The Impact DOCS Awards Announces Latest Winners!

La Jolla, CA, February 2020 - The Impact DOCS Awards goal is to discover and honor the achievements of filmmakers who produce high quality documentaries. Impact DOCS puts filmmakers first and provides a direct opportunity for recognition and publicity for high quality productions. It is international in scope and has granted awards to producers in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Ecuador, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Korea, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Nepal, Nigeria, Norway, Palestine, Poland, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, and the United States.

~ Best of Show ~ 

Liberation Heroes:  The Last Eyewitnesses –

In association with USC Shoah Foundation, Vanessa Roth, Director

Vanessa Roth (USA), Liberation Heroes: The Last Eyewitnesses, Doc Feature – Oscar® and Emmy®-Award-winning filmmaker Roth’s deft direction delivers a stunning, heart-stirring and chilling cautionary tale for our times. Heroic World War II veterans vividly share their liberation journeys, drawing parallels between the past and present. These powerful eyewitness accounts from Steven Spielberg’s USC Shoah Foundation Visual History Archive®, share a cautionary tale and compelling reminder of what can happen when insidious hatred remains unchecked. With antisemitism and xenophobia on the rise worldwide, this film serves as a call to action to stand against hatred in all its forms. These soldiers were not prepared for what they would encounter as they uncovered the Nazi atrocities both in the field and the concentration camps. As Alan Moskin, a featured Liberator in the film, says to a group of young cadets, “There’s over 800 hate groups in the United States of America – the hate is still out there…It’s up to your generation to change that.” Brilliant pacing, gripping commentary and exceptional editing. Executive Producers Mickey Shapiro, Ceci Chan, Stephen D. Smith, and Andi Gitow. Produced by June Beallor, a Founding Executive Director of USC Shoah Foundation, whose films have garnered an Oscar® and numerous Emmys®, and produced by veteran Emmy®-nominated TV and news producer and executive Andy Friendly, a member of the Institute’s Board of Councilors. Aired on Discovery Channel 2019.

 ~ Award of Excellence Special Mention ~

Mandy Jacobson (South Africa), The Trials of Winnie Mandela: Who holds 100% of sainthood?, Doc Feature – Two-time Emmy winner Jacobson’s expert direction uncovers the essence of Winnie Mandela in this enlightening series covering a fearless revolutionary and whose indominable spirit helped shape South Africa. A complex and intricate portrait creatively told through her determined granddaughters.

Michael Wech (Germany), Resistance Fighters – The Global Antibiotics Crisis, Doc Feature – A docu science thriller painting a chilling portrait of an impending global health crisis. Accomplished award-winning Wech travels the world and presents doctors, scientists, patients dying from resistant germs and diplomats working for solutions. Brilliant and sobering giving insight to a global challenge of our time: Antibiotic resistance.

Jacoba Atlas, Monique W. Morris, Denise Pines, Women in the Room Productions (USA), PUSHOUT: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools, Doc Feature – Emmy and Peabody Award winner Atlas’s potent film confronting the education of African American girls – with alarming dropout and juvenile justice system rates. Impactful commentary weaves a tight narrative and heart warming views of the girls.

Klaus Scherer, ARD/NDR-TV (Germany), The Untold Story Of Otto Warmbier: What Happened In North Korea?, Doc Feature – Scherer’s skillful doc reveals the truth of the shocking story of Warmbier – held in North Korea and ultimately died of his injuries sustained there. He uncovers the prolific lies of the US and North Korean administrations, their appalling friendship and the tragic consequences that follow.

Philippe Blanc (Switzerland), The Bridge, Doc Feature – Blanc’s treatment of the tragic collapse of the Morandi Bridge in Italy is an excellent example of contemporary documentary filmmaking skillfully weaving testimony of technical experts and intertwined with the stories of the survivors, relatives of the victims and people forced to leave their homes. Excellent journalism and craft..

Cruz Angeles (USA), Valiant, Doc Feature – A powerful story of a desert-based ice hockey team that, in its very first year, helps heal and unify Las Vegas after a horrible tragedy. The authentic spirit of the Golden knights propels them to the Stanley Cup Final. A well-paced, emotional and beautifully crafted doc and a testament to the power of heartfelt actions to heal ourselves and each other.

