"5 Broken Cameras"

Credit: Kino Lorber

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As I wrote last weekend when I broke down this year's Oscar race for Best Documentary Feature, I really wish I had caught up with "5 Broken Cameras" earlier in the season. It is quite simply one of the most astonishing pieces of work I've seen all year and could easily have figured on my top 10 list (where "The Queen of Versailles" was already featured -- it's been such a great year for the form).

I was happy, then, to see the news that the film took the top prize at tonight's Cinema Eye Honors. Such a bold and respectable call in a year that sees "Searching for Sugar Man" virtually dominating the scene (and likely to win the Oscar, too). I still feel good about the film's chances for a nod; after this win (not that this is an overly predictive), it's clear it has support.

Another film I'm betting on for a nod, "Detropia," picked up prizes for direction and original score, while the aforementioned "Sugar Man" picked up just one prize, for graphic design/animation (and I won't argue there). Just a great slate of winners on down the line. Cinematography -- of course "Chasing Ice" deserves that. Editing -- "How to Survive a Plague" is a feat of editing. I don't even much like "The Imposter," but it's handsomely mounted, so an achievement in production prize is fine by me.

Check out the full list of winners below. We'll see what the branch has to say tomorrow morning. And as always, keep track of the season via The Circuit.

Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking
"5 Broken Cameras"

Outstanding Achievement in Direction
Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady, "Detropia"

Outstanding Achievement in Production
"The Imposter"

Outsdanding Achievement in Cinematography
"Chasing Ice"

Outstanding Achievement in Editing
"How to Survive a Plague"

Audience Choice Prize
"Bully"

Outstanding Achievement in Debut Feature Film
Jason Tippet, Elizabeth Mims, "Only the Young"

Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Score
"Detropia"

Outstanding Achievement in Graphic Design or Animation
"Searching for Sugar Man"

Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Short Filmmaking
"Good Bye Mandima (Kwa Heri Mandima)"

Spotlight Award
"Argentinian Lesson"

Heterodox Award
"Museum Hours"

Legacy Award
"The War Room"

Kristopher Tapley
Editor-at-Large

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Kristopher Tapley has covered the film awards landscape for over a decade. He founded In Contention in 2005. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Times of London and Variety. He begs you not to take any of this too seriously.