DWBFF Spring 2018 Winners

INDIA	UK	SPAIN
Aghanashini Ashwini Kumar Bhat Environmental Award Outstanding Excellence: Cinematography	The Great Pretender Nardine Groch Wildlife	Cyborgs Among Us Rafel Duran Torrent Science
This documentary is about a river of the Western Ghats of India – “Aghanashini”, which is a unique river from the perspective that it still flows in its natural course due to absence of any dams to change its flow and it doesn't have any industries along its path to pollute its water. In that sense, so far it remains untamed and unpolluted by man. There has been no effort till now to document the uniqueness of this river through its entire length. In the time when 'development' is the mantra of any government in the country, there exists this silent river which is holding onto its ground and nurturing the land and forest and thus becoming a river of life for hundreds of thousands of people along with its flow. Made over a span of two years, the film covers the story of the river via various stories along its flow, some of which are shot for the first time.	After the loss of an important display feather a famous Superb Lyrebird called 'The Pretender' struggles to win a mate during the most competitive song and dance competition in Australia.	Cyborgs are human beings with electronic devices implanted in their bodies to extend their senses and/or enhance their physical and cognitive capabilities. Technology with the potential for human enhancement is already available, but its use is strictly restricted to remedial (medical) applications. However, the first cyborgs are already crossing the boundaries of their human limits just for the sake of it --at home, in basement workshops and tattoo parlors, using low-tech equipment and with a do-it-yourself attitude. They are a tiny minority, seen by many as weird or crazy experimenters, but in the near future we may be calling them pioneers. In this film we will explore life as a cyborg through the stories of a few current ones; we will discover how close scientists are to taking the leap; and we will consider the philosophical, ethical and legal implications of going beyond human by letting machines become part of us.

USA	IRELAND
Cancer Can Be Killed Jeff Witzeman Revolution & Reform - Health BOS Both Categories Award of Outstanding Excellence: Viewer Impact: Motivational/Inspirational	NO POSTER AVAILABLE Condemned To Remember Gerry Gregg Human Spirit	Route 66 Najib Ghallale Docu-drama Feature Biography BOS Both Categories Award Of Excellence: Direction
Jeff Witzeman goes on a quest to find out why his wife was cured of her cancer in 30 days, naturally, in Germany, after American doctors wanted to pull an organ out, chemo and radiate her, and basically send her off to die. What he found will change cancer treatment forever.	Irish Holocaust Survivor Tomi Reichental celebrates his 80th birthday in a Dublin Mosque and embarks on an epic journey across a Europe in turmoil. In Germany Tomi concludes his long quest to bring the convicted SS War Criminal Hilde Michnia to account for her secrets and lies. In Poland and Slovakia he confronts the “crisis of shame” that prevents an honest reckoning with the scale of local “collusion” with the Nazi extermination project. In Bosnia, Tomi embraces Muslim survivors of a genocide, who still search for the bones of their loved ones. Along the way he puts himself into the shoes of the “new Jews” and discovers a strong common bond with refugees fleeing the hell that is Syria.	Nourredine Zerrad, aka Noon, is a 37 years old filmmaker who started making movies in 1993. His journey and his never-ending quest supported by a crazy dream motivated this project. IN 2013 he meets Jean-Claude Van Damme who offers him to work on his latest film, Eagle Path aka Full Love. Mainly inspired by action movies, Noon was the guideline of a universal topic, which is none other than self-realization, the obsessive quest for the Ideal. The making-process of this movie was unexpectedly impacted by a recent and tragic event that hit Noon. This incident acted as a creation trigger, blending this documentary with dramatic events. How can an artistic approach pull one away from extremism? Some fiction was introduced in this documentary by another character, Noonz: Noon's doppelganger acting as his (evil) conscience.

