Sunday, November 18, 2012

RIDM 2012 Awards – winners


The Rencontres internationales du documentaire de Montréal (Montreal International Documentary Festival) or RIDM ends today after more than 150 films, events and activities. The award winners for the 15th RIDM were announced yesterday at the closing event held at the Grande Bibliothèque.

BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM
Presented by Greenground, the award for best international short went to Dusty Night by Ali Hazara. The film looks at the lives of street sweepers in an Afghan village; it is a harsh essay on the human condition. The jury praised the film for “opening viewers to the unknown, without shouting, without getting lost in explanation.”

The jury also awarded a special mention to River Rites by Ben Russell.

BEST INTERNATIONAL MEDIUM-LENGTH FILM
The award for best international medium-length film went to Argentinian Lesson by Wojciech Staron. The jury described the film as having “a unique sensibility and extraordinary ability to immerse the viewer in a singular world.”

Un été avec Anton by Jasna Krajinovic received a special mention.

The international short and medium-length jury was composed of Vanina Vignal, Elena Fortes Acosta and Guillaume Lafleur.

BEST NEW TALENT FROM QUEBEC/CANADA
Presented by Post Moderne, the award for Best New Talent from Quebec/Canada went to Melanie Shatzky and Brian M. Cassidy for The Patron Saints, a hyper-realistic and darkly humorous portrait of life in a home for disabled and elderly people.

GRAND PRIZE FOR BEST CANADIAN FEATURE
Presented by TV5, the Grand Prize for Best Canadian Feature was awarded posthumously to Magnus Isacsson, who passed away this summer, for Ma vie réelle. The film, an intimate portrait of four teens from Montréal-Nord, is among Isacsson’s most memorable works.

A special mention was awarded to L'État du monde by Hubert Caron Guay and Rodrigue Jean.

The Canadian feature competition jury comprised Luciano Barisone, Rafaël Ouellet and Myriam Verreault.

WOMEN INMATES’ JURY
Composed of four women inmates of the Joliette Institution – Christine, France, Ginette and Stivia – this jury selected a film from among eight Official Competition and Panorama films screened for them. They chose 5 Broken Cameras by Emad Burnat and Guy Davidi. Alternating between political and private events, this filmed diary reveals the reality of life in the occupied West Bank.

The jury also awarded a special mention to Les poings de la fierté by Hélène Choquette.

GRAND PRIZE FOR BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE
The Grand Prize for Best International Feature was awarded to Dutch filmmaker Marc Schmidt for Matthew's Laws. The film is an unforgettable exploration of the claustrophobic world of an autistic man.

A special mention was awarded to En quête d'Emak Bakia by Oskar Alegria.

BEST EDITING IN AN INTERNATIONAL FEATURE
The award for editing also went to Matthew's Laws by Marc Schmidt.

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY IN AN INTERNATIONAL FEATURE
The award for cinematography went to Leviathan by Véréna Paravel and Lucien Castaing-Taylor. The film is a harrowing sensory immersion in the bowels of an industrial fishing boat.

The international feature competition jury was composed of Christian Cools, Gabe Klinger, Vadim Jendreyko, Isabelle Lavigne and Colette Loumède.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
Presented by Canal D, the People’s Choice award is presented to a film from the Official Competition and Panorama sections selected by audience votes. This year’s award went to 5 Broken Cameras by Emad Burnat and Guy Davidi. The festival audience was won over by this essential work’s deep humanity.

Public appreciation for the film was so strong that three additional screenings have been scheduled for Cinéma Excentris next week: November 19, 20 and 22 at 5 p.m.

MAGNUS ISACSSON AWARD
A new award was created this year in tribute to Magnus Isacsson. The Magnus Isacsson Award is presented to an up-and-coming Canadian director for a work demonstrating exceptional social consciousness. The inaugural award went to Angad Singh Bhalla for Herman’s House. The jury was moved by this stunning portrait of a man who has been living in solitary confinement for 40 years, who agreed to participate in an art project by imagining his ideal house.

A special mention was awarded to Le prix des mots by Julien Fréchette.

The Magnus Isacsson Award is presented by ACIC/NFB, Cinema Politica, Doc Québec and the ARRQ. The jury was composed of Johanne Bergeron (ACIC/NFB), Jocelyne Clarke, Martin Duckworth (ARRQ), Ian Oliveri (Doc Québec) and Svetla Turnin (Cinema Politica).

The RIDM congratulates the winners and thanks all filmmakers and everyone else who participated in the festival’s 15th edition.

Quebec’s only film festival dedicated to documentaries, the Montreal International Documentary Festival presents the best reality-based films, including the works of established directors and new talents. With the aim of extending its reach beyond Montreal, the RIDM will present selected documentaries in Quebec City from November 23 to 29, in collaboration with Cinéma Cartier.

The 15th RIDM ends on November 18, 2012.
Information: www.ridm.qc.ca / info@ridm.qc.ca

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