The winner in the 2011 FOXTEL Australian Documentary Prize was announced tonight at the Closing Night of the Sydney Film Festival. This is the third year of the Awards which were founded to showcase Australian documentary filmmaking talent.
Winner of the FOXTEL Australian Documentary Prize is Life in Movement produced and directed by Bryan Mason and Sophie Hyde.
Life in Movement is a documentary about Tanja Liedtke who was appointed in 2007 to succeed Graeme Murphy as Artistic Director of the Sydney Dance Company. Before she could take up the position, the dedicated 29-year-old dancer/choreographer was tragically killed in a road accident. Eighteen months later, Tanja's still-grieving collaborators (including her partner Sol Ulbrich) embark on an international tour of her award-winning productions. The performances and on-tour interviews, along with intimate footage of Tanja's creative process and previously unseen recordings, provide a moving celebration of her creative life.
The cash prize of $10,000, provided by FOXTEL, was awarded at the Festival’s Closing Night on Sunday June 19 at the State Theatre.
The Jury for the 2011 FOXTEL Australian Documentary Prize is FOXTEL’s Jim Buchan,
Joost den Hartog, director of the Australian International Documentary Conference, and
US film-maker Jennifer Fox (director of My Reincarnation, selected for this year’s Festival).
“This year we saw a strong field characterized by high craft levels which reflects a healthy and developed Australian filmmaking culture. The winning film pushes the documentary form in an adventurous direction. It weaves past and present in an innovative way, allowing the viewer to appreciate how art is made and how the work transcends the individual. This film celebrates the lasting effects of a passionate life.” – FOXTEL Australian Documentary Prize jury.

2011 FOXTEL Australian Documentary Prize finalists are:
Carnival Queen | Dir-Prod Amy Gebhardt | World Premiere
A Common Purpose | Dir-Prod Mitzi Goldman | World Premiere
I’m Not Dead Yet | Dir-Prod Janine Hosking | World Premiere
Life In Movement | Dir/Prod/Scr Bryan Mason and Sophie Hyde
My America | Dir Peter Hegedus | Australian Premiere
Rollerboy | Dir-Scr Jayson Sutcliffe and Polly Watkins | World Premiere