Kiss the Ground – Josh Tickell and Rebecca Tickell

Josh Tickell and Rebecca Tickell (USA), Kiss the Ground, Doc Feature – Narrated by Oscar-nominee and Emmy winner Woody Harrelson – Kiss the Ground is positioned to catalyze a movement to accomplish the impossible – to solve humanity’s greatest challenge, to balance the climate and secure our species future. It reveals that, by regenerating the world’s soils, we can completely and rapidly stabilize Earth’s climate, restore lost ecosystems and create abundant food supplies. Using compelling graphics and visuals, along with striking NASA and NOAA footage, the film artfully illustrates how, by drawing down atmospheric carbon, soil is the missing piece of the climate puzzle. Compelling and well laid out by the directors – it includes persuasive scientific research and real solutions. Engaging activists such as Oscar-winner Patricia Arquette, SAG-Winner Ian Somerhalder, Emmy-nominee David Arquette, Grammy winner (and agroforestry farmer) Jason Mraz, ALMA Award winner Rosario Dawson and UK Goodwill Ambassador Gisele Bündchen, invigorate a new sense of hope and inspiration. Airing Netflix.

Tim Neeves (United Kingdom), Brave Blue World, Doc Feature – Engagingly narrated by Oscar-nominee Liam Neeson – Brave Blue World explores the technologies and innovations that have the potential to solve the world’s water crisis, ensure water for everyone and protect the environment. Deftly researched and directed it was filmed across five continents, and weaves together previously un-told stories, leading water experts and high-profile activists Oscar-winner Matt Damon, (co-founder of Water.org) and actor/musician BET-winner Jaden Smith, (co-founder of 501CThree) It is an optimistic picture of how humanity is adopting new innovations for managing water. Paul O’Callaghan, Executive Producer and Co-director. (Netflix)

Samuel L. Jackson, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Simcha Jacobovici, Ric Esther Bienstock, Sarah Sapper, Yaron Niski, Eli Selden, Rob Lee & Felix Golubev, Associated Producers Ltd., Cornelia Street Productions, UppiTV & Anonymous Content (Canada & United Kingdom), Enslaved: The Lost History of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, Doc Series Ep 2. A look at 400 years of human trafficking from Africa to the New World, from the perspective of three different storylines. Oscar-nominee Samuel L Jackson, journalist Afua Hirsch and investigative journalist Emmy-winner Simcha Jacobovici follow the route of the slave trade exposing the unspeakable horrors of slavery. Alongside their journey are the efforts of the modern-day activists Diving with a Purpose, as they locate slave ships that went down with their human cargo and the tusks of poached elephants. The parallel stories serve as a springboard to highlight the narrative of the ideology, economics and politics of slavery (EPIX Original series)

Louise Hogarth (USA), Elephant Refugees, Doc Feature – Oscar-winner Hogarth’s unflinching look at the elephant migration crisis in Botswana. Narrated by BAFTA-nominee Jerome Flynn it documents the tragic realities of unintended consequences and the triumphs and heartaches of the Moller family as they struggle to provide water to as many as 400 elephants a day.

Andrew Goldberg (USA), Viral: Antisemitism in Four Mutations, Doc Feature – Emmy-winner Goldberg‘s chilling doc about the terrifying rise of global antisemitism in ways not seen since the 1930s. Superbly crafted from research to production. Narration by Golden Globe-winner Julianna Margulies, interviews with President Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, Fareed Zakaria, George Will and more. (Aired PBS)

Bruce Parry (United Kingdom), Tawai, A Voice from the Forest, Doc Feature – BAFTA-winner and Explorer Bruce Parry’s immersive odyssey with indigenous peoples, exploring ways humans relate to nature and how this influences our societies. From the forests of the Borneo to India to England – is an achingly honest deep dive into the heart of our collective conscience.