Deepti Gupta (India), Shut up Sona, Doc Feature – A sassy take at feisty singer’s unrelenting fight for an equal space in modern day India, a country deeply uncomfortable with her emancipation. Shot over three years, the film gives an insider account of how singer Sona Mohapatra, one of the leading figures of the country’s #MeToo movement, is forcefully demanding gender equality in the music business.

Erin McGoff (USA), This Little Land of Mines, Doc Feature – This Little Land of Mines is an independent feature documentary about the resilience of the Lao people as they live among and work to clear 80 million unexploded bombs from when the United States secretly bombed Laos more heavily than any country on earth. A nuanced, cinematic and enlightening expose touchingly shared by the Lao people.

Bernard Attal (Brazil), RESTLESS, Doc Feature – In 2014, Geovane, a young man from a poor neighborhood in Brazil, was arrested by the military police and never seen again. His dad would not rest until he found the whereabouts of his son. A moving story of a desperate family set amidst the backdrop of systemic and epidemic police brutality. A moving story expertly unfolding.

 ~ Award of Excellence ~ 

Amy Bohigian (Canada), Only in Nelson, Documentary Feature

Andrii Andreiev (Ukraine), THE SONGS of LOVE, Documentary Short

Angela Asatrian (USA), Never Events, Documentary Feature

Ashley Maria (USA), Pioneers in Skirts — 60, Documentary Feature

Bryan Reinhart (USA), The Valley, Documentary Feature

Chris McIvor (Canada), Fostering Hope, Documentary Feature

Craig Norton (USA), Rhythms of Life, Documentary Feature

Cristian Gugu (Romania), Moldova – Laborator Experimental, Documentary Feature

Dawn Gifford Engle (USA), The Dalai Lama: Scientist, Documentary Feature

Eric Miller and Laurine Platzky (South Africa), Hutchinson: SHUNTED, Documentary Feature

Gary Rottger (USA), Indigenous: Fight for Survival, Documentary Feature

Helen Gaynor (Australia), The Candidate, Documentary Feature

James Anaquad Kleinert, Horse Medicine Productions (USA), Mustangs & Renegades, Documentary Feature

James Appleton (United Kingdom), Vitamin Sea, Documentary Feature

James Purpura (USA), Perception: Seeing Is Not Believing, Documentary Feature

John Banovich (Canada), Rocky Mountains Encounter, Documentary Short

Jonathan Ofek (Israel), The Ashram Children: I am No Body, I Have No Body, Documentary Feature

Julian Biba (USA), AKA: DR HOPE, Documentary Feature

Kim Laureen, Fresh Independence Productions (Canada), s e l f l e s s, Documentary Feature

Linda G. Mills (USA), No Contact, Documentary Short

Lucy Bruell (USA), Oli Otya?, Documentary Feature, Health / Medicine / Science, Original Score (Oli Otya? composed by Samite)

Mark Pearce (Australia), Pilliga Rising, Documentary Short

Mark Street (Australia), CAN ART STOP A BULLET: William Kelly’s Big Picture, Documentary Feature

Martin Boudot (France), PARAGUAY : POISONED FIELDS, Documentary Feature, Nature / Environment / Wildlife

Matt Blyth and Alaneo Gloor (Australia), Sea Rogue, Documentary Short

Mike Johnston (Canada), Synnopsis, Documentary Short

Monalisa Mukherji (India), Who Is This Women’s Day For?, Documentary Short

Nitsan Tal (USA), 8000 Paperclips, Documentary Feature

Odette Schwegler (South Africa), Tin Soldiers, Documentary Feature, Disability Issues, Health / Medicine / Science, Use of Film / Video for Social Change, Women Filmmakers

Produced by The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, Directed by Josh Burstein and Georgia Koch, (USA), Together, We Rise, Documentary Short, Public Service Programming / PSA, Use of Film / Video for Social Change

Samuel George (USA), Swing State Florida: The Fields of Immokalee, Documentary Short

Sophie Guerra and Clement Guerra (Germany), THE CONDOR & THE EAGLE, Documentary Feature

Teenergy Productions, Hassan Lakhdar (Switzerland), The call of the glacier, Documentary Short

 ~ Award of Merit Special Mention ~

Bill Wisneski (USA), The Roads Most Traveled, Documentary Short

Christophe Chagnard and Charlie Spears (USA), Terra Nostra (“Our Earth”), Documentary Short

