The Walkley Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of the inaugural Walkley Award for Excellence in Documentary...
2011 Winner The Walkley Documentary Award - Darren Dale, Tony Krawitz and Chloe Hooper, The Tall Man, Blackfella Films
When Cameron Doomadgee was found dead in the Palm Island police station, his injuries were like those of someone who’d been in a car crash.
The police claimed he had tripped on a step. The Palm Islanders rioted and burnt down the police station. The subsequent trial of Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley – who had been decorated for his work in Aboriginal communities – made headlines day after day.
Based on the book by Chloe Hooper, The Tall Man tells the gripping story of the trial of the complex police officer, and of the Doomadgee family as they struggle to understand what happened to their brother. Atmospheric, gritty and original, The Tall Man takes the viewer into the courtroom and the Indigenous community of Palm Island.
The Walkley Documentary Award
The Walkley Documentary Award will recognise excellence in documentary production that is grounded in the principles of journalism – accuracy, impact, public benefit, ethics, creativity, research and reporting – together with rigorous filmmaking. The award will be open to a variety of documentary storytelling styles and the judges will be looking for courage and creativity in concept, approach and execution. Documentaries may encompass and in-depth examination of issues of local, national or international importance or of contemporary or historic events and may include investigative, biographical and first person stories that reflect the emotion and drama of the human experience.
In 2011, as part of the our celebrations in the centenary of Australian journalism, the Walkley Foundation is pleased to announce the addition of this new award to Australia's most prestigious media accolades, the Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism.
The award will be open to a variety of documentary storytelling styles, but judges will look for courage and creativity in concept, approach and execution.
Find a full descritpion of all the award categories here.
SUBMISSION RULES AND GUIDELINES:
Eligibility:
Any non-fiction film made for cinema, broadcast or web release, with a running time of at least 40 minutes, NOT including entirely scripted or improvised fictionalisations of actual events.
Entries must also have been shown in the 12 months from September 1, 2010 to August 31, 2011 to be eligible for entry.
Number of entrants:
The named entrant(s) should be the individual(s) most involved in the key journalistic and creative aspects of the filmmaking process.
A maximum of three persons may be designated as entrants, at least one of whom must be the credited director who exercised directorial control.
Submission:
Entrants need to first register theri entry online at walkley-entries.alliance.org.au/
Entrants must then submit their entry confirmation slip AND six copies of their entry on DVD by September 2, 2011.
Entries should be posted to: 'Documentary Award,' The Walkley Foundation, 245 Chalmers Street, Redfern, 2016.
Judging:
The rigorous two-tier judging process for which the Walkleys are renowned means that the shortlist will be nominated by a jury of other film-makers before being submitted to the Walkley Advisory Board who will choose the winner.
Prize:
The winner will be offered the opportunity to attend the Hotdocs Film Festival in Toronto, Canada. This major annual international documentary festival is celebrates and showcases excellence in international documentary making.
2011 IMPORTANT DATES
Entries Open: Wednesday, July 6 2011
Entries Close: 5pm on Friday, September 2 2011
Shortlist announcement: Thursday, November 10 2011
Winner Announcement: Sunday, November 27 2011
