IDA Announces 2009 Doc Award Nominations

A scene from "Anvil! The Story of Anvil."

The nominees for the International Documentary Association’s 2009 IDA Documentary Awards competition have been announced, with “Afghan Star,” “Anvil! The Story of Anvil,” “Diary of a Times Square Thief,” “Food, Inc.,” and “Mugabe and the White African” all taking nominations for the top prize of best documentary feature. 

“As the boundaries of documentary film continue to be fearlessly shattered by the creativity of nonfiction filmmaking, IDA is proud to be honoring not only the best films of the year, but also many of those who have led the way,” said IDA Executive Director Michael Lumpkin, in a statement. “The future of nonfiction storytelling could not be better represented by our outstanding host, Ira Glass, who continues to inspire and entertain across a number of media platforms.”
The IDA Documentary Awards will also recognize “filmmakers and film journalists who displayed conspicuous bravery in the pursuit of truth—and put Freedom of Speech above all else, including their own personal safety,” in a special “Courage Under Fire” tribute to be presented by Current Media journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee.  In March of this year Ling and Lee were reporting on the trafficking of North Korean women who are fleeing poverty and repression only to end up being exploited across the border in neighboring China.  Ling and Lee were apprehended by North Korean soldiers while filming along the Tumen river, which separates China and North Korea. They were sentenced to 12 years in a North Korean labor prison for illegal entry and unspecified hostile acts.  After 140 days in captivity, Ling and Lee were eventually pardoned, and they returned to the United States following an unannounced visit to North Korea by former US President Bill Clinton on August 4, 2009.

The complete list of nominations is listed below. Winners will be feted on December 4th at the Directors Guild in Los Angeles, in a ceremony hosted by This American Life’s Ira Glass.

Feature Documentary Nominees
Afghan Star
Director/Producer: Havana Marking
Executive Producers: Mike Lerner, Martin Herring, Saad Mohseni, Jahid Mohseni
Kaboora Productions; Roast Beef Productions; Red Start Media; Zeitgeist Films in association with HBO Documentary Films

News » Oscar Doc Shortlist Features » Tim Burton's Big Show News » Sundance's 2010 New Frontier

Anvil! The Story of Anvil Director: Sacha Gervasi Producer: Rebecca Yeldham Executive Producers: Rick Krim and Chris Soos Little Dean’s Yard; Ahimsa Films; Abramorama; VH1 Diary of a Times Square Thief Director/Writer: Klaas Bense Producers: Janneke Doolard, Hans de Weers, Reinout Oerlemans Executive Producer: Janneke Doolaard Eyeworks Film & TV Drama Food, Inc. Director/Producer: Robert Kenner Producer: Elise Pearlstein Co-Producers: Eric Schlosser, Richard Pearce, Melissa Robledo Executive Producers: William Pohlad, Robin Schorr, Jeff Skoll, Diane Weyermann River Road Entertainment; Participant Media; Magnolia Pictures Mugabe and the White African Directors: Lucy Bailey, Andrew Thompson Producers: David Pearson, Elizabeth Morgan Hemlock Executive Producers: Steve Milne, Pauline Burt Arturi Films in association with Explore Films, Film Agency For Wales and Molinare Productions. Short Documentary Nominees The Delian Mode Director//Producer/Writer: Kara Blake Producer: Marie-Josée Saint-Pierre Philtre Films Salt Directors: Michael Angus, Murray Fredericks Producer/Writer: Michael Angus Jerrycan Films Sari’s Mother Director/Producer: James Longley Daylight Factory LLC; HBO Documentary Films The Solitary Life of Cranes Director: Eva Weber Producer: Samantha Zarzosa Odd Girl Out Productions Continuing Series Award—Nominees American Experience Executive Producer: Mark Samels Senior Producer: Sharon Grimberg Coordinating Producer: Susan Mottau Series Manager: James E. Dunford Series Producer: Susan Bellows WGBH; PBS Iconoclasts Directors/Producers: Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky @radical media; Grey Goose Entertainment; Sundance Channel P.O.V. Executive Director: Simon Kilmurry Vice President: Cynthia López American Documentary, Inc.; PBS -this article continues on the next page- Page 1 of 3 Next Login to recommend this article » posted on November 12, 2009 Films to Snag Comments 1 BJCbjc says on November 12, 2009 at 8:31pm Anvil Photo by Brent J. Craig. Login to Leave a Comment »