2011 Cinema Eye Honors for Nonfiction Filmmaking - winners

Tonight, the 2011 Cinema Eye Honors for Nonfiction Filmmaking were handed out at the newly re-opened Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens, New York City. The surprise winner of the Outstanding  Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking Award was Banksy's Exit Through the Gift Shop. I remain unconvinced that it is in fact non-fiction or outstanding. It also won the Editing Award.

Last Train Home by Montrealer Lixin Fan had led with 7 nominations (Outstanding Feature, Direction, Production, Cinematography, Editing, International Feature and Audience Choice), with a record 6 for Fan himself. It picked up three awards, for Production, Cinematography and International film.

A newly introduced category, the Heterodox Award, was created to honour a narrative film that “imaginatively incorporates nonfiction strategies, content and/or modes of production.” Putty Hill by Matt Porterfield overcame the competition from Pedro Gonzalez-Rubio’s Alamar, Michelangelo Frammartino’s Le Quattro Volte,  Lena Dunham’s Tiny Furniture and Apichatpong "Joe" Weerasethakul's Palme d'Or winner Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives.

A Legacy Award was given to the landmark 1975 film Grey Gardens, and presented to filmmakers Albert Maysles and Muffie Meyer from the filmmaking team. They received a rousing standing ovation. 

The Audience Award went to Joan Rivers: A Piece Of Work.

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Complete list of winners for the 4th Annual Cinema Eye Honors for Nonfiction Filmmaking:

Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking

Exit Through The Gift Shop, directed by Banksy, produced by Jaimie D’cruz

Direction

The Oath, Laura Poitras

Production

Last Train Home, Mila Aung-Thwin and Daniel Cross

Cinematography

Last Train Home, Lixin Fan

Editing

Exit Through The Gift Shop, Chris King and Tom Fulford

Composing

The Sound Of Insects - Record Of A Mummy, Norbert Moeslang

Graphic Design

Gasland, Juan Cardarelli And Eric Levy

International

Last Train Home, directed by Lixin Fan, produced by Mila Aung-Thwin and Daniel Cross

Debut

Marwencol, Jeff Malmberg

Spotlight

The Autobiography Of Nicolae Ceausescu, directed by Andrei Ujic

Audience Choice

Joan Rivers: A Piece Of Work, directed by Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg

Nonfiction Short Film

The Poodle Trainer, directed by Vance Malone