Midnight Family takes Sheffield Jury Award

Luke Lorentzen with his Grand Jury Award

DOC/FEST: A documentary about a family that runs a private ambulance service in Mexico City has scooped the Grand Jury Award at the annual Sheffield Doc/Fest.

Midnight Family from director Luke Lorentzen picked up the prize at a ceremony during the UK event last night. The jury described his film as “combining family drama with serious moral questions” and “a timely warning to the dangers of privatised healthcare.”

The jury gave special mention to For Sama, directed by Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts, and Midnight Traveller, directed by Hassan Fazili.

For Sama, produced by Channel 4 News and ITN Productions for Channel 4 and PBS in the US, also took the Audience Award ahead of its theatrical run beginning in July.

For the first time this year, Doc/Fest had an international category to honour the best non-fiction film challenging global perspectives. The inaugural prize went to Earth from Austrian director Nikolaus Geyrhalter, which examines the effect of mining, excavating and quarrying on the surface of the planet.

The Art Award went to No Data Plan from director Miko Revereza, Archana Atul Phadke took the New Talent award for About Love and Baracoa, directed by Pablo Briones and The Moving Picture Boys, collected the Youth Award.

The full list of winners can be found on the Sheffield Doc/Fest website.