker
Ken Jacobson, Director of Educational Programs and Strategic Partnerships at the International Documentary Association
Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami, director of Sonita
Mid-Length Jury:
Tom Oyer, Awards Manager at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Marie Nelson, Vice President, News, Public Affairs and Independent Film for PBS
Rosie Dransfeld, director and 2016 Focus On honouree
Shorts Jury:
Sarah Lash, Acquisitions Consultant for Condé Nast Entertainment
Nimisha Mukerji, director of Tempest Storm
Fred Joubaud, Director of International Sales and Digital Acquisitions at Tricon Films & Television
