Jan 12, 2021
The inaugural Barry Lank Memorial Award is presented by DOC Manitoba and the Winnipeg Film Group, in conjunction with the annual Gimme Some Truth Festival. The award is given to those who have shown exemplary work in the social awareness / social justice film genre as showcased in a particular documentary film. It is named in honour of Barry Lank csc, a Winnipeg-born film director and producer. The award recognizes a documentary that embodies Barry’s dedication to the craft and passion for storytelling.
After graduating from the London School of Film in England, Barry Lank returned to Winnipeg and free-lanced in the film industry, producing documentaries and short films and eventually started his company Lank/Beach Productions. It’s rare that one works at something they love for their entire lives yet that’s exactly what he did.
Barry established himself as one of Western Canada’s top cinematographers and filmed many national and international productions. He took his camera to some of the most tragic, desperate, and dangerous parts of the world working on social justice documentaries including Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, East Timor, Russia, and Vietnam, to name a few. Barry had a deep appreciation of history and kept abreast of world issues and he advocated for human rights and social justice through his films. Barry was a full member of the Canadian Society of Cinematographers and was twice nominated by the CSC for best documentary cinematography for his work on The Nature of Things, along with winning a multitude of other industry awards. He was also a founding member of the original Manitoba Film Producers Association and DOC Manitoba.
Barry was a cornerstone of the entire Manitoba film business, it’s impossible to overstate how much he did, or the positive impact he had on so many people. He was always trusting, supportive, and open, a powerful presence in a very unassuming manner. The entire local industry would look very different without his participation, he was fundamental to shaping the way it is now, and the success of the entire production community owes a lot to the encouragement and appreciation he gave to so many young and aspiring crew members.
The Barry Lank Memorial Award is a 5 year commitment sponsored by Frank Digital, Merit Motion Pictures, and Luanne and Hannah Lank. Entries eligible for this award are feature and short documentary programs in the social justice realm. PRIZE: $1,500 cash honorarium. If there is more than one award recipient, the cash prize will be split equally between them.
Deadline: March 6, 2021
Submission Criteria:
- Submit a film of any length made in the last 5 years related to the genre of social justice
- Open to Manitoba filmmakers only
- One submission per person
- Submission fee: FREE
- Results will be decided by Jury with the winner announced in March 2021
Submission form is available here.
