FOCAL Awards 2025 Booklet

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The future of production lies in the past

THE FOCAL AWARDS 2025 HOST: LUCY PORTER

FOCAL International Team:

Mary Egan - Director of Operations

Sebastian Martin - Business Coordinator

FOCAL International Executive Council

Members

Obi Adumekwe, Bobby Dicks, Bríd Dooley, Chris Fossey, Jo Griffin, Kate Griffiths, Richard Goldthorpe, Chris Hulse, Amanda Huntley, Ben Jones, Martin Lisius, Kathy Manners, Richard Remsberg

Described as ‘charmingly effervescent’, Lucy Porter is a comedian whose bright and friendly persona can win over any audience. With a disarmingly warm and chatty style Lucy delivers her thoughts and observations on life, love and how odd the world can be like a longstanding and sometimes indiscreet friend. Lucy has gathered a strong following and excellent reputation on the live circuit, and her Edinburgh shows are invariably a sell-out. Also at Edinburgh and away from comedy, Lucy starred alongside Christian Slater in the stage version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

Video Editor: Sebastian Martin, FOCAL International

Programme Designer: Adrienne Kuster

Photography: Sponsored by Picsel and Shutterstock

Film Crew: Stone & Glow | www.stoneandglow.com

A MESSAGE FROM FOCAL:

In 2025, FOCAL International proudly celebrates its 40th anniversary, and we are delighted to welcome you to the 22nd Annual FOCAL International Awards.

As we mark four decades of championing the preservation, access, and creative use of archival footage, we are honoured to welcome you to this milestone edition of our annual awards. These Awards are dedicated to celebrating the enduring power of archival storytelling and its significant contribution to the creative and cultural industries. We are proud to recognise the invaluable work of archive professionals, researchers, producers, and filmmaker, those who bring historical content to life and make it relevant for today’s audiences. From branded content to cinematic features, archive-driven productions continue to grow in both number and impact, a trend clearly reflected in the increasing volume and diversity of submissions since the Awards began in 2004.

This evening, we honour 61 outstanding shortlisted nominees across 14 award categories, highlighting the versatility and global relevance of archival content. We extend our deepest thanks to our dedicated jurors who spent countless hours reviewing submissions, as well as to our generous sponsors whose support makes this event possible. We are also pleased to return once again to the National Film and Television School, where we continue our commitment to supporting and inspiring the next generation of talent in our industry. And of course, heartfelt thanks go to the volunteers and committee members who helped bring this evening to life.

Tonight is a celebration of our industry, the passionate individuals and teams who champion archive in all its forms. We hope you enjoy the evening and join us in honouring the past, celebrating the present, and inspiring the future of archival storytelling.

THANK YOU TO THE JURORS:

James Barker, Morgane Barrier, Orianne Bastar, Lisa Bergers, Elizabeth Bowley, Lou Burkart, Marie-Pierre Burquier, Camille Carlier, Gonzalo Chacon-Mora, Simon Clark, Sandra Coelho, Paul Collard, Nell Cunningham, Kalbir Dhillon, Harkiran Dhindsa, Adam Dunlop, Raye Farr, Jane Fish, Sophie Fisher, Colm Forde, Daniel Glynn, Manuel Heller, Richard Higgins, Rosie Holliday, Marta Houske, Luna Jagger, Ben Jones, Francis Jones, Fiona Kelly, Brandon Krajewski, Maxine Krawczyk, Gintare Kriauceliunaite, Adrienne Kuster, Kate Lingley, Charlotte Mackie, James Macmillian, Stephen Maier, Sue Malden, Cian Martin, Emily Mayson, Paul McClintock, Maisie McGregor, Massimo Moretti, Susan Munns, Shane M O'Sullivan, Elspeth Parsons, Monika Preischl, Sam Quinn, Raelene Rawlings, Charlotte Ross, Valentina Rossetto, Evangeline Rouse, Angela Saward, Lee Shoulders, Angela Spindler-Brown, Andrew Stevens, Jo Stones, Mark Tinkler, Helen Upcraft, David Walsh, Eleanor Wass, Holly Webster, Claire West, Simon Withington, Olivia Yardley, Nina Żabicka

FOCAL INTERNATIONAL LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 2025: DECLAN SMITH

Declan Smith has been at the forefront of the archive industry for over four decades. He began his career at the BBC Film Library in the early 1980s, establishing himself as a "film researcher" long before the role was widely acknowledged as an essential part of television production. By the late 1980s and early 1990s, Declan was contributing to groundbreaking programmes such as Channel 4’s The Media Show and the BBC/A&E series Reputations, which set new standards for the use of archival content in broadcast storytelling.

His expertise was later brought to bear on several of Norma Percy’s landmark documentary series, including Endgame in Ireland, Inside Obama’s White House, and Putin, Russia and the West—all widely acclaimed for their depth and integrity. More recently, Declan worked on Commonwealth on Film, which won a FOCAL International Award in 2014.

Declan's body of work spans an impressive range of historical, musical, and arts documentaries. Known for his meticulous research, linguistic agility, and global network, he has consistently unearthed rare and compelling footage that has elevated countless productions. Beyond his own contributions, Declan has been a generous mentor, guiding and supporting the next generation of archive producers with wisdom and encouragement.

With a career marked by major credits, industry accolades, and a lasting influence on the evolution of archive research, Declan Smith's legacy is one of passion, excellence, and pioneering spirit.

FOCAL International stated:

"We are thrilled to celebrate Declan Smith as this year's esteemed FOCAL Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Through his remarkable body of work and unwavering commitment, Declan has not only been a pioneer but also a passionate advocate for the archive industry. His contributions have left an indelible mark, shaping the future of the field and inspiring countless professionals. This honour is a testament to his exceptional dedication and lasting impact."

Best Archive Restoration and Preservation Project or Title

‘A Lovely Day for Digital Preservation’: Guinness Archive adverts project

Synopsis: The aim of the project was to digitise, remaster and preserve the Guinness advertising legacy of television adverts on film and make the collection publicly accessible. The collection captures moments in cultural and social history spanning a 40 year period, and offers an insight in changing representations of Irishness both at home and overseas.

Archival highlights: The collection is of huge national importance spanning 40 years of history and many of the adverts have not been seen since they aired on TV. Guinness wanted to ensure the future legacy of this material and allow it to be available publicly for the first time. Guinness now have their entire film collection digitised for the first time ever and available publicly which was an important part of the legacy.

Production Company: R3store Studios Ltd

The Making of Do They Know It’s

Christmas?

