1. Grand Prize —— The Warrior（Poland）
Title：The Warrior
Directed by： Jacek Blawut
Jury Comment by Lui Dedong
Country of Production: Poland
This film follows the rise and fall of Marek Piotrowski, world champion in kickboxing in the 90s. It shows the incredible determination with which the athlete drives his rise to stardom, and the fateful incomprehension with which he confronts his decline, and until the very end, we still don’t know whether he will finally surrender to life or not. It allows us to reflect upon the price we have to pay to achieve excellence, as well as the struggle we have to face to survive in dignity.
It is remarkable how the filmmaker skillfully depicts the often well hidden emotions of the main characters. He manages to combine with great ease and talent the elements of interviews, well shot sequences and compelling archive material to create a perfectly adapted rhythm to the narrative, echoing powerfully the different stages of the character’s tragic life.
2．Jury Prize —— The Olympic Dream in a Village（China）
Title: The Olympic Dream in a Village
Directed by: Zhang mingzhong、Zheng Xiaoxu 、 Gong Tuo、Zhong Lixin、Lu zhenping
Jury Comment by Philippe de Bourbon
Country of Production:China
The film depicts the struggle of a teenage boy Li Hanhua who lost the use of his two legs in an accident. Formerly a local swimming champion, and as we approach the 2008 Olympics, he comes back into race, competing this time in the framework of 2008 Paralympic Games.
This film is the moving story of a young man whose life is a great lesson of bravery and determination. Solidarity is also a key value in this film as the community is very supportive to this young guy.
This intimate portray is very story driven as the director follows the protagonist and his relatives very closely over a long period of time. The audience can through this observational technique measure how tough the challenge is for people facing disability. We feel a lot of empathy with the main character as the director managed to get into his intimacy but without being intrusive.
3．Award for Most Original Perspective —— Chairman George（Canada）
Title：Chairman George
Directed by：Daniel Cross and Mila-Aung Thwin
Jury Comment by Anita Reher
Country of Production:Canada
The main character of this film, George Sapounidis, a Greek Canadian, is in his own words the only Greek who sings Chinese folksongs and therefore the perfect person to perform at the closing session in Athens as the Olympic torch is passed on to Beijing. The film chronicles his attempt to realize his quite unrealistic dream to become the link between Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.
Although George is not an Olympic athlete, he still, with his hopes and aspirations, goes through similar emotions as all athletes do. Thus, we are able to observe the run-up to the Olympics from a very original perspective. This is heightened by the often used hand-held camera and out-spoken reflections about the difficulties the character encounters. Although he ultimately does not achieve his goal, the style and perspective of the film brings him across as a loveable character in a globalized world.
4. Award for Best Storytelling —— Fairies 'Ultimate Dance, Rhythmic Gymnastics~Prayer for Beijing（Japan）
Title：Fairies 'Ultimate Dance, Rhythmic Gymnastics~Prayer for Beijing
Directed by：Yoko Nonaka
Jury Comment by Ying Qiming
Country of Production:Japan
This film is about a team of Japanese eurythmics girls who immerse themselves in highly intensive training everyday to gain qualifications for the Olympic Games. Their youth vitality, beauty, passion and bravery are skillfully revealed to the audience. Competition, friendship and the group impact on individuals as shown in the film give us a chance to gain a better understanding of our current living environment and identify new attitudes we could take towards it.
The film’s powerful and exquisite story-telling style is based on superb photography which gives attention to passing details and captures skillfully memorable facial expressions. Though lacking odd plots, the film is interesting, if not beautiful, to watch.
5.Mention Speciale —— Iris Chang:The Rape of Nanking（Canada）
Title：Iris Chang:The Rape of Nanking
Country of Production:Canada
Directed by：Bill Spahic and Anne Pick
Jury Comment by Ying Qiming
This film illustrates the Chinese-origin American writer Iris Chang’s painful attempt to disclose the dark side of human history. She told the public that the Massacre in Nanjing in 1937 is a well-documented fact. She was willing to share with them the idea that reasons for the massacre are not as simple as they appear and modern civilization is not a far cry from bloody barbarism.
Chang, having strong empathy with the killed and the silent, is a symbol of human conscience and justice. Her own tragic suicide shows how far-reaching the impact of the massacre could exert.
6. Mention Speciale —— Lady Confucius（China）
Title： Lady Confucius
Directed by：Zhao Liang
Jury Comment by Liu Dedong
Country of Production:China
A Chinese old saying goes that “buried for good” is the best end of a person’s life. The film reveals to us an 84-year-old lady’s dream of being buried in the cemetery only opened to Confucius, who is her ancestor, his male descendents and their wives. From her we can see Chinese people’s traditional and non-traditional understanding and pursuit for family happiness and the sense of belonging. Feminine tranquility, like clear water, runs through the whole film, presenting the audience the lady’s perseverance and profundity. The film leaves the audience a thought-provoking insight into the other old saying that blood is always thicker than water. We are convinced that the rhythm and the lady’s charisma work in perfect harmony in the film.
7. Mention Speciale —— Tell Me Why（Poland）
Title：Tell Me Why
Directed by：Malgorzata Omielska
Jury Comment by Anita Reher
Country of Production:Poland
Tell Me Why is a film about a love story destroyed by the Holocaust. The emotional impact of the war separates these two people for their entire life. The film tells their personal stories through a mix of archival footage and interviews with them. The question at the centre of the film is why ˆ since they both survived ˆ this husband and wife do not reunite but instead form separate families in different parts of the world.
We would like to award this film for its powerful depiction of basic human emotions that connect us all. It is a simply told story that puts its characters in the forefront and lets them tell the story.
8. Mention Speciale —— 4（Australia）
Title：4
Directed by：Tim Slade
Jury Comment by Philippe de Bourbon
Country of Production: Australia
Following four outstanding violinists from four different parts of the world, this documentary shows the cycle of seasons along one year. From the springtime blossoms of Tokyo to the heat of the Australian summer, from the joyful autumn in New York to the harsh winter of Northern Finland, the film follows these wonderful musicians playing the Four Seasons of Antonio Vivaldi. Sharing their unconditional love to music, they also tell about their feelings towards the cycle of seasons.
Beautifully shot in magnificent natural and urban landscapes, this documentary is poetic journey into music and human happiness, a wonderful celebration of life.
9. Award for Contribution to Documentary —— Zhang WenQing（China）
Zhang WenQing
Jury Comment:
Zhang Wenqing has dedicated himself to observe and present life about the people living in the bottom of society in the West China, on the vast yellow earth. His works are many. Since the start of Guangzhou International Documentary Festival, he has been one of the most constant contributors to the festival.
His dedication to documentaries comes from his passion which in China, to an extend, means sacrifice. We presend him this award to honor this shared passion we all feel for documentary making.
10. Award for Contribution to Documentary —— Peter Wintonick（ Canada）
Peter Wintonick
Jury Comment:
We want to honor what probably is Canada's best known international Filmmaker for his outstanding contribution to the Craft and Art of Documentary making. Peter has an industry career spanning 30 years, and more than 100 films to his credit. Citing only a few of these we can mention MANUFACTURING CONSENT, or SEEING IS BELIEVING or CINEMA VERIT. In addition to his own filmmaking work, Peter is a relentless builder of bridges between different worlds, and donates much of his time to assist young filmmakers and those who aspire to be one, in getting access to international platforms and festivals, so that their work has a chance to be seen. Thus, filmmakers can grow and learn directly from the feedback they collect from their own work.