BERLIN, Feb 1 (ZIZ): The Berlin International Film Festival continues its commitment to the rich tapestry of documentary forms, as evidenced by the announcement of the nominations for the Berlinale Documentary Award 2024. Established in 2017 to recognize outstanding achievements in the documentary genre, the award is supported by public broadcaster Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (rbb), offering a substantial prize of 40,000 euros.
A diverse array of 20 documentary films from various festival sections, including Competition, Berlinale Special, Encounters, Panorama, Forum, and Generation, has been selected for contention. The esteemed Berlinale Documentary Award not only celebrates filmmakers’ artistic endeavors but also emphasizes the collaborative efforts of directors and producers, as the prize money will be shared between them.
Heading the jury for the Berlinale Documentary Award 2024 are:
- Abbas Fahdel (Iraq / France): A seasoned filmmaker born in Iraq, Fahdel’s journey from film critic to director began in 2002. His notable contributions include the acclaimed documentary “Homeland: Iraq Year Zero” (2015) and the feature film “Dawn of the World” (2008).
- Thomas Heise (Germany): With a career spanning since the 1980s, Heise, born in East Berlin in 1955, has gained recognition for his documentary films. His work, including “Heimat Is a Space in Time” (2019), has earned accolades such as the German Documentary Film Award and the German Film Critics Award.
- Véréna Paravel (France): A multi-talented director, artist, and anthropologist, Paravel’s work seamlessly integrates ethnographic sensibilities with political and ecological imperatives. Her films, including “Leviathan” (2012) and “De Humani Corporis Fabrica” (2022), have garnered acclaim at prestigious film festivals globally.
The Berlinale Documentary Award 2024 nominations encompass a diverse selection across different festival sections:
Competition:
- “Architecton” by Victor Kossakovsky
- “Dahomey” by Mati Diop
Berlinale Special:
- “Averroès & Rosa Parks (At Averroès & Rosa Parks)” by Nicolas Philibert
- “Turn in the Wound” by Abel Ferrara
Encounters:
- “Direct Action” by Guillaume Cailleau, Ben Russell
- “Une famille (A Family)” by Christine Angot
- “Favoriten” by Ruth Beckermann
Panorama:
- “À quand l’Afrique? (Which Way Africa?)” by David-Pierre Fila
- “Afterwar” by Birgitte Stærmose
- “No Other Land” by Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor
- “Sayyareye dozdide shodeye man (My Stolen Planet)” by Farahnaz Sharifi
- “Tongo Saa (Rising Up at Night)” by Nelson Makengo
Forum:
- “Gokogu no Neko (The Cats of Gokogu Shrine)” by Kazuhiro Soda
- “Henry Fonda for President” by Alexander Horwath
- “La hojarasca (The Undergrowth)” by Macu Machín
- “L’homme-vertige (L’homme-vertige: Tales of a City)” by Malaury Eloi Paisley
- “Intercepted” by Oksana Karpovych
- “Oasis” by Tamara Uribe, Felipe Morgado
- “Was hast du gestern geträumt, Parajanov? (What Did You Dream Last Night, Parajanov?)” by Faraz Fesharaki
Generation:
- “Maydegol” by Sarvnaz Alambeigi
The Berlinale Documentary Award, with its focus on recognizing excellence in documentary filmmaking, remains a key component of the Berlin International Film Festival’s dedication to promoting diverse voices in the cinematic landscape. As the festival approaches, anticipation builds for the revelation of the award winners, offering recognition to the outstanding contributions shaping the world of documentary filmmaking.
