2008 Grierson British Documentary Awards Winners
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on November 21, 2008 under Awards, Documentary, Foreign Film | 
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Last night at the Royal Institution, the great and the good of the documentary world gathered to celebrate the 2008 British Documentary Awards, more fondly known as The Griersons. Founded in 1972, the Griersons are the ultimate accolade for documentary filmmakers. Hosted by Supersize partners, Sue Perkins and Giles Coren, nine awards were presented in front of a packed, star-studded audience.
Newcomer Adam Lavis broke by the mould by taking an unprecedented two awards for his first film HERE’S JOHNNY. Crowned as both Bloomberg Best Newcomer and Best Arts Documentary – alongside co-directors William Hood and Katrina Mansoor – Lavis’ film captures the surreal world of renowned graphic artist Johnny Hicklenton who is battling against the disease Multiple Sclerosis. Living in an increasing state of immobility and frustration, Johnny escapes the confines of his front room through his artwork. Through the expression of his brilliant and sometimes troubled imagination, the viewer learns about the disease from which he cannot escape. Marilyn Gaunt, Chairman of the Bloomberg Best Newcomer judging panel commented: “The director of HERE’S JOHNNY exhibited huge commitment, to a difficult subject, over a number of years. His authorship, his innovative style and the intimacy he developed with his central character made for compelling viewing. Not an easy film to make, it was a really intelligent attempt to make some new currency for documentary. The film’s approach gave us a unique insight into a devastating disease and the profound way it affects both the individual and his loved ones.”
At the other end of the spectrum, renowned documentary maker, Nick Broomfield became the first ever to win a third Grierson as he collected his award for BATTLE FOR HADITHA as Best Drama Documentary. This, his latest feature film, retraces a real-life story of violence and retribution in Iraq. The film marked the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq and examines the legacy of the prolonged military presence in the country.
Best Documentary on a Contemporary Issue, which is widely regarded as the Award most reflecting John Grierson’s interests, went to the acclaimed Molly Dineen for her film LIE OF THE LAND. People visit the countryside for weekend breaks, to breathe fresh air and go for walks. For them it’s a scenic backdrop to a relaxing break, away from the rat race. But what of the day-to-day life of the people and animals who live and work in the countryside? The countryside for them is not just a holiday, not just a picture postcard, but their very existence. Peter Symes, Chairman of the Contemporary Issue judging panel said: “THE LIE OF THE LAND was a very poetic film illuminated by a wonderful relationship between the filmmaker and her contributors. Deceptively simple, it offered the audience layers of meaning in a sympathetic and insightful way. Never once patronizing its participants, it was a beautifully crafted work designed to make you sit up and think hard about some of the things that seem to be going wrong in England.”
During the evening, Henry Chancellor took the History Today prize for Best Historical Documentary with his film 1983 – THE BRINK OF APOCALYPSE which follows events of November 1983 when the Third World War nearly erupted by accident. Angela Holdsworth, Chairman of the Historical judging panel said: “1983 – THE BRINK OF APOCALYPSE was a brilliantly researched original and gripping story, with an impressive array of former CIA and KGB executives, double agents, military and government officials. The jury thought the dramatic reconstructions were discreet and well directed and the film moved along with the pace of a well-plotted thriller.”
Lead by Jean Young, the judging panel for the UK Film Council Best Cinema Documentary Award, crowned Grant Gee’s JOY DIVISION as victor. Jean Young said: “The jury loved JOY DIVISION. They felt it was very stylish with real flair, beautifully made and structured. The story and period were interesting. They felt that the filmmaker’s imaginative use of interviews and archive material brought the social history, sense of place and music together. The filmmaker managed to extract the best interviews out of musicians, not usually an articulate group, seen by the jury. It is an exceptional example of a music documentary which manages to convey more than the music and why the band was extraordinary.”
