2024 HUMANITARIAN AWARD WINNERS
The Humanitarian Award  honors filmmakers who are bringing awareness to issues of Ecological, Political, Social Justice and Equality, Health and Wellness, Animals, Wildlife, Conservation and Spiritual importance and combining that with quality filmmaking craft. Congratulations to this year’s illustrious winners who are committed to making a difference in the world. To read more about the award click here

Common Ground – Josh Tickell and Rebecca Tickell 

Josh Tickell and Rebecca Tickell (USA), Common Ground, Documentary Feature – A tour-de-force in environmental filmmaking – “Common Ground” skillfully promotes the “Regenerative Movement” and weaves together critical information from exceptional experts, powerful supporting stories of real lives and heart-warming inspiration as it explores the regenerative agriculture movement and the connections between farming, politics and human health. Blending investigative journalism with profoundly moving personal stories, the film explores how Americans from different walks of life, different political backgrounds and different parts of the country share one thing in common – the very soil beneath their feet.  It investigates the power of “regenerative” farming as the key to unlocking healthier food and a healthier planet. Tribeca Human Nature award winner. A film that needs to be seen and a catalyst for change. Featuring Oscar-Winner Laura Dern (Jurassic Park, Big Little Lies), Oscar-Nominee & Emmy Winner Woody Harrelson (Zombieland, The People vs Larry Flynt), Emmy-Winner Donald Glover (Solo, A Star Wars Story, Community, Spider-Man) Jason Momoa (Aquaman, Game of Thrones, Fast X), Rosario Dawson (The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, Men in Black, Dopesick) and Ian Somerhalder (The Vampire Diaries, Pulse, Lost).

 
Joëlle Chesselet and Pippa Ehrlich (United Kingdom), MY MERCURY, Documentary Feature – Oscar-winner Ehrlich (My Octopus Teacher) and director Chesselet deliver a gripping and emotionally layered documentary set on Namibia’s remote Mercury Island, where conservationist Yves Chesselet spends eight years relocating 15,000 seals to protect endangered seabirds. Through Yves’ raw video diaries, the film reveals not only the environmental urgency but also Yves’ gradual unraveling amid isolation and the moral weight of his mission. It explores a powerful dilemma: the difficult choices required to preserve fragile ecosystems and the unseen costs of conservation. Challenging viewers to reconsider humanity’s relationship with nature, it asks what sacrifices we are willing to make for the greater good. A haunting meditation on environmental urgency. A24 Films & Dog Star Films. Written by Emmy-nominee Jinx Godfrey, Producers: Emmy nominee Ben Cotner, News & Doc Emmy winner Adriana Banta, News & Doc Emmy Nominee Emily Osborne, Mandy Chang, Nick Shumaker, Nicole Quintero Ochoa.

John McCrite (USA), Pink Belt, Liberation / Social Justice / Protest – This powerful documentary follows Aparna Rajawat, India’s sixteen-time national martial arts champion, as she fights to empower women in a society plagued by gender violence. Raised in a home where girls were seen as inferior, Aparna defied norms, secretly trained in karate, and founded the Pink Belt Mission to teach self-defense and self-worth.  At its core is her attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest women’s self-defense class, set against stories of survivors—including her own—that reveal the deep-rooted acceptance of abuse. Sharply directed by McCrite, the film is both a moving portrait of resilience and a call to action for change.

Ori Yardeni (Israel), The Man Who Saved the Internet With a Sunflower, Film Feature – Internationally renowned Yardeni unveils the dramatic and untold story of Rob Ryan, the visionary entrepreneur who saved the Internet from collapsing in the 90s, which ultimately transformed our lives in every field. Now, he’s on a mission to save the Internet from itself. This captivating film delves into the rise and falls of Ryan, an innovative engineer whose Sunflower Code, a tool to discover one’s true vocation, revolutionized the digital world and continues to inspire aspiring entrepreneurs. The first in a trilogy, this film explores the future of technology and humanity, setting the stage for an epic saga about the Internet, AI, and the destiny of mankind. A talented cast delivers exceptional performances. Stars: Martin Delaney (Zero Dark Thirty, Flags Of Our Fathers, Beowulf and Grendel, Now You See Me 2), Leo Hatton (H&M by Wes Anderson), Troy Hewitt (Rye Lane), Michael Curran-Dorsano (Django, The Last Ship), Sophie Hopkins (Dr. Who’s spin-off Class from BBC).

