Edward Watts (director)

Edward Watts is an English filmmaker who is known for making documentaries and narrative-focused films. He has created films in conjunction with UK television network Channel 4 and ITN Productions. He is known for films including For Sama (2019), Escape From ISIS (2015) and The Mega Brothel (2015).

He is the recipient of a number of awards including the Cannes Film Festival L'Œil d'or and the BAFTA Award for Best Documentary, both for For Sama. He received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for the same film.

TV commissions

His 2015 film Escape From ISIS was commissioned by Channel 4 as part of their long-running current affairs documentary programme Dispatches. The film told the story of the treatment of women living under the Islamic State.^[1]

His film The Mega Brothel was also shown by Channel 4 in the same year, examining Germany's legalised sex worker industry.^[2]

Awards

Escape From ISIS won the 2016 International Emmy Award For Current Affairs^[3] and was nominated for the 2016 BAFTA Award for Best Documentary.^[4]

For Sama won the L'Œil d'or prize for best documentary at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival,^[5] the Top Jury Prize at the 2019 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival^[6] and the 2019 South by Southwest Audience Award and Documentary Feature Award.^[7] It also won the BAFTA Award for Best Documentary and received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.^[8][9]

References

1. "Dispatches – Escape from Isis review: a story of appalling brutality, and a glimmer of hope". theguardian.com. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
2. "The Mega Brothel, Channel 4, review: 'sharp-eyed'". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
3. "SKY NEWS AND ITN DISPATCHES WIN INTERNATIONAL EMMYS® FOR NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS". iemmys.tv. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
4. "Bafta TV Awards 2016: Winners list". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
5. "Cannes: 'For Sama' Takes Golden Eye Documentary Prize". hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
6. "Hot Docs Awards: PBS Frontline's 'For Sama' Takes Top Jury Prize". hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
7. "SXSW Awards: 'Alice,' 'For Sama' Win Top Prizes". variety.com. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
8. "2020 EE British Academy Film Awards: The Winners". BAFTA. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
9. "OSCAR NOMINATIONS 2020 LIST: NOMINEES BY CATEGORY". ABC. Retrieved 2 February 2020.