Ken Burns’ exploration of boxing legend Muhammad Ali (pictured), Edgar Wright’s acclaimed doc on the rock band Sparks, and Wildbear Entertainment’s Disney+ original Playing With Sharks all claimed prizes at this year’s edition of the FOCAL International Awards.
The ceremony, presented by UK-headquartered archive and stock footage association FOCAL International, recognizes the best achievements in the use of archival materials across genres. The 2022 awards, which were hosted by Sally Phillips, were held last night (June 23) in London and awarded 16 prizes across production, restoration & preservation and personnel categories.
Some of the non-fiction categories and their winners are listed below, with credits supplied by FOCAL International. For the full list of winners, visit the organization’s site here.
The Jane Mercer Researcher of the Year Award
Kate Griffiths and Tess McNally-Watson, The Sparks Brothers
Company of the Year
Yorkshire and North East Film Archives
Footage Person of the Year
Richard Watson, R3store Studios
Best Use of Footage in an Arts and Entertainment Production
Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street (HBO Documentary Films, Screen Media, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Macrocosm Entertainment)
Best Use of Footage in a Cinematic Feature
Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (Searchlight Pictures, Onyx, Hulu)
Best Use of Footage in a Factual or Natural World Production
Playing with Sharks (Wildbear Entertainment, National Geographic, Screen NSW, Dogwoof, TDOG)
Best Use of Footage in a History Feature
Charlie Chaplin, the Genius of Liberty (Kuiv Productions)
Best Use of Footage in a History Production
Antoine the Fortunate (Anemon Productions, Les Films Du Balibari, EPO-Film)
Best Use of Footage in a Music Production
The Sparks Brothers (Complete Fiction Pictures Limited)
Best Use of Footage in a Short Film Production
Lost Connections (Yorkshire Film Archive)
Best Use of Footage in a Sports Production
Muhammad Ali (Florentine Films)
Best Use of Footage in Advertising or Branded Content
Sandy Hook, “The Kids Are Not Alright — Disappearing Act” (STALKR, BBDO NY)
Student Jury Award for Most Inspiring Use of Footage
Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street (HBO Documentary Films, Screen Media, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Macrocosm Entertainment)