Canadian doc wins Viewster charity fest

Canadian documentary Davids and Goliath, about the trade of organ harvesting in China, has scooped the $50,000 first prize of the Viewster Online Film Fest charity edition, #VOFF4: Share It Forward.

Second place and $20,000 was awarded to Chris Godwin for Deafening Silence, a ICVA Award-winning drama short showing the trauma of still birth from a mother’s perspective.

Cacau Rhoden of Brazil won third place and $10,000 for Drops of Joy, a documentary that focuses on the importance of maintaining one’s playful spirit from childhood into one’s adult years, and US documentary Baja’s Secret Miracle won the festival’s Audience Award, which resulted in a $20,000 donation to The Climate Reality Project.

The charity edition of the festival, which received 230 submissions from 47 countries, was launched to build awareness around human rights, social, economic and environmental issues.

Kai Henniges, CEO, Viewster, said: “#VOFF4 was our most successful online film fest yet. It exposed pressing issues that desperately need our attention. We are happy to support the winning filmmakers and their causes and give the charity award to The Climate Response Project. Thanks to everyone who participated and made their cause visible to the world.”

#VOFF4’s jury comprised of independent film producer Ted Hope (21 Grams), Timo Vuorensola (Iron Sky) and award-winning German actress Nora Tschirner (Keinohrhasen).