The Mahabharata in 8K

Synopsis: The Mahabharata is a 1989 film version of the Hindu epic Mahabharata directed by Peter Brook. Brook's original 1985 stage play was 9 hours long, and toured around the world for four years. In this story of a timeless conflict between two warring families, the stakes are cosmic. Brothers turn against brothers as both sides are divided by anger and revenge. All are descendants of kings and gods and vie for supremacy.

Archival highlights: Peter Brook's 1989 film of the Mahabharata is a monumental endeavor to bring the vast and intricate epic to the screen. Based on the nine-hour stage version, the film distills the complex narrative into a compelling format that captures the essence of the Mahabharata's themes: duty, righteousness, and the complexity of human nature, whilst using a multiracial cast of actors whose performances strive for a universal appeal. Praised for its ambition and vision, the film "The Mahabharata" remains a testament to Brook's artistic achievement.

The Mahabharata premiered at the 1989 Venice Film Festival as part of the Official Selection and enjoyed a successful international release before disappearing from screens. This restoration is the first full 8K restoration in France, and has been a great artistic and technical challenge.

Production Company: TransPerfect Media France / Brook Productions

Synopsis: For 40 years the song ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ had been illustrated by a 4’33”pop video. The remaining 10 or so hours of 16mm footage shot on the day was put into storage. A mix of negs, prints, cuttings copies and trims, some with audio, some with separate magnetic tracks, plus a continuous recording of the talkback between the control room and studio. All languishing in battered boxes and cans, many with mismatched labels. There was no inventory, no shot list, no clue as to what was there. And most of it had never been seen before.

Archival highlights: Having started with a perfunctory glance at a few of the cans to see if it was worth The Band Aid Trust paying to keep storing them, and up to the finished result, this film was 6 years in the making. The Trust had to be persuaded of the value of the material but remained convinced that no-one would be interested in it, certainly not a broadcaster. Nevertheless, because the Trust has a channel on YouTube, where a comprehensive account of the recording process would reach a substantial audience, I set about making the film in stages, by stealth. It was only when Bob Geldof viewed the editing, and I watched as he took a screen-shot of Bono and Simon le Bon being interviewed, which he then sent to Bono, I realised I could finish the film. The BBC then decided it would show it on BBC Four where it was their highest rating music documentary of 2024. Jill Sinclair.

Production Company: Filmfinity Productions LTD

Best Use of Footage in Advertising or Branded Content

Dick’s Sporting Goods "Big Moments"

In this intimate film, Dick’s Sporting Goods connects the athletic achievements of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games to the the life-changing power of sport at the every level. Utilizing exclusively user generated content, we see that the biggest moments aren’t always in stadiums or on podiums. From an aspiring athlete learning she made the team, to a hurdler breaking away from the pack while being cheered by her family, or the weightlifter shocking herself with her strength, the emotion of these moments are every bit as significant as an Olympic Gold.

Director: Derek Barnes | Producer: Andrea Rodriguez | Footage Archive Producer: Spring McCoy | Footage Archive Researchers: Craig Phillips, Brandi Self, Aaron Sharper, Matt Gee, Itzel Sarabia, Mike Kho, Chelsea Zerbe, Jeffrey Harland | Archival Sources: YouTube, Instagram, Jukin | Production Company: Arts and Letters, STALKR | Country of Production: United States

x Roc Nation designed by JAY-Z "City of ns"

to source epic archive shots of the Swiss Alps & New York that were to be juxtaposed with specific angles and live action camera movements of the New York ground shots to create a series of composited frames and match cuts to announce the collaboration between Moncler & Roc Nation Designed By JAY-Z: Genius Is Everywhere. Macro & topographic images were also sourced for the more abstract sections that feature regularly in the McGlouglin Brothers work.

While most of our work was completed ahead of the shoot, we remained in close contact with the team during the production sourcing and supplying specific shots that aligned with footage from the shoot in real-time including the aerial shots of New York.

: The McGloughlin Brothers | Producer: Lorraine Geoghegan | Footage Archive Producers: Jared Brown, Hazel May | Archival Sources: Film supply, Getty Images, Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, stocksy| Production Company: Hinterland Films, Country of Production

Burger King 70 year anniversary campaign "Born to be a flame lover"

The brief was to source UGC from around the world for this campaign to reflect the Global nature of the BK anniversary campaign.

Producer: Chiara Prol | Footage Archive Producer: Loranc Sparsi, Hazel May | Archival Sources: General Public | Production Company: Buzzman/Paris | Country of Production: France

Best Use of Footage in a History Production

American Experience: Fly With Me

For women in the 60s and 70s, being a “stewardess” offered a life of unparalleled glamor and adventure, but also one of systemic harassment and discrimination. Thanks to the bravery and political savvy of an early generation of flight attendants, the skies became the frontlines of a fight for gender equality and workplace equity.

Directors: Sarah Colt, Helen Dobrowski | Producer: Helen Dobrowski | Footage Archive

Producer: Helen Dobrowski | Footage Archive Researchers: Talia Moore, Jackson Byrne, Leah Ford | Archival Sources: Getty Images, British Pathé, Kinolibrary, New York University Tamiment Library, San Diego Air & Space Museum | Production Company: Sarah Colt Productions, American Experience/GBH Boston | Country of Production: United States

The Zelensky Story

of Annie Mae

This historical docuseries examines the murder of Annie Mae Aquash - a Mi'kmaq woman from Nova Scotia, Canada, a mother of two daughters, a teacher, and a revolutionary who fought for Indigenous rights in the 1970s whose death went unsolved for almost 30 years.

Director: Yvonne Russo | Producers: Yvone Russo, Amy Kaufman, Caroline Waterlow | Footage Archive Producer: Amy Rockefeller | Footage Archive Reseacher: Amy Kaufman | Archive Sources: Estate of Lan Brooks Ritz, Kevin McKiernan - Journalist, CBS Veritone, ABC News Videosource, NBC | Production Company: Laylow Pictures | Country of Production: United States

This three-part series tells the extraordinary story of Volodymyr Zelensky – the Ukrainian comedian who played the Ukrainian president in a hit TV show before he was elected as the real president of his country and then led his country through Vladimir Putin’s full-scale Russian invasion.

Director: Michael Waldman | Producers: Louis Lee Ray, Jecca Powell | Footage Archive

Producer: Peter Scott | Footage Archive Researchers: Val Semenikhina, Serhiy Solodko | Archival Sources: Office of the President of Ukraine, Kvartal 95, 1+1 (Ukraine), AP, Reuters Screenocean | Production Company: 72 Films (A BBC Open University Partnership) | Country of Production: United Kingdom

Strike: An Uncivil War

A Return to Memory

The intrepid women who helped create Canadian cinema come to vibrant life in A Return to Memory, a documentary masterwork illuminating their vital but little-known role in establishing Canada’s National Film Board.

