Below are the listed films for February 2022 official selection, and the winning films for each category.
Participating filmmakers are to decide if they wish this edition to take place digitally or in person.
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BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
WINNER
- As Prescribed directed by Holly Hardman, USA, 1h32
Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, Ativan – all belong to a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines (benzos). News and entertainment media portray them in terms of addiction and abuse or as innocuous medications that relax nerves.
AS PRESCRIBED documents a strikingly different narrative, following eye-opening stories of invisible illness and disability. Boston-based survivor Geraldine Burns leads a grassroots army of “good patients” that help other victims and advocate tirelessly for benzodiazepine harm awareness.
But resistance is strong. Geraldine and her cohorts are opposed by powerful forces that include pharmaceutical giants and a medical culture that has denied the problem for decades.
FINALIST
- Serpiente El Luchador, directed by Sebastian Vaina, ARGENTINA, 1h18
Cristian “La Serpiente” Bosch is a Muay Thay fighter from Greater Buenos Aires. At thirty-five, he has his last chance to fight for the world title, against the Brazilian champion. With a great force of will, Serpent prepares for combat, but his obligations as father, son, teacher and friend will make the road difficult.
The changes in his life will mark him forever and when he reaches the final fight, he will no longer be the same.
BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY
WINNER
- I spend a day like inhabbitant of Dharavi slums , directed by Dmitry VanDimKinson Iuanov, TURKEY, 17′
Chamsundar, an Indian living in Dharavi slums, lives a full day together with Dmitry Iuanov, mathematican and filmmaker. Together they sleep on a clod floor, brush teeth with fingers, sort plastic in the factory and between all of that try to better understand each other’s life vision. This raw and wildly original blog-style-documentary reveals a life lived to extremes and a heart-filled look at what it means to be a sitizen of slums.
FINALIST
- Night Outdoors, directed by Tobias Bellman, SWEDEN, 29′
Sebastian is a system developer from Gävle, Sweden who is no stranger to spending long hours indoors playing computer games and reading books. However, he has recently taken on the challenge of spending at least one night outdoors every month for a year.
From the cold winds of March to a stormy night in the mountains in February, Sebastian’s journey is filled with both struggles and moments of enjoyment as he braves the elements of the Swedish wilderness. Follow along as we discover what happens when an indoor enthusiast embarks on a journey to embrace the beauty and challenges of nature, regardless of the weather or conditions.
SEMI FINALIST
- Evidence of Us, directed by James ‘Q’ Martin, USA, 11′
This film looks at how people can recreate responsibly in the national parks and monuments by practicing Leave No Trace principles; emphasizes how reusable water bottles, mugs, and reusable bags fit into Leave No Trace ethics.
Additionally, it looks at how systemic issues can help to protect national parks and monuments for future generations through legislative measures to ban the sale of bottled water and reduce single-use disposals throughout the National Park Service.
VERY SHORT DOCUMENTARY
WINNER
- The Artist Series, directed by Jeremiah Katung, Besidone Atsemudiara, NIGERIA, 3′
This short doc follows the story of Zeh Zeh, a Cameroonian who migrated to Nigeria and now creates unique and practical art designs using Bamboo.
WOMAN DOCUMENTARY AWARD
WINNER
ANWAR, by Rosa García Loire, SPAIN, 1h10
Alex Txikon’s winter ascension on Manaslu, Nepal, is the seed of a story that will bring sustainable light to two very different places: Newton, Sierra Leone, and a special school in Diamer, Pakistan. Alpinism, solidarity and renewable energy are key to this story.
FINALIST
As Prescribed, by Holly Hardman, USA, 1h32
Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, Ativan – all belong to a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines (benzos). News and entertainment media portray them in terms of addiction and abuse or as innocuous medications that relax nerves. AS PRESCRIBED documents a strikingly different narrative, following eye-opening stories of invisible illness and disability.
SEMI FINALIST
From the Shadows, by Miriam Chandy Menacherry, INDIA, 1h16
From the Shadows uses the imagery of public art to delve into missing narratives. Paint cans and stencils in hand, Leena Kejriwal relentlessly sprays splattered walls with a girl’s shadow #missing #everyeightminutes, a haunting reminder that girls disappear at a staggering pace. The narrative starts from her terrace overlooking Asia’s largest red-light district and into the world’s largest delta, quick sands of missing cases.
BEST STUDENT DOCUMENTARY
WINNER
Beyond The Hoop, by Animesh Gautam, INDIA, 16′
It’s the journey of one of the very few female professional sports photographer in the sports obsessed nation of India. The film reflects on the importance of sports photographers and there pursuit for the perfect frame, emotion and moment.
FINALIST
Grass Roots, by Paul Dower, USA, 13′
Gregory Hardin starts on his journey to build a campaign for state house so he can unseat incumbent Dell Kerbs.
BEST DIRECTING IN FILMMAKING
WINNER
- Sofia Bentz for Woodcraft, CROATIA
BEST INTERVIEWS
WINNER
- Gradually, Then Suddenly: The Bankruptcy of Detroit by Sam Katz, James McGovern, USA, 1h33
Once heralded as the spirit of American manufacturing, music and democracy, Detroit descended into disrepair and insolvency over five decades culminating in the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history in 2013. Gradually, Then Suddenly is the story of one city’s climb into and out of bankruptcy toward a future of possibilities.
BEST RESEARCH & INVESTIGATIVE
WINNER
- When Wire Was King: The Transformation of TelecommunicationsJennifer A. Manner, USA, 1h24
When Wire Was King is a feature-length documentary that puts the telecommunications revolution into historical context. Commerce, technology, entertainment, travel, health, and all societal interaction are now so dependent on secure and reliable telecommunications that, if the plug were pulled, our nation and world would likely collapse. As our digital world grows increasingly complex, it’s critically important for Americans to understand what drives, threatens, and governs the technology on which we all depend.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
WINNER
- Alaskan Trip, directed by Barnard Schultz & Emilio Vega, CANADA, 26′
BEST EDITING
WINNER
- A Filmmaking Adventure, directed by Pierre Delamarre, FRANCE, 33′
FINALIST
- When Wire Was King: The Transformation of TelecommunicationsJennifer A. Manner, USA, 1h24
BEST SCORE
WINNER
- A Filmmaking Adventure, directed by Pierre Delamarre, FRANCE, 33′
BEST TRAILER
- As Prescribed, directed by Holly Hardman, USA, 1h32
BEST VOICE OVER
WINNER
- Un Jour à la Biscuiterie Nantaise, directed by Emilie Villadon, FRANCE, 17′
Angeles Documentaries 