BELGIUM	USA
Once Upon A Time: The Savannah Robert Henno Wildlife/Nature/Animals	RCTV: El Silencio De La Dignidad Susanna Taddei Social Issues
Masai Mara – Kenya. The sun rises and ignites the Savannah. A new day begins for all the animals who live in this habitat. The film invites you to follow a few of them over the course of the day. The birth of an antelope calf, lions on the hunt, mother cheetahs and lionesses who tend to their new-borns, as well as the solidarity and bravery of buffaloes when they attempt to save one of their young from the claws of big cats are just a few of the scenes from their everyday lives that you will discover.	Un film que partiendo de imágenes inéditas de la última noche de Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV) al aire, nos enseña cómo después de una década de represión hemos terminado con un país atrapado en una dictadura donde reina la injusticia, la violencia y el hambre. Donde, además, más de 140 presos políticos actualmente se encuentran aislados de sus familias en las más inhumanas condiciones! Ms Taddei and Ms Larralde are the founders of Girasol Productions and Girasol Foundation - an organization dedicated to give free acting classes to children whose families are going thru a devastating illness, have special needs, or have been the victims of bullying. They won a KIPPU Award in 2014 (for their philanthropic efforts to help cancer patients), were nominated for an Emmy in 2016, won the GLAAD Media Award in 2017 and have been selected for several Festivals with this, their first documentary.

USA	AUSTRIA	AUSTRALIA
My Amish World Samuel Wickey Docu-Drama Feature	La Famille - one afternoon for the whole life Maximiliane Nirschl Docu-drama Short	Leaf Damon McDonald Social Issues
A film produced and directed by an Amish man, Samuel Wickey. In this incredible story based on true events, the mother and father are overwhelmed with emotion when their children are severely bullied in a public school, and the father wants his family to leave the Amish. In this story about an Amish family struggling with the upbringing of a boy born with an enigmatic mental disorder, they are gripped by fear and astonishment when they witness the boy has unusual artistic abilities. The mother and father are deeply concerned since their strict Amish religion, teaches that any form of artistic expression is forbidden. The boy and his siblings are raised by a mother who cannot embrace them, praise them or even say I love you. They must only pray that God heals them. In a family deeply ingrained in a religion where parents are forbidden to express love for their children, the father breaks the chains of fear and oppression to allow hope, the expression of love and freedom to leave the Amish.	Jean Pierre V. was only 10 years old when he stumbled upon the family secret for the first time. What follows are years of searching, searching for the truth about his own family’s history as well as the truth about his own roots. “La Famille” follows the real historical events between 1914 and today, which were shaped by the Franco-German conflict of that time. It is a story about forlorn love and a scattered family in between the ups and downs of war, reconciliation and friendship. Maximiliane Nirschl is a german director and multimedia artist. She grew up in Bavaria, Germany and graduated from the University of Applied Sciences Salzburg (Austria) in Film in 2017. In 2016 she was assistant at the Studio Olafur Eliasson in Berlin. Since 2013, Maximiliane Nirschl directs and produces diverse films and multimedia projects, including short films, documentaries, motion graphic works and art/experimental films. She works closely with Claudia Diwold and Claudia Wahlmüller, both austrian multimedia artists.	An emotional look at the current medical cannabis framework as seen through the eyes of very sick children, their parents and those who break the law to care for them. Australia has now "legalised" medical cannabis but the regulations and red tape makes it virtually impossible to access by those who need it most. For those who can access it the cost is prohibitive. Parents, patients and carers are still considered criminals and they continue to defy the law. They have been arrested and charged with serious criminal offences for taking a position of selfless compassion for those who they love and care for.

INDIA	UK	USA
NOOR - Quen Of Ranthambore Porus Khareghat Wildlife/Nature/Animals Award Of Outstanding Excellence: Cinematography	Planet Earth 2: Grasslands Chadden Hunter Wildlife/Nature/Animals Award Of Outstanding Excellence: Cinematography Award Of Excellence: Original Score	Real Immunity Cilla Whatcott Health
NOOR is a short film on the life of a mother Tigress with three female cubs . It is a tribute to her skills of motherhood , loving & caring at the same time a perfect assasin to provide food for four . It shows the true nature of the jungle , survival of the fittest .	Grasslands cover one quarter of all land and support vast gatherings of wildlife, but to survive here animals must endure the most hostile seasonal changes on the planet. From Asia's bizarre-looking saiga antelope to the giant anteaters of Brazil, grassland animals have adapted in extraordinary ways to cope with these extremes. In the flooded Okavango, lions take on formidable buffalo in epic battles, on the savannah bee-eaters take advantage of elephants to help catch insects and, on the freezing northern tundra, caribou embark on great migrations shadowed by hungry Arctic wolves.	Real Immunity is a documentary feature focusing upon dispelling the fear surrounding disease, encouraging viewers to trust their intuition, and empowering viewers with valuable natural resources including "homeoprophylaxis," the 200-year-old method of safe disease prevention

