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Shortlist - Best Documentary on a
                            Contemporary Issue
The films below were shortlisted for Grierson 2008 in the Best Documentary on a Contemporary Issue category.
Winner
Production Cº: RTO Productions
Channel 4
Director/Producer   Molly Dineen
We visit the countryside for weekend breaks, breathe in the fresh air and go for walks. We treat it as the scenic backdrop to a relaxing break, away from the rat race. But what of the day-to-day life of the people and animals who live and work in the countryside? The countryside for them is not just a holiday, not just a picture postcard, but their very existence?
Nominated
Production Cº: Blast Films
BBC Two
Director   Morgan Matthews
Executive Producers Edmund Coulthard, Grant McKee
Beautiful Young Minds tells the story of some of the brightest mathematical brains of a generation. Each year, exceptionally gifted teenagers from over 90 countries compete for medals at the International Mathematical Olympiad. The film follows a group of brilliant teenagers as they battle it out to become the chosen six selected to represent the UK.
Nominated
Production Cº: Eyeline Films
Times BFI London Film Festival
Director   Geoffrey Smith
Producers Geoffrey Smith, Rachel Wexler
Series Producer Nick Fraser
What is it like to have God like surgical powers, yet to struggle against your own humanity? What is it like to try and save a life, and yet to fail? Shot in Ukraine, The English Surgeon is an intimate portrait of neurosurgeon Henry Marsh as he openly confronts the dilemmas of the doctor patient relationship on his latest mission to Kiev.
Nominated
Production Cº: RTO Productions
Channel 4
Director/Producer   Molly Dineen
We visit the countryside for weekend breaks, breathe in the fresh air and go for walks. We treat it as the scenic backdrop to a relaxing break, away from the rat race. But what of the day-to-day life of the people and animals who live and work in the countryside? The countryside for them is not just a holiday, not just a picture postcard, but their very existence?
Nominated
Production Cº: Century Films
Channel 4
Director   Brian Hill
Producer Elodie Gornall
Executive Producer Katie Bailiff
Writer Simon Armitage
“There are days when I think I’m just scum. Days when I can’t face the world.” Rob, 23, has recently served with British forces in Iraq. Cliff, 78, fought in the British army in Malaya in 1951. Eddie served with UN peacekeeping forces in Bosnia. As a result of their experiences, all three men suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. This film includes war poetry based on their experiences, archive and intimate interviews.
shortlisted
Production Cº: Stampede
Channel 4
Director   Rodrigo Vazquez
Producer Mike Chamberlain
Series Producer Heenan Bhatti
shortlisted
Production Cº: True Vision
Channel 4
Director   Jezza Neumann
Producers Brian Woods, Kate Blewett
shortlisted
Production Cº: Bungalow Town Productions
BBC Two
Director   Marc Isaacs
Producer Rachel Wexler
Executive Producer Nick Fraser
shortlisted
Production Cº: Al Jazeera Satellite Network
Al Jazeera
Directors/Producers   Abdallah el Binni, Abdeddayem Sammari
Executive Producers Abdallah el Binni, Abdeddayem Sammari
Writers Abdallah el Binni, Abdeddayem Sammari
shortlisted
Production Cº: Rise Films
Edinburgh International Film Festival
Director   Paul Taylor
Producer Teddy Leifer
Executive Producers Jess Search, Leigh Blake
Writers Paul Taylor, Slindile Moya