Dana Richie (USA), GATEWAY, Documentary Short

Delaney Ruston, MD (USA), Screenagers NEXT CHAPTER: Uncovering Skills for Stress Resilience, Documentary Feature

Dorothy Leiper (United Kingdom), The Living Thames, Documentary Feature

Dounia Benjelloun Mezian (Morocco), KIANA’S APACHE CEREMONY, Documentary Feature

Ed Moore, Detroit Public Television Foundation (USA), PFAS in Ann Arbor, Documentary Short

Elena Demidova (Russia), THE MYSTERY OF A BURYAT LAMA, Documentary Feature

Gerald Schank and Slavica Martinovic (Germany), One World – The Ocean of Presence, Documentary Feature

Jim Huggins, New Shepherd Films (USA), Forgotten Heroes – The Robert Hartsock Story, Documentary Feature, History / Biographical, Direction, Dramatic Impact, Viewer Impact: Content / Message Delivery

João Vasco (Portugal), 111 671 Ballad for a Piano, Documentary Feature

John Beder (USA), Palliative, Documentary Short

Kelly Galindo (USA), 26 Seconds, Documentary Short

Kevin Eastwood and Lucas Frison (Canada), Humboldt: The New Season, Documentary Feature

Laurence Brahm (Bhutan), Return of the Lotus-Born Master: Decrypting the Dakini Code, Documentary Feature

Marion Cunningham and Kent Bassett (USA), This Might Hurt, Documentary Feature

Meg Pinsonneault (USA), Gwapa, Documentary Feature

Mike Sakas (Hong Kong), The Loop, Documentary Short, Nature / Environment / Wildlife, Use of Film / Video for Social Change

Negar Mojtahedi (Canada), My dream goes all the way to Iran, Documentary Short

Samuel George (USA), Swing State Florida: Liberty City, Documentary Feature

 ~ Award of Merit ~

Akira Chan (USA), Igniting Impact, Documentary Short

Andrea Natale (Italy), Albakia Art Story, Documentary Short

April Anderson, Art As Air Project (USA), Tails of Iceland, Documentary Feature

Barbara Copithorne, Aquarius Video (USA), Toe the Line: Arts Education for Life, Documentary Feature

Beatriz Mediavilla (Canada), According to Movement (A story in 10 chapters), Documentary Feature

Ben Akers (United Kingdom), Steve – Saving Men from Suicide., Documentary Feature

Benjamin Pollack (USA), Out Of Malibu, Documentary Short

Bob Williams (USA), LifeSaver: The SLO Noor Foundation Story, Documentary Feature

Brad Leitch, Patricia Makokis and Scott MacDougall (Canada), TREATY WALK – A Journey for Common Ground, Documentary Short

Brianna Tutt (USA), Heroes Wear Leos, Documentary Short

Christopher Martini (USA), The Tree of Art, Documentary Feature

Corinne Chateau (USA), Safer in Silence, Documentary Feature

Daniel Clarke (Australia), Australia’s Hidden Shame: The Truth about Roos, Documentary Short

Darby Duffin and Adam Jones (USA), FISH & MEN, Documentary Feature

Dave Tourjé and Christopher Sibley (USA), John Van Hamersveld CRAZY WORLD AIN’T IT, Documentary Short

Dr. Cheryl Levitt and Dr. Barbara Lent (Canada), THE GENDER LADY: THE FABULOUS DR. MAY COHEN, Documentary Feature

Ed Moore, Detroit Public Television Foundation (USA), PFAS in Ann Arbor, Health / Medicine / Science

Ed Moore, Detroit Public Television Foundation (USA), The Forever Chemicals, Documentary Short, Contemporary Issues / Awareness Raising

Ed Moore, Detroit Public Television Foundation (USA), Asian Carp and the Great Lakes, Documentary Short, Nature / Environment / Wildlife

Ed Moore, Detroit Public Television Foundation (USA), You’ve Got Mail, Documentary Short

Eirini Alligiannis (Australia), Louie (KR.ONE) Gasparro 5POINTZ, Documentary Short

Elaine Minionis (USA), Uncanny: The Dolls of Mariana Monteagudo, Documentary Short