USA	USA	USA
Without Papers Andres A. Parra Social Issues	Bill Evans Time Remembered Bruce Spiegel Biography	Connection In Crisis Dennis Zaidi Human Spirit - WIldlife/Nature/Animals Also Award of Outstanding Excellence for both main categories.
Without Papers is a story of triumph, a documentary that highlights the struggles of Johana, a young and bright immigrant from Venezuela, who has been living in the US for more than 20 years… without papers.	Bill Evans Time Remembered is a 90-minute documentary film, produced by Bruce Spiegel which tells the story of Bill Evans’ turbulent life and his contribution to jazz music. The film was self-funded by the producer who traveled and interviewed approximately 40 people over a 7 year period of time. Several well renowned musicians are included in the film including Tony Bennett, Dr. Billy Taylor, singer Jon Hendricks, and jazz pianist Bill Charlap. The film also compiles a wide range of historical information about the jazz pianist including his first TV recording which appeared on CBS Look Up and Live in April 1958, playing Come Rain or Come Shine.	Born in the aftermath of the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, this remarkable team of psychological first aid trauma dogs, the K9 First Responsers, are called upon after America's worst tragedies. Led by Brad Cole and his encaptivating 150 pound dog Spartacus, the story culminates in a journey to Las Vegas to help firefighters and paramedics struggling to cope with the horrors they witnessed after the shooting outside the Mandalay Bay Hotel. The project has over 75,000 followers and can bring attention and new viewers to festivals.
CANADA Storm Hunters: Lake of Fire The Weather Network Environmental - WIldlife Science Award of Outstanding Excellence in ALL three Categories. NO TRAILER AVAILABLE Mark Robinson and adventurer George Kourounis embark on a nail biting expedition as they attempt a climb to the bottom of Marum Volcano in the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu.	CANADA NO POSTER AVAILABLE Captured: Tornadoes The Weather Network Environmental - Science Award of Outstanding Excellence in Both Categories NO TRAILER AVAILABLE Tornadoes; they are the embodiment of severe weather. In this episode we show some of the most terrifying weather caught on camera; from surviving a direct hit to a tornado in a typhoon.

¡Salud! Myths and Realities of Mexican Immigrant Health	USA	Health	Outstanding Excellence
¿Cómo fue? A Cuban Journey	USA	Human Spirit Biography	Outstanding Excellence BOTH Award of Excellence:Editing Award of Excellence: Viewer Impact: Motivational/Inspirational
Amended Shards	USA	Health	Outstanding Excellence Award of Outstanding Excellence:Viewer Impact: Content/Message Delivery Award of Outstanding Excellence:Viewer Impact: Motivational/Inspirational
Before Petrichor	USA	Health	Outstanding Excellence Award Of Outstanding Excellence: Viewer Impact:Content/Message Delivery Award Of Outstanding Excelence: Viewer Impact:Motivational/Inspirational
Endgame - a film about assisted dying	UK	Social Issues	Outstanding Excellence
Photographers Without Borders TV: HAART Kenya	Canada	Social Issues	Outstanding Excellence
Sister Elisabeth - The Strength of Faith	Canada	Biography	Outstanding Excellence and Award Of Excellence Viewer Impact: Motivational/Inspirational
Social Entrepreneurs: New Heroes of the 21st Century	Singapore	Social Issues	Outstanding Excellence
The Kurdish Factor	USA	Revolution and Reform	Outstanding Excellence
The Oyster Farmers	USA	Environmental	Outstanding Excellence
The Wall Within	Mexico	Social Issues	Outstanding Excellence

