August 2, 2010
The Documentary Film Jury awarded the Best Documentary to WASTE LAND (UK/Brazil) by Lucy Walker, Joao Jardim and Karen Harley.
The jury commented: WASTE LAND is an insightful and compelling documentary that records Brazilian artist Vik Muniz’s journey to the world’s largest landfill located around Rio de Janeiro. Here, Muniz works with a select group of proud pickers who hail from the favelas. As they collaborate in creating stunning and memorable portraits from the garbage, WASTE LAND emerges as a poignant and redemptive story of marginalized people whose dignity and resilience inspires us. In a narrative which seamlessly traverses the environment, the social, political and personal, the filmmakers capture the real people behind these unforgettable portraits with care and affection, at times simply, at times complex, but always touching and wonderfully humane.”
WASTE LAND was also voted Audience Choice Best Film by the DIFF audiences and in addition was awarded the Amnesty International Durban Human Rights Award, which is awarded to the documentary film that best reflects human rights issues. The award carries a cash prize of 2,500 euros (US$3,125). This was donated to the catadores (ACAMJG).
See the full article here: http://artmatters.info/?p=2563