Elpida Nikou and Rodrigo Hernandez (Mexico), Cherán: A Burning Hope, Documentary Short

Emma Watts and Ashleigh Hamilton (USA), UnMasked: We All Breathe, Documentary Short

Gage Johnston (USA), Lucy has Worms, Documentary Feature

Hans Andreas Guttner (Austria), DIE BURG, Documentary Feature

Ines ten Berge (Netherlands), Do you have kids?, Documentary Feature, Health and Medicine, Religion / Ethics, Dramatic Impact

Jack Polefko (USA), The Other Side of Fear, Documentary Short (Student)

Jacob Patrick (USA), La Plume & Le Papier, Documentary Short

James Anthony McElligott (Canada), Healing: Behind the Paint, Documentary Short

James Anthony McElligott (Canada), Ice hockey Orphans, Documentary Short

Jaswant Kaur, Punjab Documentation and Advocacy Project (PDAP) (India), Punjab Disappeared: Claiming The Unclaimed., Documentary Feature

Jérémy Billon and Benjamin Vallet (France), Morabeza, the strength of movement, Documentary Feature

Jim Baillies, Mount Royal University (Canada), Peace in the Parks, Documentary Short

Joe Matthews (USA), From The Land of In-Between, Documentary Feature (Student)

Joe Pomeroy and Rich Simmons (United Kingdom), Art Is The Cure, Documentary Short

Jonathan Long (Canada), Rise – Voice of a New Generation, Documentary feature

Joseph V. Brown (USA), Operation Wolf Patrol: Poacher’s Kingdom, Documentary Short

Karen Paulk (USA), They Soon Forgot Their Words, Documentary Short (Student)

Karina Sturm (USA), We Are Visible, Documentary Feature (Student), Disability Issues (Student), Health / Medicine / Science (Student), Original Score (Composed by Markus-Frederik Bohn)

Kees Schaap and Mark Schaap (Netherlands), When are you coming back?, Documentary Feature

Lisa Camillo (Australia), Balentes – The Brave Ones, Documentary Feature, Women Filmmakers, Research

Lubomir Dankov (Bulgaria), The Donbass children, Documentary Feature

Marissa Chibas (USA), Finding Shelter, Documentary Short

Michael Neal, Gage Dansby and Corked Media/Adrian College (USA), Without Wax: A Story of True Evil, Documentary Feature

Michele Noble (USA), Reclamation: The Rise at Standing Rock, Documentary Short

Michi Marosszeky (Australia), The Amazing Gift of Education, Documentary Short

Niklas Goslar (Germany), Mother of Tibetans, Documentary Feature, Use of Film / Video for Social Change, Viewer Impact: Content / Message Delivery

Noah Berlow (USA), What If…, Documentary Short

Patrick Baucelin (Martinique), Long ago in the Caribbean, Documentary Feature

Paul G. Roberts (Australia), AFTER THE LOCKOUTS II – GLADYS’ WAR ON MUSIC, Documentary Feature

Pyeongsoon Choi (Korea), Anthropocene : Finding the evidence, Documentary Feature

Ralph Hammann (USA), Richard Wilbur: Keeping the Difficult Balance, Documentary Feature

Ray Day (USA), Truth Be Told: Irving Norman and the Human Predicament, Documentary Feature

Ricardo Preve (Argentina), Coming Home, Documentary Feature

Ricardo Preve (Argentina), The Patagonian Bones, Documentary Feature

Richard Anderson (USA), What About Auburn?, Documentary Feature

Rob Loos (USA), Salt and Light – The Miracle in Hollywood, Documentary Feature

Seannie Cameras (USA), Moving On West, Documentary Short

Seth Dahl (USA), The Long River Home, Documentary Short

Spencer Thornton (USA), Celebrity Entrepreneur, Documentary Feature

Steve Conry (USA), Beyond The Trees: Delores, Documentary Short

Students of The 2019 Institute for Documentary Filmmaking (USA), All The Rage, Documentary Short (Student)

Tal Koushner (Israel), Bird’s flight, Documentary Feature (Student)

Thomas Keith (USA), Bullied, Documentary Feature

Thomas Phillips (USA), UNCLAIMED REMAINS “Forgotten”, Documentary Short, Cinematography, Viewer Impact: Content / Message Delivery

