Time of Pandemics
MINERS SHOT DOWN
Date: 2014
Director: Rehad Desai
Producers: Rehad Desai, Anita Khanna & Brian Tilley
Broadcasters: Al Jazeera America, Al Jazeera English, DR-Beyen Danish Broadcasting, NHK Enterprises Inc Japan, NRK Norwegian Broadcasting Corp, RTS/Radio Television Switzerland, Sveriges Television AB Sweden, VKZ/IKON The Netherlands, YLE Finland, Afridocs/GoTV DSTV, Formulation Inc Japan, TV3 Spain, ENCA South Africa, ETV South Africa, BBC Storyville Global, Cape Town Community TV South Africa, Islamic TV, KZNI Community TV South Africa, Bay TV South Africa
Synopsis
In August 2012, mineworkers in one of South Africa’s biggest platinum mines began a wildcat strike for better wages. Six days later, the police used live ammunition to brutally suppress the strike, killing 34 and injuring many more. Using the POV of the Marikana miners, Miners Shot Down, follows the strike from day one, showing the courageous but isolated fight waged by a group of low paid workers against the combined forces of the mining company, Lonmin, the ANC government and their allies in the National Union of Mineworkers. What emerges is collusion at the top, spiraling violence and the country’s first post-apartheid massacre. South Africa will never be the same again.
Awards
2014
One World Human Rights Film Festival Prague (The Václav Havel Jury Award)
Movies that Matter Human Rights Film Festival (Camera Justitia Jury Award)
Encounters South African International Documentary Film Festival (Special Choice Award)
Myanmar Human Rights Film Festival (Aung San Suu Kyi Jury Award)
Durban International Film Festival (Jury Award for Best South African Documentary)
Durban International Film Festival (Amnesty International Human Rights Jury Award)
Ugu Film Festival South Africa (Best Reality Documentary Award)
African Film Festival Cologne (Audience Award)
2015
Black Movie Film Festival, Geneva (Audience Prize)
Cinema for Peace Justice Award
FESPACO Burkina Faso (Jury 1st Prize for Documentary)
South African Film and Television Awards (Best Documentary Feature)
South African Film and Television Awards (Best Achievement in Sound)
Docudays Ukraine – Docu/Right Competition (Honorary Diploma)
Taco Kuiper Awards for Investigative Journalism – Runner-Up
Overseas Press Corps of America Citation – Joe and Laurie Diner Award for Best international reporting in any medium dealing with human rights for their story
One World Media Awards – Finalist at BAFTAS 18 June
International Film Festival of Human Rights, Sucre, Bolivia- Special Jury Mention
Shungu Mamutitima (Smoke that Thunders) International Film Festival, Kabwe and Livingstone – Best Documentary
2015 Brazilian International Labour Film Festival / MostraCineTrabalho – Luis Espinal Prize
Coalition of Peace Organizations of the United Nations Award
Winner of International Emmy® Award in the Documentary Category
Festival du film documentaire de Saint Louis, Senegal – Special Jury Mention
2016
Britdoc Impact Award
RapidLion – The International South African Film Festival – Best Humanitarian Documentary
Doc Edge (New Zealand) Best International Feature Documentary Award
International Festival of Documentary Films on Human Rights “Bir Duino Kyrgyzstan” – Best Film on Civil Right for Access to the Resources
International Festival of Documentary Films on Human Rights “Bir Duino Kyrgyzstan” – Prize of Audience Recognition
