Anders Høgsbro Østergaard's "Burma VJ – Reporting from a Closed Country" swept away the top awards at Amsterdam's international documentary festival, IDFA (20-30 November 2008). Lise Lense-Møller produced "Burma VJ" for Magic Hour Films.
The film received a nomination in the prestigious Joris Ivens Competition and in Movies That Matter, a competitive programme whose films focus on human rights and dignity. The film won both competitions. "Burma VJ" was also awarded lavishly at CHP:DOX. "Burma VJ" documents the 2007 uprising of Burmese monks against the military dictatorship. Østergaard's story turned into a human drama with a strong vein of high-risk journalism as undercover video journalists risked their lives to keep up a flow of news from their closed country. Joris Ivens Jury chair, Bianca Stigter, described the film as a "harrowing reminder of the power and the weakness of images".This is the third time in seven years Denmark has won the Joris Ivens Award. In 2001, Sami Martin Sarif and Phie Ambo received the Joris Ivens Award for "Family", produced by Cinevita Film Company, and in 2006, Pernille Rose Grønkjær and Tju Bang Film (now known as SF Film Production) received the award for "The Monastery".For further information:DFI press release
Six Danish films to Amsterdam
DFI awards overview
IDFA Amsterdam Awards
DFI Factsheet
Burma VJ – Reporting from a Closed Country
DFI film magazine
FILM #64 / Amsterdam Issue
Production company for "Burma VJ"
Magic Hour Films
International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam, IDFA
www.idfa.nlDanish Film Institute
Anne Marie Kürstein, +4..., kurstein@dfi.dk
Vicki Marie Synnott, +45 3374 3438 , vickis@dfi.dk