Eugene Jarecki, director of Julian Assange movie “The Six Billion Dollar Man,” has been awarded the first-ever Golden Globe Prize for Documentary. His movie world premieres at Cannes Film Festival.
The award, offered by Artemis Rising Foundation, was given to Jarecki on Monday on the Cannes Film Festival.
Jarecki is a two-time winner of the Sundance Grand Jury Prize, in addition to a number of Emmy and Peabody Awards.
The prize honors a filmmaker for his or her “contribution in shaping the documentary genre and challenging the way audiences see the world.”
The jury consists of president of Golden Globes, Helen Hoehne; founder and CEO of Artemis Rising Foundation, Regina Ok. Scully; Academy Award successful producer and co-founder of Impact Partners, Geralyn White Dreyfous; and actor and producer Tessa Thompson.
In deciding to award Jarecki, the jury highlighted how “his films combine the skills of a journalist with the voice of a poet.” They recommended him for “balancing penetrating analysis with fearlessness, compassion and empathy.” They added: “He helps us broaden our view of what is right and wrong,” and stated that “he is not afraid to look ‘under the hood’ of society and expose what is being rewired without our consent.” They felt general that “Jarecki’s films deeply challenge our perspectives, and inspire us to defend our most fundamental freedoms.”
The jury stated: “Eugene Jarecki embodies the very spirit of what this prize was created to honor. His documentaries are fearless, unflinching, and profoundly human – they don’t just inform, they transform. At a time when truth is under pressure, Eugene’s work reminds us of the power of storytelling to provoke, enlighten, and ultimately defend democracy itself. We are proud to recognize his extraordinary contribution with the first-ever Cannes Golden Globe Prize for Documentary.”