Freelancers reporting on local conflicts up for awards
The winners will be announced on Wednesday 18 November 2015 at London's BFI Southbank at a special 20th anniversary ceremony, hosted by Sky News' Alex Crawford and feature guest presenters.
The Rory Peck Awards 2015 honour work filmed by Iraqi, Pakistani, Palestinian, Syrian, Italian, British and French freelance finalists. Entries from inside conflicts in the Middle East feature prominently, alongside coverage from the frontlines of Eastern Ukraine, and shocking human stories uncovered in Pakistan and the Philippines.
"We are delighted to have so many local freelancers represented at this year's Awards," said Tina Carr, Director of the Rory Peck Trust. "It's a sign of just how much media organisations are relying on local freelancers to provide news and images, especially from areas and situations that are hard to access. It's also an indicator that they are producing images and journalism of the highest quality, despite living and working in some of the world's most difficult and dangerous situations."
"The ability freelancers have to produce visually captivating footage, that moves viewers emotionally, telling stories from some of the most challenging environments across the globe is an inspiration to us all," said Michael Harrit, Marketing Director, Media Solutions, Sony Europe. "This year, with so many local freelancers represented, those images are even more impactful coming from situations and events so personal and close to home. Our sponsorship of the Rory Peck Awards over the last twenty years is in recognition of the immense value that freelancers hold and our support of the work of the Rory Peck Trust provides freelancers with the safety skills, knowledge and support they need to continue to work with confidence."
Finalists 2015
1. Rory Peck Award for News:
- • Zein Al-Rifai (Syrian) for Aleppo: Life in Ruins - Shot in Syria, June 2014 - February 2015. Commissioned and broadcast by AFPTV
• Yahya Hassouna (Palestinian) for Gaza: A Summer of War and Beyond - Shot in Gaza, July-September 2014. Commissioned and broadcast by AFPTV• Olivier Sarbil (French) for Ukraine: Sounds of a Ceasefire - Shot in Ukraine, October 2014 - February 2015. Commissioned and broadcast by CCTV News
2. Rory Peck Award for News Features:
- • Zmnako Ismael (Iraqi) for On the Road with Yazidis Fleeing Islamic State - Shot in Iraq and Syria, August 2014. Self-funded, broadcast by Channel 4 News (ITN)
• Simon Rawles (British) for Caged and Chained - Shot in the Philippines, October 2014. Self-funded, broadcast by The Guardian
• Salam Rizk (Syrian) for Syria's Rebel Advance - Shot in Syria, April-May 2015. Commissioned and broadcast by Vice News(Note: this is a new category for 2015 replacing Rory Peck Award for Features)
3. Sony Impact Award for Current Affairs:
- • Haider Ali (Pakistani) for Pakistan's Hidden Shame - Filmed in Pakistan, June 2013 - February 2014. Clover Films for Channel 4
• Medyan Dairieh (Palestinian) for The Islamic State - Filmed in Syria and Iraq, June 2014. Commissioned and broadcast by Vice News• Hernan Zin (Italian) for Born in Gaza - Filmed in Gaza, August - October 2014. Self-funded. Broadcast by Canal+.
For more information, go to Rory Peck Awards website.
