“IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS” and “ANGEL’S FIRE” earned top honors at the annual IDA AWARDS gala benefit LOS ANGELES, December 8th, 2006 INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY ASSOCIATION AWARDS GALA DGA/Directors Guild of America Theater, Hollywood Documentaries about the war in Iraq and forced child labor in South America earned top honors at the annual International Documentary Assn.'s awards gala benefit: James Longley's "Iraq in Fragments," which offers intimate portraits of life among everyday Iraqis, won the group's feature documentary award. The short film award went to Marcelo Bukin for "Angel's Fire" (Fuego de Angel). In his speech, he described his visually ambitious film as "a kind of poem about sacrificing souls and bodies." Both awards were presented by Morgan Freeman. Other highlights of the evening included opening remarks by former Vice President Al Gore, who was the inspiration for an “Inconvenient Truth” directed by Davis Guggenheim who received the Pare Lorentz Award. Jane Fonda also presented the IDA Career Achievement Award to the Oscar-winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler. "These awards are presented to individuals who have earned the respect of their peers for their extraordinary achievements," says IDA President Diane Estelle Vicari. "We believe they are the history of our times, and the conscience and soul of our global community. They are also a source of inspiration for filmmakers everywhere in the world with untold dreams." “What a pleasure to able to present an award to a film that is so much more worthwhile than what the mass media produces" Albert Maysles, legendary film director NEW YORK, June 1st, 2006 MEDIA THAT MATTERS LAUNCHES YEAR LONG FILM FESTIVAL AT AWARDS CEREMONY HBO Headquarters Theater, New York City “What a pleasure to able to present an award to a film that is so much more worthwhile than what the mass media produces,“ Albert Maysles said on giving the Global Justice Award to Marcelo Bukin for his devastating documentary “Bread”. Bukin’s film, which simply and artfully shows the crushing effect of hard labor on young children, struck Maysles with its enduring imagery. “When you capture moments like that,” Maysles said, “those experiences for the viewer become indelible. They pass them on to other people and they remain with them.” "FILM FESTIVALS 2006 + SCREENINGS", Oct 29 Morgan Freeman presenting the award to Marcelo Bukin / Photo: Kayte Deioma. Legendary documentarian Albert Maysles presents the Global Justice Award, sponsored by Seventh Generation, to Marcelo Bukin, Director of Bread.