Director: Donald McWilliams | Producers: Anette Clarke, Kat Baulu, Ariel Nasr, Nathalie Cloutier | Footage Archive Producer: Donald McWilliams | Footage Archive Researcher: Alison Burns | Archival Sources: National Film Board of Canada, Library and Archives Canada, BFI National Archives, Ottawa Art Galerie, Family members personal archives | Production Company: National Film Board of Canada | Country of Production: Canada

40 years on from the Battle of Orgreave, Strike: An Uncivil War tells the story of the most violent confrontation between miners and police during the 1984/85 Miners’ Strike.

Director: Daniel Gordon | Producers: Fjolla Iberhysaj, Nick Taussig | Footage Archive

Producer: Stephen Slater | Footage Archive Researchers: Alex Wilson, Rhys Woodfield | Archival Sources: BBC, ITN, Fremantle, NUM, Yorkshire Film Archive | Production Company: VeryMuchSo Productions, Embankment Films, Davy Films, Meadowlark Media | Country of Production: United Kingdom

Vow of Silence: The Assassination

Best Use of Footage in a Short Film Production

Motorcycle Mary

Motorcycle Mary tells the untold story of legendary motorsports pioneer Mary McGee, with stunning never-before-seen archival footage. Confronted by sexism and personal tragedy, Mary perseveres, pushing herself to greater heights—culminating in her most hair-raising challenge: becoming the first person to solo the grueling Baja 500 on a motorcycle.

Director: Haley Watson | Producers: Haley Watson, Rachel Greenwald, Carolyn Hepburn | Footage Archive Producer: Laura Carlson | Footage Archive Researchers: Cody Wilson, Haley Watson | Archival Sources: Mary McGee & Family, Bruce Brown Films, NORRA (National off Road Racing Association), Kinolibrary, Peterson Archives | Production Company: ESPN Films, Breakwater Studios | Country of Production: United States

In the Veins

The Ban

In 1988, during the conflict in Northern Ireland, Margaret Thatcher's government banned UK broadcasters from giving airtime to representatives of the IRA and Sinn Féin, to deprive them of 'the oxygen of publicity'.

Thanks to a loophole in the law, a practice developed for actors to dub recorded interviews instead. Through unseen archive footage and present-day interviews with key figures such as Gerry Adams and Stephen Rea (who once voiced him), The Ban reflects on the British government’s use of the threat of ‘terrorism’ to justify censorship, drawing inevitable comparisons with today.

Director: Roisin Agnew | Producer: Sam Howard | Footage Archive Producer: Evan Marshall | Footage Archive Researcher: Stephen Newe | Archival Sources: ITV, Ulster Television, Getty Images, BBC, BFI | Production Company: Unbecoming, Erica Starling Productions, Northern Ireland Screen | Country of Production: United Kingdom

‘In the Veins’ is a short film that resonates through time, using over a century of archive footage to shine a light onto the face of the mining heritage of Yorkshire and the North East of England. A story of hardship and hope, division and defiance, perseverance and pride; this is not a history lesson, it’s an emotional journey that digs deep into the heart of a community built on coal. For centuries, men toiled in the bowels of the earth to build a nation, creating prosperity and improved standards of living, before experiencing the gut-wrenching end to livelihoods, a cost to people and their communities that is still having an impact across the generations. From villages, towns and communities that grew from the industry, the bonds and friendships fostered, to the formation of activist groups such as ‘Women Against Pit Closures,’ ‘In the Veins’ celebrates the success, commiserates the demise and is a timely reminder about the need for a ‘just transition’ from fossil fuels to cleaner energy.

Director: Andy Burns | Producer: Graham Relton | Executive Producer: Ben Lamb | Footage Archive Producer: Graham Relton | Footage Archive Researchers: David Parsons, Montserrat Rovira Prieto, Megan McCooley, John Casey, Ruth Patman | Archival Sources: Yorkshire and North East Film Archive collections, ITV Archive, BBC Motion Gallery | Production Company: Yorkshire and North East Film Archive, Teesside University | Country of Production: United Kingdom

Best Use of Footage in a History Feature

The White House Effect

Explores the gripping drama that unfolded inside the George H.W. Bush White House after scientists warned the country for the first time that global warming was real and underway.

Director: Jon Shenk, Bonni Cohen, Pedro Kos | Producers: Josh Penn, Noah Stahl, Justine Nagan | Footage Archive Producers: Gideon C. Kennedy, Rich Remsberg | Footage Archive Researchers: Yael Chanoff, Elijah Stevens, Sierra Pettengill, Gerard Nijssen, Nathalie Barton, Andrew Seber | Archival Sources: George HW Bush Presidential Library, NCAR, NOAA, NASA, NARA, Exposure Labs, Nederlands Instituut voor Beeld & Geluid, Briscoe Center for American History | Production Company: Actual Films, Department of Motion Pictures, Impact Partners | Country of Production: United States

Riefenstahl

Trains

Leni Riefenstahl is considered one of the most controversial women of the 20th century. Her iconographic imagery of “Triumph of the Will” and “Olympia” stands for perfectly staged body worship, for the celebration of the superior and victorious. The aesthetics of their images seem more present than ever – and with them their message?

Director: Andres Veiel | Producers: Sandra Maischberger, Enzo Maass | Footage Archive Producer: Monika Preischl, Mona El Bira | Footage Archive Reseacher: Christiane Caemmerer | Archive Sources: Private Estate of Leni Riefenstahl, Deutsche Kinemathek – Museum Für Film und Fernsehen, Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz (Ethnologisches Museum / Fotomuseum / Kunstbibliothek), Bundesarchiv, Multiple private collections and TV archives (ARD, BBC, CBC, etc...) | Production Company: Vincent Productions GmbH | Country of Production: Germany

“Trains” is a found-footage documentary composed entirely of archive footage and sound design that creates a collective portrait of people in 20th-century Europe, capturing their hopes, desires, dramas and tragedies.

Director: Maciej J. Drygas | Producer: Vita Želakevičiūtė | Footage Archive Producer: Maciej J. Drygas | Footage Archive Researchers: P.Brzezińska, A.Gilaitis, R.Temme, G.Pierangeli | Archival Sources: 46 archives from around the world including Eye Filmmuseum, Bundesarchiv, Cinecitta, British Pathé, NARA, ECPAD, Agency Karl Hoffkes | Production Company: Drygas Film Production | Coproduction: Fixafilm, Era Film, Eye Filmmuseum, Telewizja Polska TVP | Country of Production: Poland / Lithuania / Netherlands

The Propagandist

Nesjomme (Neshoma)

NESHOMA is set in Amsterdam between the two World Wars, when one in ten residents of the city was Jewish. Seventeen-year-old Rusha lives in the Jewish quarter with her family. Her older brother Max has emigrated to the Dutch East Indies. In her letters to Max, Rusha recounts daily life in the city, creating a vivid portrait of Amsterdam from the perspective of the Jewish community.