Sara Ganim (USA), No Defense, Doc Feature – Pulitzer-Prize-winner Ganim delivers a story that is at once hard-hitting and deeply troubling – the usage of highly toxic PFAS by the U. S. military that contaminated waterways, causing countless illnesses and deaths in the community. Outstanding research, excellent pacing and heartbreaking stories punctuate this poignant doc.

Jon Kroll and Scott Templeton (USA), From Hell to Hollywood, Doc Feature – Emmy-winner Kross and Templeton deliver the incredible story of Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Nick Ut, whose famous photo is credited with helping to end the Vietnam War. Spanning the decades between the war and his retirement from the AP 50 years later – this exceptionally crafted doc is as entertaining as it is poignant.

Paul Taublieb, TAUBLIEB Films (USA), Blink of an Eye: Triumph to Tragedy the Greatest Sports Story Never Told, Doc Feature – Emmy-winner Taublieb’s doc transcends sports as it tells the triumph-to-tragedy tale of  NASCAR underdog Michael Waltrip and the iconic Dale Earnhardt. Compellingly crafted, a poignant look at heroism, truth and the power of someone believing in you.

Brendan FitzGerald and Nick August-Perna (USA), The Oxy Kingpins, Doc Feature – Emmy-nominee Fitzgerald and August-Perna uncover the untold story of how a network of pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, and retailers worked together to orchestrate and perpetuate the opioid crisis that has killed over half a million people in America. Deftly directed and insightful.

Royal Kennedy Rodgers, Kathy McCampbell Vance, Shirlyn A. Cesar, Michelle Merker and Niki Alilovic (USA), Hollywood’s Architect: The Paul R. Williams Story, Doc Feature – Excellent direction from Emmy-winners Vance and Rodgers – follows African American architect Paul R. Williams and his talent, determination and charm used to defy the odds in segregated America. With Oscar-nominated Quincy Jones.

Ricardo Nogueira and Raquel Martins (Portugal), The Heirs, Doc Feature – A heart-wrenching and heart-warming look at an “illegal” neighborhood in Portugal that is being torn down and displacing its community of emigrants from Cape Verde – many have been there for decades. A skillfully crafted narrative and potent interviews with a focus on fundamental truths and values shared by all humans.

Rod Aloras (Sweden), The Flame of Memory, Doc Short – A portrait of Holocaust Survivor David Galante as he recounts his experiences WWII that he kept secret for 50 years. It is the story of tragedy, fierce determination and an unabated desire for life and love. Directed with subtle precision – it is both personally inspiring as well as a cautionary tale against the rise of fascism in our current times.

Adam Rowley (United Kingdom), The Vastness, Documentary Feature
Adrian Harrison (United Kingdom), 94 [8000 ONE-OFFS], Documentary Short
Alex McCall (United Kingdom), THE DARK SHADOW OF MURDER, Documentary Feature
Anthony Stengel, Stengel Media (USA), Make Art Wyoming, Editing
Brandon Moore (USA), DENNIS: The Man Who Legalized Cannabis, Documentary Short, History / Biographical, Health / Medicine / Science, LGBT
Bryan Reinhart (USA), Forever Wild, Documentary Feature
Charles Vinick, Dr. Lori Marino, Michael Mountain and Matt Stamm, The Whale Sanctuary Project (USA), Whales Without Walls, Documentary Short
Cheryl Halpern (USA), Remembering: The Maurits Kiek Story, Documentary Feature
Chris Hite and Dennis Ford (USA), FireStorm ’77: The True Story of the Honda Canyon Fire, History / Biographical
Craig Leeson (Hong Kong), The Last Glaciers, Documentary Feature
David Álvarez and Jorge Álvarez Chachero (Spain), Twilight of the river king, Documentary Feature, Nature / Environment / Wildlife
Dušan Davidov (Slovakia), The Wetland, Documentary Feature
Gary Null and Valerie Van Cleve (USA), Last Call for Tomorrow, Documentary Feature

