OPEN CITY DOCS FEST WRAPS WITH RECORD AUDIENCE AND ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNERS
The second edition of London’s biggest documentary festival, Open City Docs Fest (June 21-24), sponsored by UCL, wrapped last night attracting filmmakers, media and delegates from around the world. This year’s festival recorded a 100% increase in ticket sales with nearly 5000 attendees to the 4-day event.
The festival boasted over 100 screenings and hosted popular live events ranging from rousing debate as part of ‘A Spark in Tottenham’, it’s comedy night, ‘What’s Up Doc’ and the hugely popular London Contemporary Voices rescore of Il Capo, all of which centred around the popup cinema tent in Torrington Square, W1.
Open City Docs Fest opened the festival with sold out gala screenings of Matthew Akkers’ Marina Abramovic: The Artist is Present and closed last night with the international premier of Jacqui Morris’ McCullin.
The festival awards ceremony followed the Closing Night screening of McCullin, with the festival jury, chaired by director Nicolas Philibert, awarding the following prizes:
The Grand Jury Prize, presented by Nicolas Philibert, was awarded to 5 Broken Cameras, directed by Emad Burnat and Guy Davidi (Israel/Palestine/France 2011). On the back of this award and winning the Audience prize at Sheffield Doc/Fest, New Wave Films have picked up the film for UK distribution.
The Time Out Prize, presented by Time Out’s Film Editor, Dave Calhoun, was awarded to, Insitu, directed by Antoine Vivani (France, 2011).
The UK Emerging Prize was presented by director Olly Lambert for
One More Kiss by Chris Christodoulou (UK 2012), with a Special Mention to The Betrayal by Karen Winther (UK/Norway 2012).
The International Emerging Prize was awarded to High Tech, Low Life directed by Stephen Maing (USA 2012) with a Special Mention to A Life Without Words by Adam Isenberg (Turkey, Nicaragua 2011).
The Best Short Film Prize, Presented by Austin Raywood was awarded to
The Marble Village by Ioana Dorobantu (UK 2011).
In addition, Open City Docs Fest announced and screened the winning films from the festival’s national digital filmmaking competition, My Street, where prizes of £500 cash plus Steady Wing camera equipment and one on one film consultation with filmmaker, Marc Isaacs, were presented to the following films all of whom were directed by female filmmakers:
First Prize: – On The Bench directed by Maha Taki (London)
Second Prize: – Still Life directed by Emma Barnie (London)
Third Prize: – 55 Seconds directed by Jan Cawood (Saltburn).