New Awards Announced for The Griersons 2011

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The Grierson Trust announces three new awards as it launches its annual call for entries to the UK’s most prestigious awards in documentary film making: Grierson 2011 – The British Documentary Awards.

Chairman of The Grierson Trust, Dawn Airey, said: “Like the industry we celebrate, it’s important for the Griersons to stay fresh and accurate in its representation of the genre, so this year we have taken the decision to make some changes to the awards: dividing and renaming the Best Contemporary Issue award and introducing a new Student award.”

Best Documentary on a Contemporary Issue will become two awards: Best Documentary on a Contemporary Theme – Domestic and Best Documentary on a Contemporary Theme – International. In doing this The Grierson Trust hopes to celebrate a broader spectrum of the leading contemporary documentaries shown in the UK each year.

The Trust also aims to encourage the work of new film makers learning their craft, so the new Best Student Documentary Award will recognise the best of the work undertaken at the nation’s varied and diverse film schools. This award will carry a cash prize of £3000.

Dawn Airey continues: “The Griersons remain the Oscars of documentary making. Winning a Grierson carries prestige and allure for factual film makers from across the globe. These awards celebrate the dedication, style and wit - the hallmarks of brilliant documentary making – like no others.”

The Grierson Awards commemorate the work of pioneering Scottish film maker John Grierson (1898 – 1972), famous for making Drifters and his association with Night Mail – the man widely regarded as the father of the documentary. Established in 1972, the Griersons annually celebrate documentaries that have made a significant contribution to the form. The list of past winners – which includes Penny Woolcock, Norma Percy, Molly Dineen, Nick Broomfield, Kim Longinotto, Paul Watson, Angus Macqueen and Pawel Pawlikowski - is testament to the high standard of work which is celebrated through these awards. They are the ultimate UK prizes for documentary film makers from across the globe.

The 11 award categories include Best Arts Documentary, Best Science Documentary, Best Documentary Series and Best Newcomer Award which also carries a cash prize of £3,000.

Grierson 2011 is open to documentaries from anywhere in the world, although they must have had their first UK screening within the qualifying period 1 May 2010 to 30 April 2011. Entry forms can be found at entry.griersontrust.org. The closing date for entries is 18:00 hours on Wednesday 1st June, 2011.The winners will be announced at the Grierson 2011 award ceremony which will take place at BFI Southbank, London on the evening of entry.griersontrust.org.

The Grierson Trust is generously supported by Shell International, ENVY, British Council, BFI, and Sopher + Co.