‘Trains,’ ‘Chronicles of the Absurd,’ ‘American Pastoral’ Win Main Awards at Documentary Festival IDFA

variety.com:

Rafa Sales Ross Guest Contributor Maciej J. Drygas’ “Trains” won Best Film in the International Competition at this year’s International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, with Miguel Coyula’s “Chronicles of the Absurd” taking the Best Film in the Envision Competition. “Trains” is a journey through the 20th century told entirely through archival footage.

The jury of the International Competition, comprising Juliana Fanjul, Sophie Fiennes, Grace Lee, Asmae El Moudir and Kazuhiro Soda, said they were unanimous in their decision, highlighting Drygas’ “bold and inventive use of archive.” “The film shows us routes to the positive and negative consequences of modern industrial innovation.

It harnesses the magic of cinema and as an audience, we are haunted by our present historical time, even while we bear witness to the past,” the jury added of the winning film, which will take home a €15,000 cash prize.

The International Competition jury awarded the Best Directing prize worth €5,000 to Auberi Edler for “An American Pastoral,” which trails an election for seats at the public school board in a small conservative town in Pennsylvania amid an intense cultural and ideological battle. “By simply looking and listening, this director reveals the current complexity at the heart of the United States,” said the jury statement. “Her deep commitment to observation allows the viewer to come face to face with the communities in the film and provides critical insight into the results of the last U.S presidential election.” In Coyula’s documentary, he and his artist partner Lynn Cruz deploy a string of secret audio reports to expose the control and intimidation suffered by independent artists in their home country of Cuba.