Director: Sandra Beerends | Producer: Floor Onrust | Footage Archive Producer: Hans van den Berg | Footage Archive Researchers: Sandra Beerends, Klaas Feij, Leenke Ripmeester, Suzan Crommelin, Anton Kras | Archival Sources: Sound and Vision, Eye Filmmuseum, City Archives Amsterdam, Jewish Museum, Amsterdam & United States Holocaust Memorial Museum | Production Company: Family Affair Films | Country of Production: Netherlands

Using previously unpublished interviews, family films and propaganda films, ‘The Propagandist’ tells the story of the rise and fall of Dutch filmmaker Jan Teunissen (18981975).

Director: Luuk Bouwman | Producer: Ilja Roomans | Footage Archive Producer: Rik Binnendijk | Footage Archive Researcher: Gerard Nijssen | Archival Sources: Sound & Vision, Egbert Barten, Eye Filmmuseum, Bundesarchiv, Haags Gemeentearchief | Production Company: Docmakers | Country of Production: Netherlands

Best Use of Footage in a Music Production

STAX: Soulsville U.S.A.

STAX: Soulsville USA is an epic series that chronicles the full story of Stax Records, an underdog record label comprised of Black and white collaborators who ushered in the groundbreaking soul music of Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Booker T. & the M.G.’s, The Staple Singers, Sam & Dave and many others that defined a generation.

Director: Jamila Wignot | Producers: Jamila Wignot, Kara Elverson | Executive Producers: Ezra Edelman, Caroline Waterlow, Nigel Sinclair, Nicholas Ferrall | Footage Archive Producer: Ines Farag | Associate Archival Producer: Willy Fines | Footage Archive Researcher: Deannie Parker | Archival Sources: Reelin' in the Years, Historic Films, WMC Action News 5 in Memphis, TN, NBC News Archive, The Stax Museum | Production Company: Laylow Pictures, Whitehorse Pictures | Country of Production: United States

Kurt Cobain: Moments That Shook Music

Becoming Madonna

Through exclusive interviews, unheard tapes, and rare and never-before-seen archive footage, this immersive, archive-driven feature documentary tells the compelling story of how Madonna became the most powerful woman in pop.

Director: Michael Ogden | Producers: Eliana Capitani, Tina Flintoff, Nick Hornby, Patrick Culhane | Footage Archive Producer: Helen Carr | Archive Sources: Fox Archives, Getty Images (NBC News, BBC Motion Gallery, WNBC), LOLA Clips (ABC Australia, Nine), Kinolibrary, CBS Media Ventures | Production Company: Optomen Television | Country of Production: United Kingdom

Told exclusively through archive material, this primetime BBC TWO documentary marked the 30th anniversary of Kurt Cobain’s death by using powerful and unseen archive footage to demystify the tragic moment when the Nirvana frontman took his own life.

Director: John Osborne | Producer: John Osborne | Footage Archive Producer: Libby Hopfauf | Archival Sources: Seattle Municipal Archives, Public Access Television Seattle, King 5, Kiro TV, Komo TV | Production Company: Touchdown Films | Country of Production: United Kingdom

Soundtrack to A Coup d'Etat

One to One: John & Yoko

This documentary depicts the art and activism of John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 1972, specifically from their move to New York from England up to the benefit concert they put on in Madison Square Garden for children who had endured horrific conditions at Willowbrook School.

Director: Kevin Macdonald | Producers: Peter Worsley, Melissa Morton-Hicks, Lizzy Webster, Alica Webb | Footage Archive Producer: Hannah Ratcliffe for Shanakee | Footage Archive Researchers: Al Hopkins, Emma Dempsey, James McDonald for Shanakee, Rosemary Rotundi, Saskia Ghosh, Kenn Rabin | Archival Sources: Lennon, Ono Estate, Geraldo Rivera, NBC News Archive, Revoir, CBS News | Production Company: Mercury Studios, KGB Films, Plan B, Shanakee | Country of Production: United Kingdom / United States

Jazz and decolonization are entwined in this historical rollercoaster that rewrites the Cold War episode that led musicians Abbey Lincoln and Max Roach to crash the UN Security Council in protest against the murder of Patrice Lumumba.

Director: Johan Grimonprez | Producers: Rémi Grellety, Daan Milius, Katja Draaijer, Frank Hoeve | Footage Archive Producer: Sara Skrodzka | Footage Archive

Researchers: Judy Aley, Pauline Burgaud, Rémonde Panis, Alexander Markov | Archival

Sources: RTBF, VRT, Cinematek, Getty Images, BBC | Production Company: Onomatopee Films, Warboys Films, BALDR Film, Zapomatik | Country of Production: Belgium / France / Netherlands

Best Use of Footage in a Factual or Natural World Production

Spotlight - The Secret Army

At the height of the Northern Ireland conflict, the Irish Republican Army made an extraordinary decision: to make a film. In 1972, the IRA allowed a small group of American filmmakers to record gunmen and bombers openly planning and carrying out attacks. The resulting documentary, The Secret Army, looked like a propaganda coup. And then the film disappeared.

Director: John O'Kane | Producer: John O'Kane | Footage Archive Producer: Jeremy Shields | Footage Archive Researcher: Chris Morrisson | Archival Sources: BBC Television, RTÉ Television, CBS News, C-SPAN, Kan - IPBC Channel 1 (Israel) | Production Company: BBC Northern Ireland, Current Affairs Dept | Country of Production: United Kingdom

A Return to Memory

Red Fever

Red Fever is a witty and entertaining feature documentary about the profound yet hidden Indigenous influence on Western culture and identity.

Director: Catherine Bainbridge, Neil Diamond | Producers: Lisa Roth, Brittany LeBorgne | Footage Archive Producer: Ana Paula Castillo Mendez | Footage Archive Researchers: Marika Lapointe, Rebecca Lessard, Marina Miller | Archival Sources: Cumberland County Historical Society, University of South Carolina Moving Images Research Collection, Library of Congress, Reuters Screenocean, Northwestern University Archives | Production Company: Rezolution Pictures | Country of Production: Canada

The intrepid women who helped create Canadian cinema come to vibrant life in A Return to Memory, a documentary masterwork illuminating their vital but little-known role in establishing Canada’s National Film Board.

