BEST IN CRAFT (DIRECTION)
Autodesk ‘The World Is Yours For The Making’
SHIBOBO! | Salomon Ligthelm

Awarded by Michelle McKenna

Judge’s comment on DIRECTION:

“This one stood out because it arrested my attention from the opening second and kept me utterly captivated. A beautiful script is always a gift, but a great director knows how to grow it into something far greater than even its writers could conceive of. I like to think that’s what happened here – because every decision taken added an extra level of magic. Stunning cinematography, surprising choices, like flipped shots and juxtapositions of interesting multimedia elements in fast-paced rhythmic sequences, epic production value, an unusual VO delivery and a masterful manipulation of the track – each element added a tantalising strangeness and scale that made it unique – and confidently earned it my vote for Craft Best this month.”

– Michelle McKenna, Creative Director at Joe Public

“Yesis! There is something really beautiful about the relationship between what we create and how those creations, in turn, shape us.

I love how Salomon takes something so fundamental to being human and invites us to look at it differently. Making is not simply a profession or a skill. It is an instinct we all share. He places humanity at the centre and gives the film an emotional depth.

The visual language further reinforces this through the beautiful interplay between intimate human moments and monumental structures. It gives the film an interesting sense of scale, reminding us that creativity exists in the smallest gestures as much as in our greatest achievements.”

– Sanaa Mothabisa, Director at Sanaa Films

CRAFT MENTION (DIRECTION & EDITING CRAFT)
Anything Goes ‘Culture in Motion’

They Films | Director – Grant de Sousa
Tessa Ford Post Production | Editor – Jamie Taylor

Awarded by Michelle McKenna

Judge’s comment on DIRECTION & EDITING CRAFT:

“What an absolute visual feast. A stunning mix of techniques, merging into one really complex, layered, yet seamless piece that delivers beautifully on a theme that’s tough to do justice to. Major kudos to Grant de Sousa – and Jamie Taylor’s editing effort on this is just gorgeous. It’s the type of film you want to watch again and again, just to soak in its pure artistry.”

– Michelle McKenna, Creative Director at Joe Public

CRAFT MENTION (DIRECTION)
Discovery ‘The Fixer’
They Films | Robin Goode

Awarded by Michelle McKenna

Judge’s comment on DIRECTION:

“The judge’s note mentioned there was ‘rarely a dry eye behind the VT monitor’ and I started watching like a true skeptic. But Robin Goode achieved something special here. The storytelling was honest, understated and heart-wrenching, buoyed by an exquisite, localised take on Coldplay’s ‘Fix You’. Overall, so sensitively handled and beautiful, it just took me completely by surprise – and had me in tears.”

– Michelle McKenna, Creative Director at Joe Public

CRAFT MENTION (DIRECTION)
Discovery ‘The Fixer’
They Films | Robin Goode

Awarded by Sanaa Mothabisa

Judge’s comment on DIRECTION:

“I’m in my feels! This film feels like a reminder that love is the only sane and satisfactory answer to the problem of human existence. 

I love how Robin’s direction captures such an honest expression of how we sustain ourselves through the love of family and the people who show up for us. There is something moving about the way these stories unfold. There is a tenderness to the storytelling that makes the film feel like a reflection of life itself. A reminder that so much of being human is about loving, caring for and showing up for one another.”

– Sanaa Mothabisa, Director at Sanaa Films