Taking the Jonathan Gili Award for Most Entertaining Documentary was Weijin Chen’s PLEASE VOTE FOR ME. Democracy comes to China – or at least to the election of Wuhan Elementary School’s 8-year-old class monitor. And with it comes bribery, dirty tricks, black propaganda and negative campaigning. The jury was agreed that this remarkable, revelatory film provided an insight into family life in China, but also told universal truths – “Lord of the Flies” in documentary form, in Central China.
Louise Lockwood’s delightfully imaginative, informative and emotional film, PARALLEL WORLDS, PARALLEL LIVES took the prize for Best Science Documentary. Her winning film followed Mark Everett, lead singer of the cult America rock band, the Eels, as his discovered more about his famous physicist father, Hugh Everett the Third, a genius quantum mechanic who came up the theory of parallel universes.
Finally, the award for Envy Best Documentary Series went to ANDREW MARR’S HISTORY OF MODERN BRITAIN. Jenny Barraclough, chairman of the Series judging panel commented: “Some Judges felt ANDREW MARR’S HISTORY OF MODERN BRITAIN started with the advantage of a large budget and the vast BBC archive at its disposal but none the less that the series was highly original in its presentation. The direction was excellent and the elegant transitions between archive and a present day locations was much admired. Andrew Marr was always on the move which gave the series real energy. Marr’s commentary, with its snappy, sharp analysis, delivered with a light touch, was generally admired, even if his pink shirts were not. Some felt they knew most of what he said already but most felt he offered genuinely new insights into well known recent history.”
Summing up, Chairman of The Grierson Trust, Murray Weston, said:”The winning productions this year are outstanding and show the importance of documentary film in recording the issues and concerns of our time. The UK has nurtured some of the world’s most innovative documentary makers and there is demonstrably much more talent coming through – we must ensure they have the opportunity to show their work and develop their careers. John Grierson would be proud to know that his spirit continues to influence this important sector of the film business in the UK”.
The Grierson Awards commemorate the work of pioneering Scottish film maker John Grierson (1898 – 1972), famous for making Drifters and his association with Night Mail – the man widely regarded as the father of the documentary. Established in 1972, the Griersons annually celebrate documentaries that have made a significant contribution to the form.
The list of past winners – which includes luminaries such as Olivia Lichtenstein, Nick Broomfield and Pawel Pawlikowski – is testament to the high standard of work which is celebrated through these awards. They are the ultimate UK prizes for documentary film makers. The Grierson:Sheffield Awards were created in 2007.
The winners in full:
Best Documentary on a Contemporary Issue: The Lie of the Land
Director/producer: Molly Dineen.
RTO Productions for Channel 4.
Best Arts Documentary: Here’s Johnny
Directors: Adam Lavis, William Hood and Katrina Mansoor
Production Company: Animal Monday
History Today Best Historical Documentary: 1983 – The Brink of Apocalyse
Director/Producer: Henry Chancellor
Series Producers: Taylor Downing and Sam Organ
A Flashback Television production for Channel 4
Best Science Documentary: Parallel Worlds, Parallel Lives
Director/Producer: Louise Lockwood
Executive Producer Andrew Thompson
A BBC Scotland production
Jonathan Gili Award for Most Entertaining Documentary: Please Vote for Me
Director: Weijun Chen
Producer: Don Edkins
Executive Producers: Don Edkins, Mette Heide, Weijun Chen
A Steps International production for BBC Four
Best Drama Documentary: Battle for Haditha
Director: Nick Broomfield
A Lafayette Films production for More4
Envy Best Documentary Series: Andrew Marr’s History of Modern Britain
Directors: Tom Giles and Fatima Salaria
Producer: Tom Giles
Series Producer: Chris Granlund
Writer: Andrew Marr
A BBC Current Affairs production.
UK Film Council Best Cinema Documentary: Joy Division
Director: Grant Gee
Producers: Tom Atencio, Tom Astor and Jacqui Edenbrow
Writer: Jon Savage
A Hudson Productions Ltd/Brown Own Films Ltd co-production
Bloomberg Best Newcomer: Adam Lavis for Here’s Johnny
Directors: Adam Lavis, William Hood and Katrina Mansoor
Production Company: Animal Monday
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