All four categories in the Rory Peck Awards were announced on 10 November, with a strong emphasis on highlighting the crucial role of freelancers in the television newsgathering industry in a year when, as the agencies and broadcasters are admitting, almost the only news footage coming out of Iraq has been from freelance camera people.
Sony International Impact Award Winner 2004
Philip Cox, Inside Darfur: The First Images of the Crisis, a self-funded piece, Shown by Channel 4 News, February 2004
Philip was the first westerner to film inside the war-torn region of Darfur, reporting on the ethnic cleansing reportedly taking place. His pictures alerted the world to the crisis, and showed a clear link between the barbarity taking place and the Sudanese government. At great risk he interviewed government troops, SLA Rebel Group members and refugees to build up an accurate picture of the events taking place. For four weeks he endured sand storms, gunfights and a starvation diet to film the unfolding events. His footage was subsequently shown to the UN and the European Commission and prompted calls across Europe for immediate action.
Hard News Winner 2004
Martin Adler, On Patrol with Charlie Company, a self-funded piece, shown by Channel 4 News, December 2003
Martins film presented a shocking observational account of the US Armys modus operandi in Samarra, Iraq in late November 2003. Martin Adler was with Charlie Company (1-8 Mechanised Infantry Battalion) whose base was on Highway One, just south of Samarra, in the heart of the Sunni Triangle. Their mission: to secure the highway, now considered to be the most dangerous stretch of road in the world with the constant threat of improvised explosive devices, and combat the insurgency which had broken out in the area. Most of the men had been in the country for 7 or 8 months and were showing signs of fatigue and stress.
Features Award Winner 2004
James Miller, Death in Gaza, made by Frostbite Films for HBO, Shown on
Channel 4
Filmed in Rafah, the footage, shot by James Miller, was for an HBO documentary showing the effect of war on the lives of Palestinian children. The main character, Ahmed, had begun working with the paramilitaries after he witnessed an older friend being shot by the Israelis. The film ends with the devastating footage showing how James Miller was killed. Ironically, it was not a war film. It centred on the lives of ordinary children, such as Ahmed, trying to grow up in an extraordinary environment. The night before the crew were due to leave Rafah, James was killed by an Israeli soldier despite the fact that he was wearing a helmet with TV on it, and carrying a white flag.
Freelancers Choice Winner 2004
Ron McCullagh has been chosen by the freelance community for the role he has played in supporting and enabling freelancers to develop their work. As Managing Director of Insight News Television Ltd he has ensured that the company remains focussed on in-depth international current affairs programming. McCullagh has made hundreds of documentary films and news features and the majority have involved the use of freelancers. This award is made via a vote amongst freelancers it honours individuals that have had a significant, positive impact upon the freelance community.
The Rory Peck Awards is an annual ceremony held by the Rory Peck Trust. As well as acting as a major fundraising event, is the only ceremony that highlights and celebrates freelance achievement in television newsgathering around the world. For the last four years, Sony has been the sponsor of this event.