The jury nominated three documentaries for the second Dirk Vandersypen Award. In random order these are:
Balseros (Cuban Rafters) – Carlos Bosch & Josep Ma Domènech (Spain 2002) 120’
IT’S NOT JUST A MOVIE, IT’S A TRUE STORY
Seven Cubans and their relatives are interviewed a few days before their risky adventure of setting out to sea in home-made rafts. They attempt to flee from the economic difficulties devastating their country. 7 years later we discover the outcome of their new lives in the USA.
Carlos Bosch was a friend and colleague of Dirk Vandersypen, both journalists worked together during the Zapatista revolution in Mexico.
Balseros is nominated for an Oscar as Documentary Feature.
www.oscars.com
www.bausanfilms.com/largo_balseros.htm
Generación desaparecida (A Missing Generation) – Jan Thielen (Argentina 2003) 52’
ABOUT COMMON PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES ARE STILL DOMINATED BY RELATIVES WHO DISAPPEARED DURING THE MILITARY DICTATORSHIP
In 1976, the military, commanded by general Videla, came to power in Argentina. During the years of dictatorship that followed thousands of Argentines disappeared. For many of their relatives, the tragedy never ended. Nora, Estela, Juan Pablo and Clare tell their own stories themselves. They lost one or more relatives and today, more than 25 years later, this still dominates their lives.
It is the second time that Jan Thielen has been nominated for the Dirk Vandersypen Award: in 2002 his documentary Coca Mama was nominated. It focuses on the consequences of the US war on drugs in Latin America.
Sol de noche – Pablo Milstein & Norberto Ludin (Argentina 2001) 77’
A GLEAM IN THE DARK – THE STORY OF OLGA AND LUIS
Olga, a mother, circles the main square in Ledesma as an expression of struggle and in remembrance of one of the most brutal and significant events of the military dictatorship: The Night of the Blackout in Ledesma. Probably no other event reflects so conclusively the symbiosis of the economic power with the genocidal repression of the Argentine military.
The Dirk Vandersypen Award jury received this year several films concerning Argentina and the consequences of the dictatorship. The subject is still dominating many lives.
www.doc-soldenoche.com.ar
