2014 MULTIMEDIA CONTEST

For the third annual World Press Photo Multimedia Contest, the international jury selected three winning productions in three categories: Short Feature, Long Feature and Interactive Documentary. A total of 373 multimedia productions were entered in the contest: Short Feature 254, Long Feature 56, Interactive Documentary 63.

The jury chair Jassim Ahmad, global head of multimedia innovation Reuters, reflected:

“It is remarkable that the number of entries to the contest has increased by one third since last year. The overall quality of submissions indicates that many more have a grasp of visual media – a promising indicator of things to come. The winners reflect many aspects of the human condition, such as family, culture, sport, conflict and politics.” He added:

“There is clearly no one model for success in the practice. You can work in teams large and small; with the support of a major organisation or local community. The smallest stories can speak to wider truths. The possibilities of multimedia are immense.”

Jury member Marianne Lévy-Leblond commented:

“The notion of multimedia is changing all the time. We constantly find new trends in the field and we try to approach them differently every time. This is an evolving field and we should approach it as such. What fascinates me the most is the level of engagement. The entries had high levels of interaction, from the user experience to distribution, and the use of social media.”

Overview of first prizes:

 

First prize Short Feature‘Staff Riding’

Photography, video and sound recording: Marco Casino

Editing: Andrea Bertolotti

Sound Design: Salvo Delle Femmine

Summary:

‘Staff riding’ is local slang for train surfing, and it is a widespread phenomenon in South Africa. The vast majority of surfers are under 25, and due to the highly dangerous nature of the activity, amputations of limbs and even deaths are not uncommon. In a context where violence, alcohol and drug abuse, rampant poverty, and AIDS reign supreme, train surfing symbolizes the search for social redemption that will never come for the characters of this story.

 

First prize Long Feature: ‘Witnessing Gezi’

Camera, director: Emin Özmen

Director: Barış Koca

Editor: Soner Emanet

Original soundtrack: Berkant Kılıçkap

Subtitles: Engin Önder

Graphic Design: Ozan Şanal

Summary:

‘Witnessing Gezi’ was created with the recordings of photojournalist Emin Özmen who witnessed the protests against the urban development plan for Istanbul’s Taksim Gezi Park. Subsequently, the protests sparked supporting strikes across Turkey turning into a resistance movement of great importance for the country. ‘Witnessing Gezi’ shows the human aspect of this civil resistance, a crucial event of the last 30 years in Turkey.

 

First prize Interactive Documentary: ‘A Short History of the Highrise’

National Film Board of Canada / The New York Times

Director, writer and editor: Katerina Cizek

Interactive Concept and Script: Katerina Cizek

Interactive Art Direction and Development: Jacqueline Myint

Producer: Gerry Flahive

Executive Producers: Jason Spingarn and Silva Basmajian

Summary:

‘A Short History of the Highrise’ is an interactive documentary that explores the 2,500-year global history of vertical living and the issue of social equality in an increasingly urbanized world. The centerpiece of the project is four short films. The interactive experience incorporates the films and, like a visual accordion, allows viewers to dig deeper into the project’s themes through additional archival materials, text and microgames.

For the full list of winners in all categories, please see the separate List of Prizewinners: http://www.worldpressphoto.org/2014-multimedia-contest/winners-list