Kacey Cox (Canada), FINDING MANNY, Documentary Feature – Seventy years after leaping from a Nazi death train, Holocaust survivor Manny Drukier returns to Poland and Germany to confront a past he has long kept buried. Prompted by a message from a volunteer at the Indersdorf Orphanage—where he was taken in after the war—Manny embarks on a journey both heartwarming and heartbreaking. With compassion for unimaginable horrors, he revisits his darkest memories in an effort to teach future generations the importance of “never again.” Deftly directed and emotionally resonant, Finding Manny is a powerful and timely story of survival, healing, and hope.

Mike Hill (USA), Conquering Cervical Cancer, Documentary Feature – Emmy-winner Mike Hill and acclaimed filmmaker Sue Collins embark on a powerful journey to eliminate cervical cancer around the world. This compelling documentary contrasts U.S. efforts with Australia’s successful prevention strategies and groundbreaking initiatives in lower-resourced countries. Through heart-warming interviews with survivors and healthcare workers, the film highlights life-saving solutions like HPV vaccination and screening. Offering both urgency and hope, it sparks a crucial global call to action for a future free of cervical cancer.

Bill Wisneski (USA), Almost Home: Life After Incarceration, Doc Feature – Emmy winner Wisneski delivers a powerful and emotionally resonant film that explores the challenges faced by formerly incarcerated individuals and the transformative impact of education. Through excellent filmmaking and tightly crafted, insightful direction, the documentary follows students enrolled in a groundbreaking program at a Southern California community college. With compassion and authenticity, the film reveals how education not only heals deep-rooted trauma but also opens doors, uplifts families, and restores dignity. It is a stirring testament to the human spirit, offering hope, empowerment, and the possibility of second chances.

Alan Lacy, Endangered Species Coalition (USA), Welcome Home, Nature / Environment / Wildlife

Alan Rexroth (Germany), #WAY_LamaTenzing, Documentary Short

Christopher Schultz (USA), Enemy No More, Film Short

Gilda Sheppard (USA), Since I Been Down, African American

Marco del Boca (Spain), Waves of Tomorrow, Nature / Environment / Wildlife

Maureen Castle Tusty (USA), She Rises Up, Documentary Feature, Women Filmmakers, Women Theme

Richard Yelland (USA), UNDIVIDED: Pandemic with A Purpose, Documentary Short

Rob Beemer, Giancarlo Canavesio and Laura Obiols (USA), Ibiza’s Regenerative Revolution, Documentary Short, Nature / Environment / Wildlife, Use of Film / Video for Social Change

Roland Paul Marconi and Gary Null (USA), Sublimation Nation, Documentary Feature

Tim Gray (USA),  A Final Landing on Iwo Jima, Documentary Feature

Tim Gray (USA), Village of Death: Oradour-sur-Glane 1944, Documentary Feature

Arthur James (USA), Everlasting Steps: The Path to Healing, Documentary Short

Beatie Wolfe and Ross Harris (USA), Trees & Seas, Nature / Environment / Wildlife

C. Nathaniel Brown (USA), Remember Me: Dementia in the African American Community, African American Theme, Contemporary Issues / Awareness Raising, Health / Medicine / Science

Esther Takac (Australia), THE NARROW BRIDGE, Religion / Ethics

Fabrizio Nota and Giovanni Negro (Italy), A COLORFUL WORLD, Liberation / Social Justice / Protest, Viewer Impact: Content / Message Delivery, African American Theme

Gustavo Bolívar (USA), The Lost War, Documentary Feature, Latin / Hispanic Theme, Editing

Jim Warne (USA), My Native America, Native Peoples Filmmaker

Kelly Galindo (USA), 26 Seconds ISIS Sex Slaves, Women Filmmakers, Documentary Feature, Use of Film / Video for Social Change

Mina Isabella JafriMalik and Zainab “Izzy” Malik.(USA), The Asifa Bano Story, Direction, Documentary Short, Liberation / Social Justice / Protest, Women Filmmakers

Rich Devaney (USA), Unraveling, Web Series

Silvio Carrillo (USA), Forging Heroes, Contemporary Issues / Awareness Raising

Siros Kerdouni (USA), DISHONORABLE, Film Short

Shuja Moore (USA), Pardon Me, Documentary Short

Sue Ann Pien (USA), Once More, Like Rain Man, Filmmaker with Disability, Disability Issues, Film Short

Tim Searfoss (USA), One Second at a Time: Battling the Monster of Addiction, Documentary Feature

William Bright (USA), The CareGiver, Film Short, Direction, Cinematography