Director: Donald McWilliams | Producers: Anette Clarke, Kat Baulu, Ariel Nasr, Nathalie Cloutier | Footage Archive Producer: Donald McWilliams | Footage Archive Researcher: Alison Burns | Archival Sources: National Film Board of Canada, Library and Archives Canada, BFI National Archives, Ottawa Art Galerie, Family members personal archives | Production Company: National Film Board of Canada | Country of Production: Canada

The White House Effect

Cult Massacre: One Day in Jonestown

This tells the story of an idealistic religious organization led by the infamous Jim Jones, who set out to establish a utopian community in Guyana. What began as a peaceful movement seeking social justice ultimately spiraled into a mass casualty that left 918 dead.

Director: Marian Mohamed | Producers: Laura Spence, Alec Webb | Footage Archive Producers: Glenn Wood, Dinah Rogers, Jo Marshall | Footage Archive Assistant Producer: Molly Schneider | Archive Sources: California Historical Society, NBC, Oddball Films, Hue Fortson, Don Como | Production Company: 72 Films | Country of Production: United States

Explores the gripping drama that unfolded inside the George H.W. Bush White House after scientists warned the country for the first time that global warming was real and underway.

Director: Jon Shenk, Bonni Cohen, Pedro Kos | Producers: Josh Penn, Noah Stahl, Justine Nagan | Footage Archive Producers: Gideon C. Kennedy, Rich Remsberg | Footage Archive Researchers: Yael Chanoff, Elijah Stevens, Sierra Pettengill, Gerard Nijssen, Nathalie Barton, Andrew Seber | Archival Sources: George HW Bush Presidential Library, NCAR, NOAA, NASA, NARA, Exposure Labs, Nederlands Instituut voor Beeld & Geluid, Briscoe Center for American History | Production Company: Actual Films, Department of Motion Pictures, Impact Partners | Country of Production: United States

Best Use of Footage in an Arts & Cultural Production

Documerica, auto-portrait d'une nation au bord de l'abime (Documerica, Self-Portrait of a Nation on the Brink)

A handful of photographers look back on the Documerica Project, a long-forgotten epic photo survey of the American environment launched in the early 1970s at the height of environmental awareness.

Director: Pierre-Francois Didek | Producers: Benoit Tschieret, Guillaume Vincent, Thierry Commissionat | Footage Archive Producer: Charlotte de Luppe | Archival Sources: Encyclopedia Britannica, Kinolibrary, Prelinger Archives, CBS Veritone, The Associated Press, NARA - US National Archives | Production Company: Les Films en VRAX, Karamoja Productions, Ring Prod | Country of Production: France / Belgium

Jim Henson: Idea Man

So Surreal: Behind the Masks

So Surreal: Behind the Masks is a feature documentary that traces the storied journey of Indigenous masks from the far reaches of Turtle Island (North America) into the hands of European Surrealists, influencing the work and worldview of some of the most wellknown modern artists and writers of all time.

Director: Neil Diamond, Joanne Robertson | Producer: Daniel Morin | Footage Archive Producer: Rebecca Lessard | Footage Archive Researcher: Ana Paula Castillo Méndez, Gwanti'lakw Hunt Cranmer, Joanne Robertson | Archival Sources: Royal BC Museum, National Museum of the American Indian, Art Resource, Umista Cultural Center, Association Atelier André Breton | Production Company: Rezolution Pictures | Country of Production: Canada

“Jim Henson Idea Man” takes us into the mind of this singular creative visionary, from his early years puppeteering on local television to the worldwide success of Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, and beyond.

Director: Ron Howard | Producers: Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Sara Bernstein, Margaret Bodde, Justin Wilke, Mark Monroe, Christopher St. John | Footage Archive

Producer: Vanessa Maruskin | Footage Archive Researcher: Kelsey Arlington, Leila Wikel, Rich Remsberg, Amilca Palmer | Archival Sources: The Jim Henson Company Archive, National Archives, UMD Digital Collections, DC Public Library, Star Collection © Washington Post, Disney Enterprises, Inc. | Production Company: Disney Branded Television, Imagine Documentaries | Country of Production: United States

In My Own Words: Alison Lapper

In My Own Words: Billy Connolly

Neither Parkinson's disease or age have diminished Billy Connolly's wit or wisdom in this astonishingly intimate self portrait of the stand-up pioneer turned cultural icon.

Director: Mike Reilly | Producer: Michelle Crowther | Footage Archive Producer: James RM Hunt | Archive Sources: Sir Billy Connolly, BBC, ITV Clip Sales, Fremantle Media Archive, BFI Archive Sales | Production Company: Whisper Films | Country of Production: USA

Alison Lapper - artist, muse and mother - explores her life through art and archive in this visually rich and powerfully intimate film. Born with no arms and short legs, she is a formidable character, who defies preconceptions and breaks down barriers.

Director: Poppy Goodheart | Producers: Victoria Holden, Kira Philips | Footage Archive Producer: Emma Haw | Archival Sources: Alison Lapper Private Collection, Chailey heritage, BBC Child of our time and other, Danish Documentary maker | Production Company: Chalk Productions | Country of Production: United Kingdom

Best Use of Footage in a Sports Production

Surf, le feu sacré (Holy surf, once upon a wave)

Practised by Polynesians for thousands of years, surfing is more than a sport: it is the culture of the people of the water, swallowed up at the end of the 19th century by Western colonialism. And yet, in the space of a century, it has become an Olympic sport, resurrected thanks to a few legends from the fringes and practised by millions of enthusiasts around the world.

Director: Benjamin Morel, Christophe Bouquet | Producer: Antoine Boukobza | Footage Archive Producer: Camille Carlier | Archival Sources: AP, INA, IOC Historical Archive, Kinolibrary, The International Surf Archive | Production Company: YAMI 2, BILDERFEST, MACTV | Country of Production: France / Germany / Scotland

In the Arena: Serena Williams

Moses - 13 Steps

"Moses – 13 Steps” is a powerful exploration of the life and legacy of Edwin Moses, an unparalleled athlete and visionary, whose triumphs on and off track catalyzed significant social and scientific change, inspiring generations to hurdle over barriers of all kinds.

Director: Michael Wech | Producer: Leopold Hoesch | Executive Producer: Morgan Freeman, Lori McCreary, Scott Borden, James Younger, Vera Bertram | Footage Archive Producer: Thorben Bockelmann | Archive Sources: IOC via IMG, ESPN, NBC via Getty Images, WDR, IAAF World Cup and World Athletics Championships via DENTSU | Production Company: BROADVIEW Pictures GmbH | Country of Production: Germany

Follows Serena Williams, the key figures throughout her life, and the events of her legendary career told from her own perspective, giving us an intimate and compelling approach to her life.

