DOCNZ: The New Zealand International Documentary Film Festival

 
 

Documentary Edge Awards 2012

Each year, Documentary Edge gives awards to the best national and international films in various categories.

International Competition

Best Short Documentary

  

Winner

  • Vinterlys

    Norway The stillness and subtle beauty of a Norwegian archipelago as the low autumn sun sinks below the horizon for the duration of the winter months.

Special Mention

  • Dilli

    India Due to development, thousands of Delhi residence lost their homes and were left in a sea of rubble with nowhere to go and no hope for the future.

 
  

Best Feature Documentary

  

Winner

  • The Interrupters

    USA The moving story of three “violence interrupters” who with bravado, humility and humour try to protect their Chicago communities from the violence they were once part of.

Special Mention

  • Revenge of the Electric Car

    USA The film goes behind the closed doors of Nissan, GM and the Silicon Valley start-up Tesla Motors to chronicle the story of the global resurgence of electric cars.

 
  

Best Director

Steve James (The Interrupters) and Chris Paine (Revenge of the Electric Car)

  

  • The Interrupters

    USA The moving story of three “violence interrupters” who with bravado, humility and humour try to protect their Chicago communities from the violence they were once part of.

  • Revenge of the Electric Car

    USA The film goes behind the closed doors of Nissan, GM and the Silicon Valley start-up Tesla Motors to chronicle the story of the global resurgence of electric cars.

 
  

Best World Cinema

  

Winner

  • The Interrupters

    USA The moving story of three “violence interrupters” who with bravado, humility and humour try to protect their Chicago communities from the violence they were once part of.

Special Mention

  • The Carrier

    USA/Zambia The inspiring story of a Zambian mother’s love as she tries to protect trying to protect her baby from being born with HIV.

 
  

Best Future Watch

  

Winner

  • Five Star Existence

    Finland/Sweden In a personal and cinematic journey, director Sonja Lindén contemplates the link between the freedom provided by and our dependence on technology.

Special Mention

  • Work Hard, Play Hard

    Germany New work practices like non territorial offices and personality testing, are meant to improve the work place. The impact on workers may depart from the intended results.

 
  

Best Arab Spring

  

Winner

  • Malaki — Scent of an Angel

    Lebanon An intimate and moving portrait of the trauma faced by 6 families of abducted persons during and in the aftermath of the Lebanese civil war.

Special Mention

 
  

Best Human Rights

  

Winner

  • Who killed Chea Vichea?

    Thailand/USA In 2004, Cambodian union activist Chea Vichea was assassinated in broad daylight in Phnom Penh. The government arrested and convicted two men. But were they framed?

Special Mention

  • Crime After Crime

    USA The long and challenging battle to free Debbie Peagler, victim of brutal domestic violence who was incarcerated for over 26 years in prison.

 
  

Best Generations

  

Winner

  • Life in Stills

    Israel 96 year old Photoshop owner Miriam and her grandson Ben join forces to save the shop and their nearly one million negatives documenting Israel’s defining moments.

Special Mention

  • The Flat

    Israel After the death of his grandmother, Israeli director Arnon Goldfinger’s and his family gathers to empty the flat and uncovers a secret connection with a Nazi family.

 
  

Best Heroes and Icons

  

Winner

  • Incessant Visions

    Israel A cinematic story about German Architect Erich Mendelsohn who changed the history of architecture. His life was as enigmatic and tragic as the 20th century.

Special Mention

  • Kumare

    USA A man impersonates a wise Indian Guru and builds a following in Arizona. At the height of his popularity, he reveal his true identity to unveil his greatest teaching.

 
  

Best Culture Vultures

  

Winner

  • Andrew Bird: Fever Year

    USA An incredible insight into the creative process of Andrew Bird, a truly unique musical talent and the immeasurable passion of an obsessive performer.

Special Mention

  • Lemon

    USA Tony Award poet Lemon Andersen has fallen back in hard times and desperate for a way out for his family. He turns to the only things he has left, his pen and his story.

 
  

New Zealand Competition

Best Short Documentary

  

Winner

  • Gone Curling...

    New Zealand Central Otago is the last place in the world that still up-holds the traditions of outdoor curling.

Special Mention

  • River Dog

    New Zealand In the remote NZ countryside, one farmer tries to protect the environment by challenging the status quo.

 
  

Best Feature Documentary

  

  • Intersexion

    New Zealand Grant Lahood directed a documentary which features the story of Mani Mitchell and looks at how intersex people navigate their way through life.

 
 
  

Best Director

Goeffrey Cawthorn (View from Olympus)

  

  • View from Olympus

    New Zealand The story of international composer John Psathas whose life and music reflect the creative and personal tensions between his New Zealand roots and his Greek heritage.

 
 
  

Best Cinematography

  

  • Yakel 3D

    New Zealand/Vanuatu Set in a small Vanuatu tribal village of Yakel, this is the story of 108 yr old Chief Kowia as he nears the end of his long, eventful life. NZ’s first 3D film.

 
 
  

Best Editing

  

  • Intersexion

    New Zealand Grant Lahood directed a documentary which features the story of Mani Mitchell and looks at how intersex people navigate their way through life.

 
 
  

Best Emerging Filmmaker

James Muir (River Dog)

  

  • River Dog

    New Zealand In the remote NZ countryside, one farmer tries to protect the environment by challenging the status quo.

 
 
  

Outstanding Contribution to the NZ Documentary Industry

NHNZ (Natural History New Zealand)

See also

 
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Documentary Edge Festival 2012