| MUMBAI:
Mipdoc, the international showcase for documentary screenings, has named seven
directors, selected for their creativity, innovation and personal vision in the
world of documentary making, to receive International Trailblazer awards at Mipdoc
2009. This
year's event runs from 28-29 March in Cannes, ahead of the television trade event,
MipTV. The
seven International Trailblazers 2009 are: •
Marianna Kaat – European Trailblazer selected by the European Documentary
Network (EDN, Denmark). •
Craig Matthew – African Trailblazer selected by Encounters (South Africa)
•
Nahed Awwad – Middle East Trailblazer selected by the Al Jazeera Documentary
Channel (Qatar). •
Robert Lang – North American Trailblazer selected by the Documentary Organization
of Canada (DOC). •
Mark Hartley – Australian Trailblazer selected by the Australian Film Institute
(AFI). •
Jeong Ook Lee – Korean Trailblazer selected by the EBS International Documentary
Festival (EIDF, Korea). •
Ayumi Ito – Japanese Trailblazer selected by the Association of All Japan
TV Program Production Companies (ATP). Reed
Mimdem's acting director of the television division Laurine Garaude says, "As
both market and forum for creativity, Mipdoc is delighted to welcome the International
Trailblazers who reflect the diversity of visions in documentary making." Now
in their fourth year, the International Trailblazers awards 2009 are supported
by the Sundance Channel, the National Film Board of Canada (NFB/ONF), the Korean
Broadcasting Institute (KBI), the Al Jazeera Documentary Network and the Australian
Film Institute (AFI). Sundance
Channel executive VP, GM Laura Michalchyshyn said: "We are constantly looking
for original and surprising documentaries to share with our viewers. The Sundance
Channel is continuing to work with the International Trailblazers as we want to
encourage visionary and passionate directors and help their works be seen."
Al Jazeera
Documentary Channel manager Ahmed Mahfouz Nouh says, "We were so won-over
by Middle East Trailblazer Nahed Awwad's documentary that we decided to buy the
film and to broadcast it on our Arabic and English-language channels." | 