Directors: Gotham Chopra, Lauren Fisher | Producers: Serena Williams, Tom Brady, Gotham Chopra, Ameeth Sankaran, Victor Buhler, Meghan Cirillo, Caroline Currier, Jacob Mosler | Footage Archive Producer: Archival Ninjas, Meghan Geier, Alana Saad | Associate Archive Producers: Logan Combest Friedman, Kaelin McDonald, Brittany Nisco, Kyle Van Dam, Andrew Distler | Footage Archive Researchers: Kyle Jackson, Andy Zare | Archival Sources: Getty Images, ESPN, Film Supply, USTA (US Open), Australian Open | Production Company: Religion of Sports, NINE TWO SIX, ESPN | Country of Production: United States

I'm Just Here For The Riot

Director: Philip Hughes | Producers: Philip Hughes, Nicholas Perry | Editor: Nicholas Perry | Footage Archive Producer: Philip Hughes | Archival Sources: BBC Sport Library, The Olympic Archive - IOC Historical Archive, BBC Digital Archive spanning 100 years of material, Getty Archive, British Movietone | Production Company: BBC Sport | Country of Production: United Kingdom Sponsored By:

On June 15, 2011, the Canucks’ Game 7 Stanley Cup Finals loss to the Boston Bruins sparked a massive riot in downtown Vancouver. “I’m Just Here For The Riot” chronicles the aftermath and raises questions about fandom, violence, social media, and the shocking power of an angry crowd.

Directors: Kathleen S. Jayme, Asia Youngman | Producers: Michael Tanko Grand, James Brown, Gentry Kirby | Footage Archive Producer: Melissa James, Gerald Narciso | Archival Sources: Local amatuer filmmakers, Facebook comments in the social media witch hunt that transpired after the riot, Personal archives of our main characters, The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), The National Hockey League (NHL) | Production Company: ESPN Films | Country of Production: United States

The Olympic Games took place in Paris last summer – 100 years since the city last held the event in 1924. In that time, Paris and the world changed a lot. In this film we wanted to capture different elements and take people on a 100 year journey of love and remind them why the Olympics has always been special to us all.

BBC Sport Paris Olympics Opening Film: '100 Years of Love'

Best Use of Footage in a Cinematic Feature

Strike: An Uncivil War

40 years on from the Battle of Orgreave, Strike: An Uncivil War tells the story of the most violent confrontation between miners and police during the 1984/85 Miners’ Strike.

Director: Daniel Gordon | Producers: Fjolla Iberhysaj, Nick Taussig | Footage Archive

Producer: Stephen Slater | Footage Archive Researchers: Alex Wilson, Rhys Woodfield | Archival Sources: BBC, ITN, Fremantle, NUM, Yorkshire Film Archive | Production Company: VeryMuchSo Productions, Embankment Films, Davy Films, Meadowlark Media | Country of Production: United Kingdom

Soundtrack to A Coup d'Etat

One to One: John & Yoko

This documentary depicts the art and activism of John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 1972, specifically from their move to New York from England up to the benefit concert they put on in Madison Square Garden for children who had endured horrific conditions at Willowbrook School.

Director: Kevin Macdonald | Producers: Peter Worsley, Melissa Morton-Hicks, Lizzy Webster | Footage Archive Producer: Hannah Ratcliffe for Shanakee | Footage Archive

Researchers: Al Hopkins, Emma Dempsey, James McDonald for Shanakee, Rosemary Rotundi, Saskia Ghosh, Kenn Rabin | Archival Sources: Lennon, Ono Estate, Geraldo Rivera, NBC News Archive, Revoir, CBS News | Production Company: Mercury Studios, KGB Films, Plan B, Shanakee | Country of Production: United Kingdom / United States

Jazz and decolonization are entwined in this historical rollercoaster that rewrites the Cold War episode that led musicians Abbey Lincoln and Max Roach to crash the UN Security Council in protest against the murder of Patrice Lumumba.

Director: Johan Grimonprez | Producers: Rémi Grellety, Daan Milius, Katja Draaijer, Frank Hoeve | Footage Archive Producer: Sara Skrodzka | Footage Archive

Researchers: Judy Aley, Pauline Burgaud, Rémonde Panis, Alexander Markov | Archival Sources: RTBF, VRT, Cinematek, Getty Images, BBC | Production Company: Onomatopee Films, Warboys Films, BALDR Film, Zapomatik | Country of Production: Belgium / France / Netherlands

Nesjomme (Neshoma)

Riefenstahl

Leni Riefenstahl is considered one of the most controversial women of the 20th century. Her iconographic imagery of “Triumph of the Will” and “Olympia” stands for perfectly staged body worship, for the celebration of the superior and victorious. The aesthetics of their images seem more present than ever – and with them their message?

Director: Andres Veiel | Producers: Sandra Maischberger, Enzo Maass | Footage Archive Producer: Monika Preischl, Mona El Bira | Footage Archive Reseacher: Christiane Caemmerer | Archive Sources: Private Estate of Leni Riefenstahl, Deutsche Kinemathek – Museum Für Film und Fernsehen, Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz (Ethnologisches Museum / Fotomuseum / Kunstbibliothek), Bundesarchiv, Multiple private collections and TV archives (ARD, BBC, CBC, etc...) | Production Company: Vincent Productions GmbH | Country of Production: Germany

NESHOMA is set in Amsterdam between the two World Wars, when one in ten residents of the city was Jewish. Seventeen-year-old Rusha lives in the Jewish quarter with her family. Her older brother Max has emigrated to the Dutch East Indies. In her letters to Max, Rusha recounts daily life in the city, creating a vivid portrait of Amsterdam from the perspective of the Jewish community.

Director: Sandra Beerends | Producer: Floor Onrust | Footage Archive Producer: Hans van den Berg | Footage Archive Researchers: Sandra Beerends, Klaas Feij, Leenke Ripmeester, Suzan Crommelin, Anton Kras | Archival Sources: Sound and Vision, Eye Filmmuseum, City Archives Amsterdam, Jewish Museum, Amsterdam & United States Holocaust Memorial Museum | Production Company: Family Affair Films | Country of Production: Netherlands

Student Jury Award for Most

Inspiring Use of Footage

As part of FOCAL’s outreach strategy to support new generations of industry professionals, we partner with the National Film and Television School in the UK to give a selected student jury access to view a number of nominated productions for our Student Jury Award for Most Inspiring Use of Footage.

Jim Henson: Idea Man

Vow of Silence: The Assassination of Annie Mae

This historical docuseries examines the murder of Annie Mae Aquash - a Mi'kmaq woman from Nova Scotia, Canada, a mother of two daughters, a teacher, and a revolutionary who fought for Indigenous rights in the 1970s whose death went unsolved for almost 30 years.