Gregory Lovett and Matthijs Heesemans (USA), 12th Street, Documentary Feature
Harvey Moshman and Chuck Coppola (USA), EASTLAND: The Shipwreck That Shook America, Documentary Feature, History / Biographical
Hassan Lakhdar (Switzerland), The Talking Ear, Disability Issues
James Redford (USA), Playing for Keeps, Documentary Feature
Jennifer Fearnley (United Kingdom), The Sky Will Not Fall, Documentary Short
John Wellington Ennis (USA), Fish in a Barrel, Documentary Feature
Jon Kroll and Scott Templeton (USA), From Hell to Hollywood, History / Biographical
Joseph Pelegreen and Matthew Lang (USA), Mamakrom, Documentary Feature
Judith Vecchione (USA), Blood Sugar Rising, Documentary Feature, Health / Medicine / Science, Contemporary Issues / Awareness Raising
Katherin Hervey (USA), The Prison Within, Documentary Feature
Laure Quinlivan (USA), Blue Goes Green: Net Zero Police Station, Documentary Short, Script / Writer
Mark Gordon (USA), Awakening In Taos, Documentary Feature, Script / Writer

Matthew Linker (USA), The Founder’s Story, Documentary Short
Matthew Taylor (USA), Safeguard: An Electoral College Story, Documentary Feature
Melanie de Klerk, Sophie Lui and Ron Coldham (Canada), Get Lost in Colombia, Documentary Short
Michael Mazzanti (USA), D-REP: Fight for Life, Documentary Feature
Nick Taussig and Riccardo Servini, Salon Pictures (United Kingdom), A Space in Time, Documentary Feature
Nico Weber (Germany), INSIDE PRORA, Documentary Feature
Paul Roberts (USA), Diagnosing Healthcare, Documentary Feature
Richard Wicksteed (South Africa), SanDance! A Journey to the Heart of San Culture, Documentary Feature, Native American / Aboriginal Peoples
Rob Villanueva, RVSF Inc. (USA), California Rising, Documentary Short
Robert Griffith (USA), The Judge – Character, Cases, Courage, Documentary Feature, History / Biographical
Robin Hauser (USA), $avvy, Documentary Feature, Use of Film / Video for Social Change, Contemporary Issues / Awareness Raising
Rod Aloras (Sweden), The Flame of Memory, Viewer Impact: Content / Message Delivery

Rodrigo Thome (Brazil), The Ocean Voice, Documentary Short, Nature / Environment / Wildlife
Royal Kennedy Rodgers, Kathy McCampbell Vance, Shirlyn A. Cesar, Michelle Merker and Niki Alilovic (USA), Hollywood’s Architect: The Paul R. Williams Story, History / Biographical
Sally Ingleton (Australia), WILD THINGS, Documentary Feature
Sambuddha Mitra Mustafi (India), For All, We Care, Documentary Feature
Samuel L. Jackson, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Simcha Jacobovici, Ric Esther Bienstock, Sarah Sapper, Yaron Niski, Eli Selden, Rob Lee & Felix Golubev, Associated Producers Ltd., Cornelia Street Productions, UppiTV & Anonymous Content (Canada & United Kin, Enslaved: The Lost History of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, Documentary Feature, Cinematography, Direction, History / Biographical
Steven Maes (USA), Caffeine & Gasoline: Evolution of the American Rocker, Documentary Feature
Sue Sudbury (United Kingdom), Indian Space Dreams, Documentary Feature
Susan Scott and Bonné de Bod (South Africa), Kingdoms of Fire, Ice & Fairy Tales, Documentary Feature, On-Camera Talent (Bonné de Bod), Narration / Voice-Over Talent (Bonné de Bod)
Tristan Loraine and Beth Moran (United Kingdom), Everybody Flies, Documentary Feature, Contemporary Issues / Awareness Raising
Willa Kammerer (USA), Starting at Zero: Reimagining Education in America, Documentary Feature, Women Filmmakers

Click the laurels for AWARD OF MERIT winners

Click the laurels for AWARD OF RECOGNITION winners