The award winners are as follows:

Outstanding Achievement in NonFiction Feature Filmmaking
MAN ON WIRE
directed by James Marsh; produced by Simon Chinn

Outstanding Achievement in Direction
Ari Folman for WALTZ WITH BASHIR

Outstanding Achievement in Production
Simon Chinn for MAN ON WIRE

Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography
Peter Zeitlinger for ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD

Outstanding Achievement in Editing
Jinx Godfrey for MAN ON WIRE

Outstanding Achievement in Graphic Design and Animation
Yoni Goldman & David Polonsky for WALTZ WITH BASHIR

Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition
Max Richter for WALTZ WITH  BASHIR

Outstanding Achievement in International Feature
WALTZ WITH BASHIR
directed by Ari Folman; produced by Ari Folman, Serge Lalou, Gerhard Meixner, Yael Nahlieli & Roman Paul

Outstanding Achievement in Debut Feature
UP THE YANGTZE
directed by Yung Chang

Audience Choice Award
UP THE YANGTZE
directed by Yung Chang

Jurors for the U.S. Documentary Competition were Patrick Creadon, Carl Deal, Andrea Meditch, Sam Pollard and Marina Zenovich

Grand Jury Prize: U.S. Documentary
We Live in Public
Directed by Ondi Timoner. The film portrays the story of the Internet’s revolutionary impact on human interaction as told through the eyes of maverick web pioneer, Josh Harris, and his transgressive art project that shocked New York.

Special Jury Prize: U.S. Documentary
Good Hair
Directed by Jeff Stilson, comedian Chris Rock travels the world to examine the culture of African-American hair and hairstyles.

Audience Award presented by Honda: U.S. Documentary
The Cove
Directed by Louie Psihoyos. The horrors of a secret cove nestled off a small, coastal village in Japan are revealed by a group of activists.

Directing Award: U.S. Documentary
El General
Director Natalia Almada. As great-granddaughter of President Plutarco Eliás Calles, one of Mexico’s most controversial revolutionary figures, the filmmaker paints an intimate portrait of Mexico.

U.S. Documentary Editing Award
Sergio
Edited by Karen Schmeer and directed by Greg Barker, examines the role of the United Nations and the international community through the life and experiences of Sergio Vieira de Mello, the U.N.’s High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Excellence in Cinematography Award: U.S. Documentary
The September Issue
Cinematographer Bob Richman and director R.J. Cutler. With unprecedented access, crew shot for nine months to capture editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and her team preparing the 2007 Vogue September issue, widely accepted as the “fashion bible” for the year’s trends.

Jurors for the World Documentary Competition were Gillian Armstrong (Australia), Thom Powers (U.S.); Hubert Sauper (France).

World Cinema Jury Prize: Documentary
Rough Aunties
Directed by Kim Longinotto. Fearless, feisty and unwavering, the ‘Rough Aunties’ protect and care for the abused, neglected and forgotten children of Durban, South Africa. United Kingdom

World Cinema Special Jury Prize: Documentary
Tibet in Song
Directed by Ngawang Choephel. Through the story of Tibetan music, this film depicts the determined efforts of Tibetan people, both in Tibet and in exile, to preserve their unique cultural identity. Choephel served six years of an 18-year prison sentence for filming in Tibet. Tibet

World Cinema Audience Award: Documentary
Afghan Star
Directed by Havana Marking. After 30 years of war and Taliban rule, Pop Idol has come to television in Afghanistan: millions are watching and voting for their favorite singer. Marking’s film follows the dramatic stories of four contestants as they risk their lives to sing. Afghanistan/United Kingdom

World Cinema Directing Award: Documentary
Afghan Star
Directed by Havana Marking.

World Cinema Documentary Editing Award
Burma VJ
Directed by Anders Østergaard and edited by Janus Billeskov Jansen and Thomas Papapetros. The film takes place in September 2007 as Burmese journalists risk life imprisonment to report from inside their sealed-off country. Denmark

World Cinema Cinematography Award: Documentary
Big River Man
John Maringouin’s documentary about at an overweight, wine-swilling Slovenian world-record-holding endurance swimmer who resolves to brave the mighty Amazon in nothing but a Speedo. U.S.A./United Kingdom

From the press release, “In anticipation of announcing its final nominees on January 19, Cinema Eye is releasing the list of the 15 feature films that have received the highest vote totals across nine categories including: Direction, Production, Cinematography, Editing, Graphic Design and Animation, Debut Feature, International Feature, Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking, and the newest award – Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Score. There will be a tenth category for Audience Choice.”

n alphabetical order, they include:

AMERICAN TEEN – Nanette Burstein, dir
THE BETRAYAL (NERAKHOON) – Ellen Kuras & Thavisouk Phrasavath, dir
ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD – Werner Herzog, dir
THE ENGLISH SURGEON – Geoffrey Smith, dir
FORBIDDEN LIES – Anna Broinowski, dir
IN A DREAM – Jeremiah Zagar, dir
MAN ON WIRE – James Marsh, dir
MY WINNIPEG – Guy Maddin, dir
THE ORDER OF MYTHS – Margaret Brown, dir
ROMAN POLANSKI: WANTED AND DESIRED – Marina Zenovich, dir
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE – Errol Morris, dir
STRANDED, I COME FROM A PLANE THAT CRASHED ON THE MOUNTAINS – Gonzalo Arijon, dir
TROUBLE THE WATER – Carl Deal & Tia Lessin, dir
UP THE YANGTZE – Yung Chang, dir
WALTZ WITH BASHIR – Ari Folman, dir

Happy watching! Final nominations will be announced on January 19th from Sundance.