‘To take the music so perversely used by the Nazis and bring it back to life through context was both brave and profound’
The Lost Music of Auschwitz tells the story of the multiple orchestras forced to play in Auschwitz concentration camp. At Auschwitz, an estimated 1.1 million people were killed during the Second World War. Amid the death, there were at least six orchestras, introduced to play marching music to help the SS move prisoners, but which also gave secret concerts as acts of rebellion.
The documentary utilises interviews with survivors, archive testimony and as-live musical performances. Piecing together fragments of music manuscripts found in the Auschwitz Museum archives, Leo Geyer and his orchestra perform these pieces as they would have sounded in Auschwitz.
Music played for the Nazis ends abruptly and survivor testimony plays over it. But the pieces played for or composed by survivors are allowed to play out in full, resulting in a sensitive final documentary. By recording modern-day natural sound, the team used this exclusively as ambience throughout the film, firmly grounding its sense of place.
Judges have called the documentary well shot and well-made and have especially praised the powerful juxtaposition between the music and silence.
SHORTLISTED
Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story
Silverback Films for National Geographic & Display+
A beautiful story about trust, joy, and a shared love for the simple things in life, the film presents the heart-warming tale of Billy, a salt-of-the-earth philosopher, and Molly, a starving young female otter Billy meets on evening in the Scottish subarctic.
Nutcracker: Backstage with English National Ballet
Cornerstone Studios for Sky Arts
Following the English National Ballet’s company as they prepare an ambitious new production of The Nutcracker, the documentary offers an insight into the artistic process behind the ballet. It frames the creation of a ballet as a pursuit of near-impossible perfection.
Salmond and Sturgeon: A Troubled Union
Firecrest Films for BBC Scotland
In this two-part documentary, Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon examine their political partnership. The documentary uses rarely seen, behind-the-scenes footage and access to key figures including current First Minister John Swinney, to illuminate the transformation of the party, as well as those of Sturgeon and Salmond.
The Future with Hannah Fry
Windfall Films for Bloomberg Originals Streaming
Mathematician, writer, and documentary presenter professor Hannah Fry investigates subjects over a breadth of specialist fields. She explains these subjects in a down-to-earth manner to deliver a lighter, journalistic tone, while also using her scientific rigour to offer insightful opinions.
Watch Us Roar!
Flashing Lights Media for BSL Zone
Deaf athletes take the forefront in this film, amid mounting tensions following the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport decision to withhold funding for GB Deaf sports. The documentary offers an authentic look into the futsal team, tracking the challenges they face and their triumphs.
AWARD SPONSORED BY MOMENTS LAB
No comments yet