Director: Yvonne Russo | Producers: Yvone Russo, Amy Kaufman, Caroline Waterlow | Footage Archive Producer: Amy Rockefeller | Footage Archive Reseacher: Amy Kaufman | Archive Sources: Estate of Lan Brooks Ritz, Kevin McKiernan - Journalist, CBS Veritone, ABC News Videosource, NBC | Production Company: Laylow Pictures | Country of Production: United States

“Jim Henson Idea Man” takes us into the mind of this singular creative visionary, from his early years puppeteering on local television to the worldwide success of Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, and beyond.

Director: Ron Howard | Producers: Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Sara Bernstein, Margaret Bodde, Justin Wilke, Mark Monroe, Christopher St. John | Footage Archive Producer: Vanessa Maruskin | Footage Archive Researcher: Kelsey Arlington, Leila Wikel, Rich Remsberg, Amilca Palmer | Archival Sources: The Jim Henson Company Archive, National Archives, UMD Digital Collections, DC Public Library, Star Collection © Washington Post, Disney Enterprises, Inc. | Production Company: Disney Branded Television, Imagine Documentaries | Country of Production: United States

Moses - 13 Steps

Becoming Madonna

Through exclusive interviews, unheard tapes, and rare and never-before-seen archive footage, this immersive, archive-driven feature documentary tells the compelling story of how Madonna became the most powerful woman in pop.

Director: Michael Ogden | Producers: Eliana Capitani, Tina Flintoff, Nick Hornby, Patrick Culhane | Footage Archive Producer: Helen Carr | Archive Sources: Fox Archives, Getty Images (NBC News, BBC Motion Gallery, WNBC), LOLA Clips (ABC Australia, Nine), Kinolibrary, CBS Media Ventures | Production Company: Optomen Television | Country of Production: United Kingdom

"Moses – 13 Steps” is a powerful exploration of the life and legacy of Edwin Moses, an unparalleled athlete and visionary, whose triumphs on and off track catalyzed significant social and scientific change, inspiring generations to hurdle over barriers of all kinds.

Director: Michael Wech | Producer: Leopold Hoesch | Executive Producer: Morgan Freeman, Lori McCreary, Scott Borden, James Younger, Vera Bertram | Footage Archive Producer: Thorben Bockelmann | Archive Sources: IOC via IMG, ESPN, NBC via Getty Images, WDR, IAAF World Cup and World Athletics Championships via DENTSU | Production Company: BROADVIEW Pictures GmbH | Country of Production: Germany

Footage Person of the Year

Mandi Robinson

Julia Palermo

Job Title: Archival Director

Company: Archival Ninjas

Job Title: Operations Director Company: Archival Ninjas

Highlights: Mandi’s remarkable organizational skills were on display as she deftly juggled major projects like Frontline: Documenting Police Use of Force, The Real CSI: Miami, Power of the Dream, and Eyes on the Prize III, meeting tight deadlines while maintaining top-quality outcomes. Clients frequently request her involvement because of her natural ability to keep projects on track and creatively troubleshoot any hurdles that arise. Her knack for spotting and addressing inefficiencies is second to none: Mandi regularly identifies areas needing improvement, devises innovative solutions, and implements them with unwavering commitment. She also excels in communication, deftly simplifying complex concepts so teams and clients stay aligned. Whether mentoring new hires, lending technical support, or ensuring every last detail is in order, Mandi goes above and beyond to deliver excellence.

Highlights: Julia has been nothing short of extraordinary, continually pushing the boundaries of what's possible in archival research and project management. As our Archival Director, she goes above and beyond in every aspect of her work. Julia’s unique ability to develop innovative solutions within our tracking system has significantly streamlined our workflow, boosting efficiency across the team. She readily shares her insights, mentoring fellow Ninjas and creating an environment that fosters growth, skill development, and collaboration - all of which directly impact our overall success. In 2024 alone, Julia led the demanding research for Billy Preston: That’s The Way God Planned It, Luther: Never Too Much, and The Icons That Built America. Despite tight timelines, she consistently delivered meticulous, high-quality research. Thanks to her extensive knowledge of our internal tracking system, Julia ensured every detail was seamlessly managed and ultimately licensed with ease. Her contributions have been invaluable, and her dedication to innovation and mentorship sets a remarkable standard.

Keiona Barnwell

Job Title: Licensing Executive Company: CNN Collection

Job Title: Archive Manager Company: Huntley Film Archives

Highlights: Keiona is one of the best people to work with. Nothing is too much for her and she is always on hand to help in any way she can. I have worked with Keiona on various projects for over seven years now and I always know that if I require some CNN archive I am in safe hands. She is quick and efficient in providing answers to any queries and makes the whole licensing process very straightforward. She is also flexible to any changes that may need to happen (such an additions to the license agreement or providing an invoice rather than a PayPal link). Her calmness and efficiency was invaluable to me on a series I did about the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. She was able to delve deep into the CNN archives and get me exactly what I needed. She also handled all permissions (including we intended to show some CNN staff in b-roll which she dealt with quickly). I can’t recommend Keiona enough. Her cheery nature makes her stand out from the pack and I am thrilled to put her forward for this accolade.

Highlights: Thomasin Summerford talents lie within three main areas – innovation, professionalism and passion. She has applied her archivists mind and sensitivities to the area of innovation, constantly asking more of herself and of the collection. She has tackled the problems that all archives face, but with care and integrity, striving for excellence to keep the collections safe for the future. The battle for storage, the endless demands keeping the database relevant and discoverable, care of the collection, care of the customers!, the care of the staff!! She curates, she forms incredible synergy between old and new tech, and brings the unseen to the attention of all. Her focus is unwavering, and each day brings a fresh outlook and eternal optimism that this film archive will deliver the very best.

Company of the Year in honour of David Seevers

Sky Clip Sales

GBH Archives

GBH (formerly WGBH) is the largest producer of content for PBS, creating over one-third of its programming across TV, web, and mobile. For nearly 70 years, GBH has produced award-winning science, history, journalism, education, arts, children’s, and local programming, including acclaimed series like Frontline, NOVA, and American Experience.

Highlights: GBH Archives is a national and international leader in preserving and providing access to U.S. public television content. As the largest content producer for PBS, GBH has digitized extensive programming, both its own and from other stations, through federal and private grants, expanding public access and licensing opportunities. In 2024, it relaunched the Open Vault website with five new curated collections. GBH Archives also co-manages the American Archive of Public Broadcasting (AAPB) with the Library of Congress, adding 37,778 digital items in 2024 alone. Serving internal teams, scholars, and the public, it leads initiatives like speech-to-text transcription in partnership with Brandeis University and uses open-source tools such as Whisper to advance access and innovation.

