“JOANNA” AND “VEGAS” ANNOUNCED FINALISTS OF THE CINEMA EYE HONORS AWARDS

On 25 September, the list of ten finalists of the Cinema Eye Honors awards in the Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Short Filmmaking category was announced. On the list, there is the award-winning documentary "Joanna" by Aneta Kopacz and the film "Vegas" by Łukasz Konopa, produced in Great Britain.

The short list of ten documentary films – candidates for the Cinema Eye Honors awards in the Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Short Filmmaking was announced on 25 September, on the opening day of Camden International Film Festival, the partner festival of CEH. The ten finalists were chosen by a jury consisting of: Karen Cirillo (True/False Film Festival), Charlotte Cook (Hot Docs), Hussain Currimbhoy (Sheffield Doc/Fest), Cara Cusumano (Tribeca), Ben Fowlie (Camden International Film Festival), Claudette Godfrey (SXSW), Doug Jones (Los Angeles Film Festival), Ted Mott (Full Frame), Veton Nurkollari (Dokufest Kosovo), Rachel Rosen (San Francisco), Sky Sitney (AFI Docs) and Kim Yutani Corporation (Sundance).

Among the Cinema Eye Honors finalists there are two films by Polish directors: "Joanna" by Aneta Kopacz, produced by Wajda School, and the student film by Łukasz Konopa, "Vegas," produced by the British National Film and Television School. These and other eight films from the short list will be screened at Camden International Film Festival. On 12 November, five nominated films will be selected out of the final ten at the CPH:DOX festival. The names of the winners will be announced during the Cinema Eye Honors gala in January 2015.

"Joanna" is one of the most frequently awarded documentary films this year – it has already been shown at over 30 festival screenings and awarded over 20 times. Joanna – the eponymous protagonist – relishes every moment in spite of being diagnosed with a serious illness. She promised her five-year-old son that she would do anything to be with him as long as possible. She does not give up. For Jaś, she writes a blog in which she describes their everyday life – in a simple and accurate way. The blog itself inspires many readers to attentive, happy life.

The film "Vegas" had its international premiere at the Canadian festival Hot Docs, in Poland it was shown for the first time at the 54th Krakow Film Festival. So far, it participated in many important international film festivals such as DOK. Leipzig, Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and Docaviv. Travis, Patrick and Alex – the protagonists of "Vegas" – are people for whom the American dream has bitter taste. Sparingly using artistic expression, "Vegas" shows unknown "backstage" of the place whose hallmark is casinos, expensive hotels and restaurants.

Cinema Eye Honors awards has been given to the best documentary films since 2008. For a film to be nominated for the award, it must be shown at any on the following film festivals: Sundance, Berlin, True/False, SXSW, Full Frame, Tribeca, Hot Docs, Cannes, Silverdocs, Los Angeles, Toronto, Sheffield and IDFA. Candidates for Cinema Eye Honors awards are selected by the representatives of large documentary film festivals, and the winners are chosen every year by about 200 representatives of documentary film industry, invited to vote by Cinema Eye.

You can find the full list of the finalists of Cinema Eye Honors here.