The documentaries “Songs of Slow Burning Earth” by Olha Zhurbe and “Al Oeste, en Zapata” by David Bim received the Jury Awards at the seventh edition of MajorDocs, while Deuses de pedra won the Audience Award.
The jury — composed of thinker Lola López Mondéjar, filmmaker Ben Rivers, and sound artist Philippe Ciompi — decided to grant, for the first time in the festival’s seven editions, an ex aequo award “because they believe that two of humanity’s greatest problems — war and poverty — are represented in the two winning films with exceptional accuracy and cinematic skill.”
The jury highlighted Songs of Slow Burning Earth, by Olha Zhurba, for how it documents “war without sensationalism, when the right images of war are almost impossible. Songs of Slow Burning Earth presents the margins of war and its less evident consequences, as well as the life people are forced into, with a sober and restrained cinematography.”
Regarding Al Oeste, en Zapata, directed by David Bim, they emphasized how it “portrays a poverty as universal as humanity itself. With extraordinary, lingering images, the film shows how love and tenderness prevail in a hostile environment.”
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In this edition, the short films that were part of the MajorDocs Mentorships competed for an award sponsored by Foto Ruano Pro, and the jury — composed of Balearic filmmakers Constança Amengual, Joan Bover, and Xavi Herrero — decided to grant the award to Vida Injusta by Amaro Seoane.
The jury wished to highlight “how it addresses a difficult reality through a well-crafted narrative that raises numerous questions and invites deep reflection. Its real, raw yet tender portrayal of the protagonists’ everyday life, the intimacy of the images, and the rhythm of the editing all contribute to a sense of authenticity, shaping a tough, close, and intentional documentary.”
They also decided to grant a Special Mention to Feix by Antoni Guiscafrè. In this work, the jury “especially values the coherence of its contemplative approach. The quality and beauty of its images create a sensitive and detailed atmosphere without resorting to words. Its observational gaze allows us to delve into the routine of a solitary craft through the strength of the images.”
