Sisters in Law
(Florence Ayisi & Kim Longinotto, 2005, 104 mins)
Synopsis
Sisters in Law is a fascinating look at the work of a courthouse in a small town in Cameroon, Central Africa. The tough-minded state prosecutor, Vera Ngassa and judge, Beatrice Ntuba, are helping women and children to find the courage to fight difficult cases of domestic violence and child abuse despite pressures from family and their community to remain silent. Through their emotional stories and courage, the extraordinary work of women in the judicial system shines through. With fierce compassion, the female prosecutor and judge dispense wisdom and justice in fair measure; handing down stiff sentences to those convicted. Sisters in Law presents another reality of African Women’s agency and their resilient spirit, courage, hope and fight for justice and gender equality.
Select Festival Screening Highlights and Awards
Cannes Film Festival
–Prix Art et Essai & Special Mention Europa Cinemas
International Documentary Festival, Amsterdam (IDFA)
-Winner, Audience Award
Peabody Award, USA
-Outstanding Achievement in Electronic Media
Common wealth Film Festival
-Audience Award
Hawaii International Film Festival
Golden Maile for Best Documentary
Broadcast Awards, London
Best Factual Programme
Common wealth Film Festival, Manchester, UK
-Audience Award for Best Documentary Film
Bologna Human Rights Film Festival, Italy
-Best Long Film
Royal Television Society Awards, U.K.
-Best Single Documentary
Message to Man, St. Petersburg, Russia
-Golden Centaur Prix
Real Life on Film Festival, Melbourne, Australia
-Best International Documentary
Dokfest, Munich, Germany
-The Special Documentary Award
Nuremberg Human Rights Film Festival, Germany
-Audience Award
Santa Barbara Intl Film Festival
-Social Justice Award for Documentary Film
Royal Anthropological Institute Film Festival
- Audience Award
Real Life on Film Festival, Melbourne
- Best International Documentary
The Tel-Aviv Intl. Documentary Film Festival
-Best International Film
Belfast Film Festival
- First Maysles Award
Al-Jazeera TV Festival
- Silver Award
DocAviv Film Festival, Israel
-Best International Film
Human Rights Nights Film Festival, Bologna, Italy
- Jury Prize, Long Feature Film
Munich Documentary Film Festival
-Special Documentary Prize
Sisters in Law was one of 15 documentaries selected for Oscar Short List in 2006 [LINK]
Sisters in Law was one of 6 best films selected by Veteran British documentary filmmaker, Nick Broomfield =The Times, Saturday June 4, 2011, page 6. [LINK]
Cannes award for courtroom film. [LINK]