A River Film	Canada	Environmental	Excellence Award Of Excellence: Cinematography Award Of Excellence: Narration
25 TRACKS	AU	Travel/Culture/Arts	Excellence
Araucaria Araucana	France	Wildlife/Nature/Animals	Excellence Award of Excellence: Cinematography
Beyond The Border the story of Ettore Castiglioni	Italy	Docu-Drama Feature	Excellence
Code Green	USA	Docu-drama Short	Excellence
Darkhad Valley	USA	Environmental	Excellence
Did You Hear Me Crying	Ireland	Docu-Drama Short	Excellence
Discovering Heaven	Canada	Biography	Excellence
EMILIA, an untold Cuban American story	USA	Biography	Excellence
I'm The White Tiger	USA	Biography	Excellence Award of Excellence: Cinematography, Thomas Sandfield Award of Excellence: editing, Jason Calhoun
MARE NOSTRUM - A Concert. A Journey.	Switzerland	Travel/Culture/Arts	Excellence
Mightier Than the Sword	Canada	Social Issues	Excellence
Mrs. Schneider	USA	Human Spirit - Docudrama Short	Excellence Both categories
Nyima	USA	Social Issues	Excellence
Of Rails & Sails - The Life and Times of Arthur Curtiss James	USA	Docudrama Feature	Excellence Award of Excellence: Research Award Of Excellence: Narration
Operation Wedding	Israel	Human Spirit	Excellence
Out Of The Cage	France	Social Issues	Excellence
Out of the Darkness, Congo Unites	USA	Revolution and Reform	Excellence
Queens of the Roleo	USA	Docu-Drama Feature	Excellence
Recovering Hope	USA	Social Issues	Excellence Award of Excellence: Direction
Shadow Across The Path	USA	Human Spirit	Excellence
Shadows In The Closet	USA	Social Issues and Docu-drama Feature	Excellence for Both Caregories
Snowmads - A Journey Towards Eastern Suns	Austria	Travel/Culture/Arts	Excellence
The Color Of The Current	PERU	Social Issues	Excellence
The Last Mile	Japan	Health	Excellence
The Limits Of My World	USA	Human Spirit	Excellence
The Opium War	Myanmar	Social Issues	Excellence
The Purple Road	USA	Social Issues	Excellence
The Road to Nickelsville	USA	Social Issues Human Spirit	Excellence for Both categories Award of Excellence:Viewer Impact: Motivational/Inspirational Award Of Excellence:Viewer Impact: Content/Message Delivery
The Tenth Step	USA	Human Spirit - Health - Biography - Travel /Culture/Arts	Excellence all 3 Categories Award of Excellence: Viewer Impact:Motivational/Inspirational
Whatever Works: Exploring Opiate Addiction	USA	Youth Issues	Excellence
Possibility: The Space Between Limits	USA	Human Spirit	Excellence

78waythere	USA	Human Spirit	Exceptional Merit
A Way Out	USA	Social Issues	Exceptional Merit
An American House	USA	Social Issues	Exceptional Merit
ATOUSA	USA	Human Spirit & Docudrama Short	Exceptional Merit BOTH
Beyond the Bars	USA	Human Spirit	Exceptional merit
Beyond The Beyonds	Ireland	Biography	Exceptional Merit
Birth and Rise of Jazz	USA	Travel/Culture/Arts	Exceptional Merit
Cambodia and Jimmy's Village School	AU	Docu-drama Short	Exceptional Merit
Casting Music	India	Social Issues	Exceptional Merit
Confluir	USA	Environmental	Exceptional Merit
Daughter of the Revolution	Hungary	Revolution and Reform	Exceptional Merit
Day Zero	USA	Health	Exceptional Merit Award of Excellence: Viewer Impact:Motivational/Inspirational
Drugs as Weapons Against Us: The CIA War on Musicians and Activists	USA	Social Issues	Exceptional Merit Award Of Excellence: Research
Equilibrium Of Diving	USA	Wildlife/nature/animals	Exceptional Merit
Free the Forgotten: Whispers into Shouts	USA	Revolution and Reform	Exceptional Merit
Homeless in the South	USA	Docu-drama Feature	Exceptional Merit
I am Gary	USA	Docu-drama Short	Exceptional Merit
I Am Shakespeare (The Henry Green Story)	USA	Biography	Exceptional Merit
Life Is Art	AU	Biography	Exceptional Merit AWARD of Exceptional Merit:Original Score
Malka	UK	Docu-drama Short	Exceptional Merit Award of Excellence: Original Score and Motivational Inspirational
Monsieur et Madame Piccioli	France	Social Issues	Exceptional Merit
MYKONOS, THE SOUL OF AN ISLAND	USA	Travel/Culture/Arts	Exceptional merit
Nectar	USA	Human Spirit	Exceptional Merit
On Some Strange Mornings	USA	Biography	Exceptional Merit
Paris - Cannes - Orleans	Russian Federation	Social Issues	Exceptional Merit
Pass To Heaven	Russian Federation	Social Issues	Exceptional Merit
Power Of Prayer	USA	Social Issues	Exceptional Merit
Pull Your Pants Up	USA	Youth Issues	Exceptional Merit
Running	USA	Sports	Exceptional merit
Running A.t. Full Speed	USA	Human Spirit	Exceptional Merit
Save the bees	UK	Wildlife/Nature/Animals	Exceptional Merit Award of Excellence: Cinematography
Tell Me About My Mother	USA	Human Spirit	Exceptional Merit
Teta	USA	Human Spirit	Exceptional Merit
The Art of the Journey - The Ben Jones Story	USA	Social Issues	Exceptional Merit
The Ultimate Triathlon	UK	Sports	Exceptional Merit
The Wall's Embrace	USA	Human Spirit	Exceptional Merit
Threads Of Hope	USA	Docu-Drama Short	Exceptional Merit
Tomorrow is Gonna Be OK	France	Social Issues	Exceptional Merit
Vivian, Vivian	Netherlands	Social Issues	Exceptional Merit
When I Stutter	USA	Health	Exceptional Merit