Sky Clip Sales manages the archives of Sky News, Sky Sports, and Sky Entertainment. Since 1989, the team has supplied content for award-winning documentaries, films, and TV. The collections include hundreds of hours of footage, with new material added daily, from global news reports and rushes, major sporting events, and Sky’s entertainment back catalogue.

Highlights: In 2024, in response to client feedback, a new shot-list export feature was added to the Media Asset Management (MAM) system, allowing relevant metadata to be easily exported into Excel. Developed in close collaboration with the MAM supplier, this enhancement greatly improved client experience by making content easier to search and use. Meanwhile, the digitisation of Sky News’ archive progressed significantly, with over 50% now digitised. New remastering technology has enabled the restoration of damaged content, enhancing access for the Clip Sales team. Centralisation efforts continue, including the discovery of previously unseen Trump footage in the Edinburgh bureau. These investments support better programming and positively impact the wider creative industry.

PROGRESS

Archival Ninjas

Founded in East Berlin in 1950, PROGRESS is one of Germany’s oldest and largest film distributors. Since 2019, it has been digitising, cataloguing, and distributing the entire DEFA collection, while expanding to include international archives like the Vietnam Film Institute and the Ukrainian State Archive. These are made accessible through the curated PROGRESS Film platform, which sets new standards in preserving and sharing film heritage globally.

Highlights: In 2024, PROGRESS advanced AI-generated multilingual transcriptions to improve content searchability and launched an educational streaming platform for German-speaking audiences, with a B2C version planned for August 2025. The organization also began developing its own digitization lab to preserve and process film materials in collaboration with the DEFA Foundation and others. For the first time, PROGRESS restored historical films for production companies using Diamant software. Additionally, it hosted the History Summit, an international forum for archives, researchers, and media professionals, with the next event already in planning.

ARCHIVAL PRODUCTION, RESEARCH, RIGHTS AND CLEARANCES. Nimble, highly-skilled and seasoned in experience, Archival Ninjas has been a go-to Archival Production company. Here, we’ve provided production studios and businesses with everything from initial research and consultation to final licensing for film/television and beyond.

Highlights: In 2024, Archival Ninjas delivered archival production, rights, and clearance services for over 60 projects, including 24 released titles like In the Arena: Serena Williams and Deadlocked. Their work earned acclaim with seven major festival premieres, three Oscar-eligible films, and a Sports Emmy win. They also advanced industry engagement by hosting the first archival production masterclass with the Female Film Club. Operational improvements, such as automating scheduling and streamlining onboarding, boosted efficiency and scalability, enabling high-quality service across both indie and large-scale productions. Archival Ninjas’ innovation, impact, and leadership make them a strong contender for Company of the Year.

Jane Mercer Researcher of the Year

Sonia Khan for Atomic People

Production Company: Minnow Films

Synopsis: Nearly 80 years after Hiroshima and Nagasaki, this film shares the powerful testimonies of the last surviving Hibakusha, blending personal stories with archival footage to reflect on the lasting impact of nuclear war.

Highlights: Sonia is an exceptional archive researcher whose dedication, resourcefulness, and attention to detail were instrumental to the success of Atomic People. Working within a limited budget, she tirelessly sourced high-quality, rare footage of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, often tracking down material never before seen in documentaries. Her persistence led to securing historically significant content, including the Japanese Emperor’s 1945 surrender speech and early newspaper reports before U.S. censorship. Navigating language barriers, cultural sensitivities, and complex rights issues, Sonia’s tenacity and expertise brought crucial depth and authenticity to the film.

Ines Farag for STAX: Soulsville U.S.A.

Production Company: Laylow Pictures

Siobhan Harvey for Tsunami: Race Against Time

Production Company: Blast Films

Synopsis: Tsunami: Race Against Time is a four-part documentary marking 20 years since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Told through survivor accounts and rare footage, it offers a powerful, minute-by-minute retelling of the disaster across 14 countries.

Highlights At the core of the series is an ambitious effort to tell the story through rare and powerful archival footage. Led by archive producer Siobhan Harvey, the team tracked down hundreds of hours of rarely or never-before-seen material from across the Indian Ocean region. Local researchers were hired in key countries to uncover footage stored for decades, often requiring complex negotiations. Director Daniel Bogado and Harvey worked closely to ensure footage quality, rights clearance, and narrative impact. Their collaboration resulted in securing every essential piece of archive needed, allowing the documentary to authentically convey the scope, horror, and human resilience of that tragic day.

Synopsis: STAX: Soulsville U.S.A. tells the story of Stax Records, the Memphis label where Black and white artists came together to create iconic soul music that shaped a generation. Highlights: As Archival Producer, Ines Farag played a crucial role in uncovering rare footage and materials to bring the Stax story to life. Her deep music knowledge and personal commitment helped secure personal archives from artists like Steve Cropper and Wayne Jackson, including never-before-seen home movies. Ines navigated smaller, underresourced archives, rescued fire-damaged footage, and sourced critical visual context—like the 1968 Memphis sanitation strike and BBC material on segregation. Her tireless work was essential in creating the rich, immersive world that defines this Emmy-nominated series.

Helen Carr for Becoming Madonna

Production Company: Optomen

Synopsis: Becoming Madonna is an archive-based documentary that follows Madonna’s rise from a Michigan teen to pop icon, revealing how loss, 1980s sexism, and the AIDS crisis shaped her bold message of freedom.

Highlights: Archive producer Helen played a crucial role in shaping Becoming Madonna, sourcing rare footage, unheard interviews, and hidden gems from across Madonna’s decades-long career. Her deep knowledge and tireless research uncovered key moments— like unseen university dance footage and behind-the-scenes clips from early music videos— that brought authenticity and depth to the film. With no new interview from Madonna, Helen tracked down archival interviews worldwide, even working directly with past journalists to uncover rare material. Her passion and persistence were essential to telling Madonna’s story in a fresh, compelling way.

Elspeth Domville & David Wells for The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal

Production Company: Fully and Complete Productions Inc.

Synopsis: No Dress Rehearsal is a 4-part series on The Tragically Hip’s 40-year journey and their unique bond with Canada.

Highlights: The two-year archive research for No Dress Rehearsal uncovered a vast collection of rare and unseen footage, providing an intimate view of The Tragically Hip’s 40-year journey. The research went beyond collecting material, it skillfully combined music, interviews, behind-the-scenes moments, and personal stories to trace the band’s artistic growth and cultural impact. Special attention was given to the emotional resonance of their final tour amid Gord Downie’s illness, capturing the deep bond between bandmates and fans. This thorough and sensitive research is key to the documentary’s powerful storytelling and its celebration of the band’s lasting place in Canadian identity.

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