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It’s been a season of edgy, thought provoking cinema during this year’s Documentary Edge Festival, and ahead of its season in Wellington from May 17th, Grant Lahood’s Intersexion and Steve James’ The Interrupters scoop the big prizes at the annual Documentary Edge Gala 2012 on May 3.

The annual event that many documentary enthusiasts mark down on their calendar saw both Lahood and James rewarded at Auckland’s Aotea Centre. Lahood’s Intersexion has been one of the hot tickets of this year’s festival, capturing the life of NZ’s first “out” intersex person, Mani Mitchell. The Interrupters also saw a welcome return of Steve James’ works as part of the festival – his seminal classic Hoop Dreams very much helping put documentary filmmaking on the map.

James was also honoured with the “Best International Director”, sharing it alongside Revenge of the Electric Car director Chris Paine. New Zealand director Geoffrey Cawthorn picked up the local award for “Best NZ Director”, with his documentary View From Olympus.

Skule Eriksen’s documentary Vinterlys earned the “Best International Short Documentary” amongst the international selection, while local oddity Gone Curling... picked up the local “Best Short” award. Yakel 3D’s stunning cinematography earned the top plaudits locally, while a number of international films from each category picked up award during the event also.

The biggest accolade during the evening was handed by the Minister of Broadcasting, the Honourable Craig Foss, presenting the “Outstanding Contribution to the NZ Documentary Industry” to NHNZ (Natural History New Zealand). The award recognises NHNZ’s work, the employment opportunities raised, the excellent content created, the filmmaker training with University of Otago and NHNZ’s stellar international reputation.

Full winners from last night’s ceremony as below:

International Competition

Best Short Documentary - Vinterlys (Skule Eriksen) (Special Mention: Dilli)

Best Feature Documentary - Winner: The Interrupters (Steve James) (Special Mention: Revenge of the Electric Car)

Best Director - Winner: Steve James (The Interrupters) and Chris Paine (Revenge of the Electric Car)

Best World Cinema: The Interrupters (Special Mention: The Carrier)

Best Future Watch: Five Star Existence (Special Mention: Work Hard, Play Hard)

Best Arab Spring: Malaki – Scent of an Angel (Special Mention: Tahrir 2011)

Best Human Rights: Who Killed Chea Vichea (Special Mention: Crime After Crime)

Best Generations: Life in Stills (Special Mention: The Flat)

Best Heroes and Icons: Incessant Visions (Special Mention: Kumare)

Best Culture Vultures: Andrew Bird: Fever Year (Special Mention: Lemon)

New Zealand Competition

Best Short Documentary – Gone Curling (Roland Kahurangi/Rachael Patching) (Special Mention: River Dog)

Best Feature Documentary – Intersexion (Grant Lahood)

Best Director – Geoffrey Cawthorn (View From Olympus)

Best Cinematography – Yakel 3D

Best Editing – Intersexion

Best Emerging Filmmaker: James Muir (River Dog)

Outstanding Contribution to NZ Documentary Industry – NHNZ (Natural History New Zealand)