Tom Seymour (USA), VHS Massacre Too, Documentary Feature

Tony Villani (USA), A TICKET TO HOLLYWOOD: Europeans in Los Angeles, 1925-56. Part One, PROLOGUE, Documentary Short

Zhang Meng Zhou (Noah Zhang) (China), One in a million, Documentary Feature

~ Award of Recognition ~

Adam Grannick, Irshad Manji, Genesis Be (USA), Confederate Pride, White Supremacy, and My State Flag, Documentary Short

Alex Luchsinger (USA), First Chances, Documentary Short

Alje Kamphuis and Stephanie Sint Nicolaas, KRO-NCRV (Netherlands), War has come into Oud Ade, mourning after MH17, Documentary Feature

Angelena Bonet (Australia), Angelena: Light At The End Of The Tunnel, Documentary Feature

Anne Lewis (USA), Finding The Balance, Documentary Short

Cali Gilbert (USA), INVISIBLE, Documentary Short

Chien-cheng Lee (Taiwan), Thanks For Watching, Documentary Short

Claudia Giannetto (United Kingdom), The Campfire Project, Documentary Feature

Dannon Green (USA), The Executioners We All Had A Chance, Documentary Feature

Drew Kenworthy (Canada), Living the Warrior Code, Documentary Feature

Dr. Tommy Watson (USA), Resilient, Documentary Short

Ed Moore, Detroit Public Television Foundation (USA), The Forever Chemicals, Narration / Voice-Over Talent (Laura Weber Davis)

Ed Moore, Detroit Public Television Foundation (USA), Wrecks Within Reach, Documentary Short, Nature / Environment / Wildlife

Ed Moore, Detroit Public Television Foundation (USA), You’ve Got Mail, Concept, Creativity / Originality

Graeme Moffatt (New Zealand), Mr. Mainline Steam, Documentary Feature

Harrod Blank (USA), Why Can’t I Be Me?  Around You, Documentary Feature

Heather Waters (Australia), You Were Chosen, Documentary Short

Jim Baillies, Mount Royal University (Canada), Peace in the Parks, Health / Medicine / Science, Nature / Environment / Wildlife

Jonty Fine (USA), The Optician, Documentary Short

Kyle O’Gara (USA), 10-33: When Officers Need Help, Documentary Short (Student)

Laura Puccia Valtorta (USA), The Disease Detective Looks at Sarcoidosis, Documentary Short

Laura Puccia Valtorta (USA), The Disease Detective Looks at Friedreich’s Ataxia, Documentary Short

Leilani Osmundson (USA), Fatphobic, Documentary Short (Student)

Marcelo Vogelaar, Graci Guarani, Alexandre Pankararu, Thiago Dezan, Leo Otero and Thomaz Pedro (United Kingdom), My Blood Is Red, Documentary Feature

Marten Leurdijk (Netherlands), Searching for Pura Vida, Documentary Feature

Mohamed Farouk (Egypt), That’s so Funny, Documentary Feature

Nick Natalicchio (USA), The Tides That Bind, Documentary Short

Peter C. Downey (Australia), Designing Deception, Documentary Feature

R. Paul Dhillon (Canada), Gone are the days, Documentary Feature

Robert Ramos (USA), Shrouded, Documentary Short (Student)

Rodrigo Occelli (Mexico), The Healers, Documentary Feature

Sage Love (USA), AYITI: THE AWAKENING, Documentary Short (Student)

Sandra Tamkin (USA), Iric, Documentary Short

Shihyun Wang (USA), Richard Nixon, History / Biographical

Stephen James (USA), Conversations with Solomon:  Episode 4 The Environment, Documentary Short

The Church of Almighty God (Korea), A Youth of Bloody Tears, Documentary Feature

Timothy Dunn (USA), Stitches of Passion, Documentary Short

Tina Chunna Zhang (USA), Tai Chi Club, Documentary Feature

Varun Sasindran (India), Omarska, Documentary Short

Vijali Hamilton (USA), Wheel of the World, One Woman’s Creative Journey for Global Peace, Documentary Feature

Vishnu Perumal (USA), CommuKnity, Documentary Feature

William Goodwin (USA), Why Are We Still Eating Grouper?, Documentary Short

Zoe Katz (USA), Sir Jared the Nectarine, Documentary Short