Helena Trestikova’s René wins Euro Film Academy’s Docu of the Year Award

Last week The European Film Academy announced the ten finalists for the category of european documentary film of the year (see complete list below) and today they’ve announced that the big winner is Helena Trestikova‘s RENÉ. The docu receives the 2008 Documentary Prix Arte award discerned by the Academy. 

The jury statement reads as follows: This is a film which tells a powerful story – filmed over 20 years – about an extraordinary character on the edge of society. It is a longitual documentary of outstanding quality. The jury found its examination of the relationship between subject and filmmaker
fascinating and thought-provoking. 

Known for shooting her subjects for long periods of time, Trestikova began shooting her subject in 1989 at a youth correctional facility in Libkovice. René has been in prison since he was 16. While in custody, he and several others attempted a riot, which extended his sentence. History repeats itself in and out of prison and I imagine that the docu shows the wear and tear of such a life. The docu includes René’s letters to the director and get this — the subject actually emptied out the director’s flat while out of prison.  

Here were the ten finalists: 

Durakovo – Village of Fools, Nino Kirtadzé, France
Fados, Carlos Saura, Portugal/Spain 
Children. As Time Flies., Thomas Heise, Germany
The Mother, Antoine Cattin & Pavel Kostomarov, Switzerland
MAN ON WIRE, James Marsh, UK
Stranded: I’ve come from a plane that crashed on the mountains,Gonzalo Arijón, France
Citizen Havel, Pavel Kotecký & Miroslav Janek, Czech Republic
Shadow of the Holy Book, Arto Halonen, Finland
*RENÉ, Helena Trestikova, Czech Republic
The Dictator Hunter, Klaartje Quirijns, the Netherlands