We present the list of winners of the 8th DMZ Korean International Documentary Film Festival (DMZ Docs) that took place from September 22th – 29th in South Korea.
International Competition
White Goose Award
Those Who Jump by Abou Bakar Sidibé, Moritz Siebert, Estephan Wagner
Denmark | 2016 – 82 min.
In northern Morocco lies the Spanish enclave of Melilla: Europe on African Land. On the mountain above live over a thousand hopeful African migrants, watching the land border, a fence system separating Morocco and Spain. Abou from Mali is one of them. For over a year, he has ceaselessly persisted in attempting to jump the fence. At the fence, they have to overcome the razor-wire, automatic pepper spray and brutal authorities. Some give up and return home, others never return from the fence.
Special Jury Award
When Two Worlds Collide by Heidi Brandenburg, Mathew Orzel
Peru, UK | 2016 – 103 min.
Tense and wholly immersive, this film take you directly into the line of fire between two, powerful Peruvian leaders over the future of the country. When president Alan Garcia attempts to extracts oil and minerals from untouched Amazonian land with the hopes of elevating his country’s economic prosperity, he is met with fierce, violent opposition led by indigenous leader Alberto Pizango. This film capture all angles of a conflict that quickly escalates from a heated war of words to one of deadly violence.
Asian Competition
Asian Perspective Award
Red Clothes by Chan Lida | Cambodia – 2016 – 65 min.
In a suburb of Phnom Penh, where Cambodia’s textile industry is flourishing, Ty Sophanith lives with his wife and his five years old son. The young workers, former peasant from the countryside of Kampong Chhnang, were hired by the factory, supplier to the well-known brands in the West, but the couple lives in starvation wage. Sophanith was wounded by the police bullets during a demonstration for their better working conditions, The Cambodian workers’ demonstration is getting violent.
Korean Competition
Best Korean Documentary Award
The Remnats by Kim Il-rhan, Lee Hyuk-sang
South Korea | 2016 – 130 min.
In October 2015, the evicted residents who had imprisoned on a false charge of killing a policeman assembled in a place for the first time after the Yongsan Disaster six years ago. They had occupied a watchtower against unreasonable redevelopment policies and in protest against violent suppression used by riot police in 25 hours of their sit-in demonstration. Their colleagues had died from an unknown fire, and they became criminals. The delight of meeting again lasts only briefly. The ‘comrades’ rip out cruel words while blaming each other.
Korean Special Jury Award
Still and All by Kim Young-jo – South Korea | 2015 – 92 min.
Still and All is a story about the souls living beneath the Yeongdo Bridge in Busan. Yeongdo and its bridge offer a historical space with lingering traces from the Japanese colonial era to the Korean War. The people under Yeongdo Bridge, reconstructed in 2013 after 47 years, are driven to move when the vicinity around it is designated a Special Tourist Zone. The film superimposes their stories against the spatial history.
Special Award
Brave New Docs Award
The Silence by Park Su-nam – South Korea, Japan | 2016 – 100 min.
In May 1994, the fifteen victims ‘Comfort women’ visited Japan. Most of the victims have passed away, but Ms. Lee Oksun, who has always led the way with playing the janggu, live in the Sokli Mountain now. The precious footage, recording close to Ms. Lee Oksun who testifies her deep resentment for half a century, shares the message from a surviving victim.
Beautiful New Docs Award
Becoming Who I Was by Moon Chang-yong, Jeon Jin
South Korea | 2016 – 105 min.
A seemingly ordinary boy discovers he is the highest ranking Tibetan monk reincarnated from a past, giving him the noble title of Rinpoche. Displaced in his reincarnation in Ladakh due to the political instability in Tibet, he is separated from his former monastery. Filmed over 7 years, the young reincarnate faces questions of survival, coming-of-age, and serving a sacred order. With one aging godfather on the backdrop of the biting Himalayan Mountains, Rinpoche sets on a dangerous journey to find his place in the world.
Audience Award
The Remnats by Kim Il-rhan, Lee Hyuk-sang – South Korea | 2016 – 130 min.
Youth Competition
Special Jury Mention
Shallow Kim by Kim Tae-yeong – South Korea | 2015 – 24 min.
My little brother Yeongjae, 7 years old, is 11 years younger than me. He is growing child but has grown too much. Recently my biggest worry is nothing but my brother’s obesity. Parents and I had a number of arguments about how we nurture him. However, since I live separately at school dormitory, my opinion has been ignored easily as if I were not a member of the family. Why did he become chubby? For this, I had some meaningful talks with our family.
Excellent Youth Documentary Award
We Can Call It Love by Min Ge-o – South Korea | 2015 – 10 min.
Is there a definite border between friendship and love that people feel? Friends at school talk affectionately to each other, walking down the hall in hand or arm-in-arm, and they also never mind giving a sweet hug to each other. As long as they value each other, sometimes they feel jealous of him or her, as more than just friends …
Best Youth Documentary Award
Between 9 and 0 by Kim Su-min – South Korea | 2015 – 10 min.
I once set the goal. When I became twenty, it would be time to be independent. Many aspect of independence of my life at 20, which I am approaching closer, looked achievable, but I found that has been very difficult task. Being independent meant not only financially from parents’ help, but building my own concrete world view. So I choose a path to experience some controversial sites by myself to taste some.
To know more about the festival you can see the FESTIVAL PROFILE or go to the official website HERE.
Categories: Film Festival
Asian Film Festivals 