“Brutal” Sweep at the Doc Edge Awards

THE DOCUMENTARY EDGE FESTIVAL 2013.

“Brutal” Sweep at the Doc Edge Awards

New Zealand director Monica De Alwis has stamped her mark in New Zealand’s documentary scene as her feature debut, Pretty Brutal, swept the Documentary Edge Awards last night – held at AUT’s Paul Reeve’s Building.

De Alwis picked up Best NZ Feature Documentary, Best NZ Director, Best NZ Editing and Best NZ Cinematography. UK filmmaker Kim Longinotto was another big winner – the fragility of her documentary, Salma, earned her both Best International Director and Best International Feature Film.

Kiwi director Robyn Paterson earned the Best NZ Emerging Filmmaker for her film Finding Mercy, another popular choice during this year’s Auckland season, while Kathleen Mantel’s documentary following the work of Joe Harawira in The Green Chain picked up the Best NZ Short Documentary.

Other winners included the story of Dr. Mohammad Jawal’s work with victims of acid attacks, Saving Face, earning Best International Short Documentary while Ric Esther Bienstock’s world premiere Tales from the Organ Trade earned a win in its programming category Sign of Times.

Ally Derks also received her award to a rapturous ovation from those in attendance as she collected the inaugural Documentary Edge International Super Hero award. Cited as one of the Documentary Edge Festival’s biggest influences, Derks’ participation this year charted another milestone in the international significance the Documentary Edge Festival is creating across the world.

Best New Zealand Feature Documentary - Pretty Brutal, Monica De Alwis
Best NZ Director - Monica De Alwis (Pretty Brutal)
Best New Zealand Short Documentary - The Green Chain, Kathleen Mantel
Best NZ Cinematography - Pretty Brutal
Best NZ Editing - Pretty Brutal

Best International Feature Documentary - Salma, Kim Longinotto (UK/India)
International Director - Kim Longinotto (Salma)
Best International Short Documentary - Saving Face, Daniel Junge, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (USA/Pakistan)

Best NZ Emerging Filmmaker - Robyn Paterson, (Finding Mercy)

Best World Cinema - A World Not Ours
Best Sign of the Times - Tales from the Organ Trade
Best Game On - China Heavyweight
Best Human Rights - The Invisible War
Best Generation Next - Brooklyn Castle
Best The American Dream - The Waiting Room
Best Culture Vultures - Gypsy Davy

Documentary Edge International Super Hero - Ally Derks, IDFA (The Netherlands)

For more information and to keep up to speed with the latest news regarding the 2013 season, visit.
www.documentaryedge.org.nz
Facebook: facebook.com/edge.festival
Twitter: @Docedge

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