BIO

SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY

 

2013   SALMA
2010   PINK SARIS  
2009   ROUGH AUNTIES
2007   HOLD ME TIGHT, LET ME GO
2005   SISTERS IN LAW
2002   THE DAY I WILL NEVER FORGET
2001   RUNAWAY
2000   GAEA GIRLS
1998   DIVORCE IRANIAN STYLE
1995   SHINJUKU BOYS
1993   DREAM GIRLS
1992   THE GOOD WIFE OF TOKYO
1990   HIDDEN FACES
1989   EAT THE KIMONO
1978   THEATRE GIRLS
1976   PRIDE OF PLACE

FILMMAKER BIO

Longinotto studied camera and directing at England's National Film School, where she made PRIDE OF PLACE, a critical look at her boarding school, and THEATRE GIRLS, documenting a hostel for homeless women

Her first film in Japan was EAT THE KIMONO, about the controversial feminist performer Hanayagi Genshu; HIDDEN FACES, the internationally acclaimed, documentary about Egyptian women followed, then THE GOOD WIFE OF TOKYO which explores women, love and marriage in Japanese society. Next Longinotto directed DREAM GIRLS, a BBC-produced documentary of the spectacular Japanese musical theatre company, the Tararazuka revue; and SHINJUKU BOYS, about three Tokyo women who live as men. Next, she made ROCK WIVES for Channel 4 about the wives and girlfriends of rock stars, followed by DIVORCE IRANIAN STYLE, set in a Family law court in Tehran about women and divorce in Iran. She then made two short films for the BEST FRIENDS series on Channel 4: STEVE & DAVE - about two friends who work as a drag act and ROB & CHRIS about two homeless young men. Then GAEA GIRLS about a young girl’s struggle to become a professional wrestler. RUNAWAY is set in a refuge for girls in Tehran. Her film THE DAY I WILL NEVER FORGET, about young girls in Kenya challenging the tradition of female circumcision premiered domestically at Sundance in 2003. Her next film SISTERS IN LAW, set in Kumba, Cameroon, premiered and won two prizes at Cannes. After that, HOLD ME TIGHT, LET ME GO was set in an Oxford school for disturbed children. The next film, ROUGH AUNTIES is about a group of brave women based in Durban, South Africa. PINK SARIS set in Uttar Pradesh, Northern India followed. Her latest film, SALMA, is set in Tamil Nadu, India.

SELECTED AWARDS & HONORS

2011

-British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Nomination, Best Single Documentary (PINK SARIS)
-Sheffield Doc Fest, Special Jury Prize (PINK SARIS)
-Abu Dhabi Int'l Film Festival, Best Documentary (PINK SARIS)
-CPH:DOX, Amnesty Award (PINK SARIS)
-Nomination for 2011 ALA “Notable Video for Adults” (PINK SARIS)

2009
 - Film Retrospective, The Museum of Modern Art, New York City
 - World Cinema Jury Prize in Documentary (ROUGH AUNTIES), Sundance Film Festival
 - Top Ten Audience Favourite, Hot Docs
 - True Vision Award, True/False Film Festival

2008
 - Film Retrospective, Nordisk Panorama, Sweden
 - Special Jury Prize (HOLD ME TIGHT, LET ME GO), IDFA
 - Best British Feature Documentary (HOLD ME TIGHT, LET ME GO), Britdoc
 - Peabody Award (SISTERS IN LAW)

2007
- Prix Art et Essai (SISTERS IN LAW), Cannes Film Festival
- Special Mention Europa Cinemas (SISTERS IN LAW), Cannes Film Festival
- Audience Award (SISTERS IN LAW), IDFA
- Best Documentary Nominee (SISTERS IN LAW), British Independent Film Awards
- Best Documentary (SISTERS IN LAW), Hawaii International Film Festival
- Adrienne Shelly Award (SISTERS IN LAW), Women’s Film Critics Circle

2006
- Film Retrospective, Human Rights Watch Film Festival, London

2003
- Film Retrospective, Recontres Internationales du Documentaire de  Montreal

2002
 - WIN Award  (THE DAY I WILL NEVER FORGET), Sundance   Film Festival
- Amnesty International DOEN Award (THE DAY I WILL NEVER FORGET), IDFA
- Best Doc UK Spotlight (THE DAY I WILL NEVER FORGET), Hot Docs Film Festival
- Best Documentary (THE DAY I WILL NEVER FORGET), Festival International de Films de Femmes de Creteil

2001
- Joris Ivans Award Nominee (RUNAWAY), IDFA

2000
- Flaherty Documentary Award for TV (DIVORCE IRANIAN STYLE), BAFTA Awards
- Best of Festival Section (GAEA GIRLS), Edinburgh International Film Festival
- Silver Hugo Award (GAEA GIRLS), Chicago International Film Festival

1999
 - Silver Hugo Award (DIVORCE IRANIAN STYLE), Chicago International Film Festival
 - Golden Gate Award, Grand Prize (DIVORCE IRANIAN STYLE), San Francisco Film Festival

1998
- Best Documentary (DREAM GIRLS), Festival International de Films de Femmes de Creteil

1997
 - Public Prize and Jury Special Mention (HIDDEN FACES), Festival International de Films de Femmes de Creteil