‘Queendom,’ ‘Hollywoodgate,’ ‘Four Daughters’ And More In Running For Inaugural Henry Awards for Public Interest Documentary; Winner To Receive $100,000

deadline.com:

EXCLUSIVE: The inaugural Henry Awards for Public Interest Documentary has named its 15 semifinalists, with the winner set to receive $100,000.

The new prize, created by the Documentary Film in the Public Interest Initiative at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy, recognizes “nonfiction films that advance public understanding of the critical issues of our time while demonstrating outstanding cinematic achievement,” according to a release. “Guided by the hallmarks of ethical practice, rigorous investigation, and courageous storytelling, the Henry Awards are intended to honor and encourage a documentary filmmaking practice grounded in its essential role to a thriving society and focused on the public good.” Among the 15 semifinalists announced Tuesday are the Oscar nominated documentary Four Daughters, directed by Kaouther Ben Hania, and the Oscar-shortlisted documentaries Queendom, directed by Agniia Galdanova, and Hollywoodgate, directed by Ibrahim Nash’at.

Scroll for the full list of semifinalists. Candidates for the Henry Awards were nominated by an international committee of experts from around the world “who see, support, and champion contemporary nonfiction work,” per the release. “The Nominations Committee includes festival programmers, scholars, foundation leaders, journalists, and film critics.

Nominations were accepted for feature-length documentary films from around the world that have been released for at least a year and have exhibited a notable impact on audiences.” Financial support for the Henry Awards Program is provided by Linda and John Henry.