The 2019 FIFDH awards list
Creative documentary competition
The International Documentary Jury was chaired by Leïla Slimani, alongside Fellipe Barbosa, Hussain Currimbhoy et Julie Trébault.
Grand Prize of Geneva
Endowed with CHF 10,000 - Offered by the City and State of Geneva
Delphine et Carole, Insoumuses
by Callisto McNulty
"We were captivated by the vivacity, freshness and engagement of this documentary. An ode to two women of action, to the friendship and power of transmission embodied by a little girl."
Special mention to "Still Recording"
by Ghiath Ayoub and Saeed Al Batal
"Political and Ethical Mention. We will not be able to say that we did not know."
Gilda Vieira de Mello Prize in tribute to her son Sergio Vieira de Mello
Endowed with CHF 5,000 - Offered by the Barbara Hendricks Foundation for Peace and Reconciliation
On her Shoulders
by Alexandria Bombach
"We wanted to commend the extraordinary commitment of the director, alongside Nadia Murad whose courage and obstinacy have profoundly moved us."
Youth Jury Prize
Endowed with CHF 500 - Offered by Peace Brigades International (PBI)
The Youth Jury Creative Documentary Competition was composed of Eliot Brown, Justine Fontanet, Pablo Morsia, Alex Rey, Eliott Riat and Lucie Romer.
Still Recording
by Ghiath Ayoub and Saeed Al Batal
"At a time when human rights are under threat, it is important to denounce attacks on human dignity. During this festival, we discovered men and women who fight so that their stories are not forgotten. However, speaking out and pointing out these injustices remains a risky act in some parts of the world and therefore calls for extraordinary courage.
It is the courage of people who preferred to use their cameras rather than weapons that we are awarding. Their raw images of the inhumane conditions of daily life plunge us into the reality of war and allow us to imagine ourselves in their place. Just like us, this young generation continues to dance, to sing, to appropriate art to express itself, to play sports, to get married. `Life must continue!´"
Special mention to "Ghost Fleet"
by Jeffrey Waldron and Shannon Service
"This documentary has illustrated the power of cinema to mark a moment in time and educate us. It is the extraordinary artistic direction that has captured the attention of the entire audience. By inviting us to travel across the oceans, allowing us to feel and implicate ourselves in the cause of modern slavery in the fishing industry, I am pleased to announce that the mention of the Youth Jury is attributed to Ghost Fleet by Shannon Service and Jeffrey Waldon."
Fiction competition
The International Fiction and Human Rights Jury was chaired by Pat Mitchell, alongside with Uzodinma Iweala, Shahin Najafi, Anne Deluz and Philippe Cottier.
Grand Prize for Fiction
Endowed with CHF 10,000 - Offered by the Hélène and Victor Barbour Foundation
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
by Chiwetel Ejiofor
"Through a fluid filmmaking, embodied by actors who offer a rare authenticity to their roles, the director warns us about the importance of education, transmission between generations, issues that particularly concern women in rural areas from Malawi. The film also dramatically reflects the urgency that African society face with issues of climate change."
Special mention to "Carmen y Lola"
by Arantxa Echevarría
"Arantxa Echevarría presents her first feature-length film, with two non-professional actresses - the amazing Zaira Romero and Rosy Rodriguez - whose candidness and truth are part of the film’s success. The strength of the story lies as much in the engaged discourse as in the resistance that the two heroines face in relation to their environment. A film that testifies, with modesty and accuracy, to the wonder of a first love."
Youth Jury Prize
Endowed with CHF 500 - Offered by the Eduki Foundation
The Youth Jury Fiction Competition was composed of Wedid Ben Hamiden, Leïla Berthoud, Mathilde Foehr, Julia Oliveira and Colin St Mary.
Carmen y Lola
by Arantxa Echevarría
"This film left us outraged while also giving us the desire to continue fighting against inequality and discrimination. The diversity and relevance of the theme describes a reality and paints portraits that are both complex and nuanced.
It honours strong and free women, whether it be the director or the main characters. The director has managed to address a universal and very current theme with beauty and sensitivity. Through her film, she makes an essential appeal to tolerance."
Special mention to "Another Day of Life"
by Raúl de la Fuente and Damian Nenow
"For the originality of its approach as well as its visual and audio richness."
Grands Reportages Competition
Prize of OMCT
Endowed with CHF 5,000 - Offered by the World Organization Against Torture
Congo Lucha
by Marlène Rabaud
"Congo Lucha is a film full of humanity, very rich artistically, which combines poignant moments and humour, to show a different image of a country overwhelmed by more than 20 years of conflict. It shows a young generation of human rights defenders who fight, through peaceful means and in spite of all risks, against repression and systematic torture. The holding of a presidential election in January this year, which saw a first alternation - certainly contested but also peaceful - owes a lot to the courage of these young people. This award is also a tribute to the commitment of this new generation of defenders, and an encouragement to their future actions."
Special Juries
Jury Prize in Carceral Contexts - Champ-Dollon, Women's Unit
Offered by the City and State of Geneva
The Sentence
by Rudy Valdez
"This film has touched us because the question of confinement affects everyone. Cindy's sentence affected her entire family, but despite this, Cindy remains a mother, wife, daughter and sister. As long as there is love, there is hope. Cindy and her family have proven it throughout this story. Thank you for sharing us a glimpse of your life."
Jury Prize in Carceral Contexts – La Clairière
Offered by the City and State of Geneva
Un Jour ça ira
by Stan and Edouard Zambeaux
"Too many people live in emergency shelter centers, going through difficult times. This film is their stories and especially the story of Djibi, who is our age. We were called to question during this film and were profoundly touched. This story is also the story of some of us. Despite their difficulties, the film showed us that there is always hope and that we must keep the faith. That's why we awarded this prize for hope, faith, for Djibi and all the people that allowed us to discover 'Un Jour ça ira'. Djibi, you are the example that despite hardship, we can prevail. Strength to you, strength to you all."
Mention to "Sonita"
by Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami
"We also give a special mention to the film 'Sonita', by Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami, to affirm our support for all young women who are victims of forced marriage."
Jury Prize in Carceral Contexts - La Brénaz
Offered by the City and State of Geneva
The Sentence
by Rudy Valdez
"We, the Brenaz Jury, awarded Rudy Valdez's 'The Sentence' for the best film for its authenticity and the hope it gives us. We were particularly touched because this story si also ours, and that of our families. This film denounces arbitrary justice that doesn't take into account human considerations. Thank you, Rudy Valdez."
Mention to "Grand et Petit"
by Camille Budin
"The Brénaz Jury also awarded a special mention to Camille Budin's film 'Grand et Petit'. Thank you for inviting us to immerse ourselves in the world of children."
HUG Jury Prize - Hôpital de Jour et Malatavie
Artopie - Fondation d'Harcourt Prize
Ni d'Ève, ni d'Adam. Une histoire intersexe.
by Floriane Devigne
"The issue of intersex people has profoundly moved us. Thanks to the film we hope that intersexuality will be better understood and respected. This is a subject that should not be taboo and should be discussed at any time without a problem. Thank you to the protagonists of the film, Audrey, M. and Deborah and thank you to Floriane Devigne for allowing us discover and better understand the lives of intersex people."
