Observer — competition of documentaries made in the spirit of Direct Cinema

The winners of Observer competition:

Special Diploma by the Jury goes to #YA by Ygor Gama and Florencia Rovlich ― for artistically convincing energy of protest, shown by purely cinematographic means.

Special Diploma by the Jury goes to Better Bodies by Ragnar Bragason ― for purity of genre and humorous and tactful study of the characters’ microcosm.

The Jury Prize and $500 goes to Behemoth - Or The Game Of God by Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese ― for radical investigation of humanity with a scalpel-like camera and powerful soundtrack-anesthetic, turning a surgical procedure into artistic experience.

The Audience Prize and $250 goes to 9 days – From My Window in Aleppo
by Issa Touma, Floor van der Meulen & Thomas Vroege.

We would like to thank our jury: Maxim Efros, Edgar Bartenev, Vladimir Nepevny, as well as all the filmmakers-participants: Ygor Gama, Florencia Rovlich, Issa Touma, Floor van der Meulen, Thomas Vroege, Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese, Ragnar Bragason, Mark Chapman, Jason Keener, Jessica Hutchison, Sean Clark, Igor ElukovJessica Bishopp, Isabella Olaguera, Gabrielle ProvostNatasha Kasyanova, Randa Maroufi and Antoine Camard.

The screenings took place in St. Petersburg on the 16th and 17th of April at Fotografika Academy. Photos here.

Films in competition:

#YA
by  Ygor Gama, Florencia Rovlich
2015

First it’s paint bombs, followed hard by riots.
Tweets proclaim what is to be done. (...)

9 days – From My Window in Aleppo
by  Issa Touma, Floor van der Meulen & Thomas Vroege
2015

The first nine days of the rapidly changing uprising in Aleppo, observations recorded by the renowned Syrian photographer Issa Touma from his window in the old city. (...)

Behemoth - Or The Game Of God
by  Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese
2015

An itinerant preacher declares to people, their God is in the coffin he is dragging along. (...)

Better Bodies
by  Ragnar Bragason
2015

A film exploring the relationship between masculinity, the body and progress.

(...)

Camrex
by  Mark Chapman
2015

Camrex House is a notorious homeless hostel that for 40 years has upheld a fearsome reputation.  (...)

Collinsville Trade Day, 1988
by  Jason Keener
2014

In 1988, my Paw Paw Charles took his video camcorder to Collinsville Trade Day to document the popular outdoor market for posterity.  (...)

I Look At Diamonds For A Living
by  Jessica Hutchison
2015

On the busy city streets of Melbourne, an astronomer – striving to enlighten people to the wonders of the universe.  (...)

Mallwalkers
by  Sean Clark
2014

In the wee hours of the morning, America's largest mall opens its doors almost exclusively to a small group of walkers. (...)

North
by  Igor Elukov
2015

A film about quiet life, snow and wind. (...)

Platform 1
by  Jessica Bishopp
2015

Through the hatch of a cafe kiosk at the train station on platform 1, the film unearths the treasures of the everyday. (...)

Shoes Get Shined
by  Isabella Olaguera
2014

A high school navy JROTC student, Stefan Olaguera, expresses his passion for shining shoes. (...)

The Acadian Girl
by  Gabrielle Provost
2015

During the summer fireworks in Montreal, a young girl walks around hoping to sell her load of cotton candies. (...)

The Goods
by  Natasha Kasyanova
2015

Life in the village revolves around the grocery store. All roads here lead to «The Goods». (...)

The Park
by  Randa Maroufi
2015

A slow meandering camera in an abandoned amusement park in the heart of Casablanca.  (...)

Veres
by  Antoine Camard
2015

Through this intimate portrait, a picture of being youth in Russia. (...)