“THE TOWN THAT DROVE AWAY” NOMINATED FOR THE 2025 IDA DOCUMENTARY AWARDS
The film “The Town That Drove Away”, produced by LARMO, has been nominated for the prestigious 2025 IDA Documentary Awards in the Best Cinematography category. Natalia Pietsch and Grzegorz Piekarski are the only Polish filmmakers recognized this year among leading documentary creators from around the world.
The IDA Documentary Awards, presented by the International Documentary Association in Los Angeles, have been among the most important distinctions in global documentary cinema for over forty years. The awards honor key achievements in documentary filmmaking, including outstanding cinematography, and their long-standing prestige continues to set quality standards across the industry. Winners in 13 categories will be announced during the ceremony on December 6.
The film was created by a director – cinematographer duo, and the combination of both roles allows its form to grow organically alongside the narrative. The visual language of “The Town That Drove Away” relies on precise, static compositions, thoughtful use of space – including the off-screen space – and a consistent, quiet observation of the protagonists. This attentive formal approach gives the story of the displaced community of Hasankeyf depth, rhythm, and dignity, emphasizing the emotional power of the image as a way of conveying human experience.
The film had its world premiere at the Visions du Réel festival, where it received the Special Youth Jury Prize for Best Medium-Length Film. To date, it has been screened at numerous international festivals and has won several awards.
The film's producer is Katarzyna Kostecka / LARMO.
The full list of nominated films can be found here.