SBS documentaries win international awards

Two SBS documentaries, which failed to land a nomination at the Logie Awards, have now won international awards.

Living the End, which followed the personal journeys of three chronically ill people as they travel towards death, won its category at the BANFF World Media Festival in the non-fiction Rockies award ceremony. Another documentary Immortal was also nominated in the popular science and technology programs category.

Living the End beat off strong international competition including documentaries made for the BBC and Channel 4 in the UK, and for HBO in the US.

The Cordell Jigsaw production aired on SBS earlier this year.

Meanwhile Lani’s Story, an account of Lani’s Brennan’s horrific story of domestic violence and her subsequent long and courageous fight for justice, has picked up two EVA awards (Eliminating Violence Against Women Awards).

Written and directed by Indigenous first-time filmmaker Genevieve Grieves and produced by Blackfella Films, it picked up awards for Best Television Current Affairs (more than 20 minutes) and the GOLD EVA for Best Media Across Categories.

The judges called it a stand out piece of journalism.

“With heart felt and straight-talking conviction, Genevieve and Darren’s documentary expresses the magnitude of consequence that violence has on all those involved. It places the experience, survival and courage of Lani at the forefront,” they said.

In 2010 the documentary picked up the United Nations of Australia Media Peace Award for Best Documentary.

Matt Campbell, Director of TV and Online Content, said: “These awards are testament to SBS’s continued commitment to bring provocative and powerful documentaries to Australian audiences. I am very proud that SBS continues to create content that no one else dares to, and is bringing what can often be seen as taboo subjects to the forefront of the public’s mind.”