2016 Rory Peck Awards winners focus on refugee stories

Greek reporter Will Vassilopoulos, Italian Marco Salustro, German journalist Marcel Mettelsiefen and 'Angel' İstek Alcu, local reporter in Diyarbakir and first woman to receive the Martin Adler Prize, among the winners.

This week, the independent reporters who go behind the camera to bring us world news and current affairs have been honored at the 2016 Rory Peck Awards ceremony, sponsored by Sony Professional Solutions Europe and presented by ITV News' Julie Etchingham and CNN's Clarissa Ward.

The event, held at the BFI grounds on London's Southbank, recognized the important contribution of independent cameramen in gathering news around the world, as well as highlighting the increasingly difficult conditions of their work.

The Rory Peck News Award was presented to Greek reporter Will Vassilopouolos for Fear and Desperation: Refugees and Migrants Pour into Greece, commissioned by Agence France Presse (AFP). Will's images, captured between October 2015 and March 2016, show migrants and refugees upon their arrival on the island of Lesbos, crowded into boats and boats, as well as their rescue in the open sea in the middle of the night.

They also cover events at the makeshift sprawl camp at Idomeni, on Greece's northern border with Macedonia, which has become a flashpoint in the migrant crisis. For the jury, Will's “exceptional” material stands out for the very human vision of his narrative and attention to detail. "Images of the Mediterranean have become so commonplace that there is a risk of eye strain, but these shots certainly stand out. Will captured the shots, let them breathe and evolve, working with long sequences to provide the entire narrative arc." Will received his award from James Mates, European Editor of ITV News and President of the Jury in the News Category.

The Rory Peck Award for best reporting was awarded to independent Italian journalist Marco Salustro for Libya’s Migrant Trade: Europe or Die,commissioned and broadcast by VICE News. Filmed in June 2015, Marco's documentary reveals the inhumane conditions offered by unofficial detention camps run by local militias in Tripoli, as well as the abuse and mistreatment suffered by hundreds of migrants at the hands of those who claim to care for their well-being. It is a shocking story about human trafficking and human rights abuse. The jury highlighted the way in which Marco's work shows the moral complexity of the situation facing the Libyan government and its inability to resolve it.

"It conveys the authentic feeling of fear, insecurity and lack of hope of the immigrants. No UN agency is going to come save or protect them. Nor is there any government really interested in helping them. They are trapped in limbo. This is a film that is not easily forgotten, it stays with you." Marco received his award from filmmaker Brian Woods, of True Vision Productions, who chaired the jury for the reportage category.

The Sony Impact award in the current affairs category was collected by German independent filmmaker Marcel Mettelsiefen, winner of Children on the Frontline: the Escape, his second work about the family of one of the main rebel commanders in Aleppo. Marcel follows the fate of three young sisters, their brother and their mother after their father's capture by ISIS and their decision to leave a war-torn home to start a new life as refugees in Goslar, Germany.

The jury described Marcel's work as beautiful and timely. "The way this film immerses you in the complex, desperate and hopeful inner life of this family is astonishing. It is honest, emotional, profound and poetic. This is a moving documentary from a mature and responsible filmmaker, whose work we should all see right now." The recording was partially financed by Marcel himself. Produced by ITN Productions for Channel 4 in association with ZDF and PBS Frontline. The award was presented by Michael Harrit, Marketing Director of Media Solutions at Sony Professional Solutions Europe, who was also part of the jury.

2016, a difficult year

In his speech, Michael Harrit stated that "2016 has been a year of great movement internationally, we have witnessed extraordinary political and social uprisings. We must all continue to support the news gathering community, as the individual efforts of these independent reporters require great technical capacity and courage. Sony continues to offer tools and workflows so that these highly talented professionals can put them to exceptional use. We want this evening to become a tribute to the great impact of their work and serve to give them the thanks they so richly deserve."

Independent reporter 'Angel' Istek Alcu received the Martin Adler Award, which recognizes the outstanding collaboration of local independent journalists. Angel, who lives and works in Diyarbikar, in the Kurdish southeast of Turkey, has built a reputation as one of the bravest, most knowledgeable and trusted reporters in the region, allowing her to carry those independent and reliable stories outside the region.

Tina Carr, director of the Rory Peck Foundation, said: "Tonight the winners and finalists have shown us that some of the best examples of news and current affairs are produced by independent journalists, from very diverse backgrounds and with a wide range of experiences. This ceremony offers us an opportunity to celebrate that diversity and talent. It is also a reminder that freelance reporters are at the heart of independent journalism. The role of journalism is increasingly under threat around the world - we must support and protect these brave and diverse, highly talented independent workers for the benefit of all of us.”