Encounters awards for best doccie producers

The next top four films in each category, Best Film and Best South African Film, are as follows:

Best International Film

Riding Giants
House of Saud
Bus 174
The Corporation

Best South African Film

The Story of a Beautiful Country
Spirits of the Uhadi
South African Love Story - Walter and Albertina Sisulu
A Fisherman's Tale

Kate Harrison, Brand Manager for Jameson Whiskey was pleased with the turnout at the festival and the audiences enthusiastic participation in the audience award. She commented: "For the 4th year running, Jameson has been proud to be involved with Encounters, through the sponsorship of the Jameson Audience Award. We have witnessed the dramatic growth in attendance and enthusiasm for both the festival and the Jameson Audience Award over the years, and it has resulted in a festival of phenomenal success!"

Encounters is very pleased to report an unprecedented 34% growth in attendances at this year's South African International Documentary Festival with over 13 000 patrons attending the Festival.

Touching the Void, based on the novel of the same name, is a great big screen movie. It is about a mountaineering accident and one man's will to survive. Touching the Void is distributed by Ster Kinekor film and will be released on the circuit this month. It is a British film by Academy Award winning director Kevin MacDonald.

Born into Struggle, a world première at Encounters, is a very personal story directed by Rehad Desai. His father, Barney Desai, took his family to live in exile in England and this is the touching tale of their trails and tribulations. Born into Struggle will feature at the upcoming 3 Continents Festival and will be screened on SABC1 in 2005.