After Grandma Died	USA	Human Spirit	Merit
An Artist's Journey	USA	Human Spirit	Merit
Ben Schore: A life in the Upper Valley	USA	Human Spirit	Merit
Birmingham's Phenomenal Woman	UK	Human Spirit	Merit Award of Exceptional Merit: Motivational/Inspirational
Call Us Ishmael	USA	Travel/Culture/Arts	Merit
Charkpen (Hope)	Spain	Environmental	Merit
Designing From Above	USA	Human Spirit	Merit
Escape from freedom	Italy	Social Issues	Merit
ITHACA (Portrait of James Joyce with Erik Schneider	Switzerland	Biography	Merit
Kaele hem Hachayim nekuda such is life period	Israel	Biography	Merit
Life In A Fistful Of Rice	India	Travel/Culture/Arts	Merit
Light the fire	Germany	Environmental	Merit Award of Excellence: Original Score
Lost Records	Portugal	Docu-drama Feature	Merit Award of Merit: Cinematography Award of Exceptional Merit: Narration Talent Award of Exceptional Merit: Direction
Make The Most Of Me	UK	Human Spirit	Merit
Mastering Health Insurance	USA	Health	Merit Award of Excellence: Content/Message Delivery
Mother Tongue	USA	Travel/Culture/Arts	Merit
Nature Electric	UK	Environmental	Merit
On the same boat	Italy	Social Issues	Merit
One Less Fight	USA	Biography	Merit
Open Arms	USA	Social Issues	Merit
Peace be with you	USA	Human Spirit	Merit
Person of the Forest	USA	Wildlife/Nature/Animals	Merit
Queen of the Porn Show	Mexico	Human Spirit	Merit
Studio Harmattan	Germany	Travel/Culture/Arts	Merit
Switching Rhythm	Canada	Health	Merit
Tamil Stories	New Zealand	Human Spirit	Merit
The Hammonton Boys	USA	Docu-drama Feature	Merit
The Laundry Room	France	Docu-drama Short	Merit
Tough Cracker	Germany	Biography	Merit
Travelogue Tel Aviv	Switzerland	Travel/Culture/Arts	Merit
Who is he?	AU	Biography	Merit
Without Water	USA	Health	Merit
Seyyed Jeffrey Mahan	Iran	Biography	Merit

TAM 4500	Montenegro	Human Spirit	Kudos
The IMPACT of Full Heart Living LIVE!	USA	Travel/Culture/Arts	Kudos

SUB CATEGORIES

Calm In Chaos	Canada	Sub Cat Viewer Impact: Motivational/Inspirational	Award Of Exceptional Merit
The New Barbarianism	USA	Sub Cat Viewer Impact: Content/Message Delivery	Award Of Excellence
Ballad of a Righteous Merchant	USA	SUB Cat Direction	Award of Excellence