Oscar nomination for Tim Hetherington’s Restrepo
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Restrepo is Oscar nominated in the Best Documentary Feature category
Cardiff PhotoJournalism alumnus Tim Hetherington and his co-director Sebastien Junger have been nominated for an Oscar at this month’s 83rd Academy Awards.
Tim has been nominated in the Best Documentary Feature category for his feature-length film Restrepo.
Chronicling the one-year deployment of a platoon of American soldiers at one of the most dangerous outposts in Afghanistan, the Korengal Valley, the film focuses on the remote 15-man outpost of, “Restrepo,” named after a platoon medic killed in action.
Starting in June 2007, Tim and Sebastian made a total of ten trips to the Korengal on assignment for Vanity Fair Magazine and ABC News.
Both directors stated their intention was to capture the experience of combat, boredom and fear through the eyes of the soldiers. Tim explained, “The war in Afghanistan has become highly politicized, but soldiers rarely take part in that discussion…”
“Soldiers are living and fighting and dying at remote outposts in Afghanistan in conditions that few Americans back home can imagine. Their experiences are important to understand, regardless of one’s political beliefs.”
A graduate of the School’s respected Diploma in Journalism, Tim completed this training in 1997, having selected the photojournalism option.
Tim Hetherington
Although that option is no longer running, Dr Daniel Meadows, Lecturer in Photography and Participatory Media, who taught Tim was pleased Tim’s work was being recognised. He said: "Apart from his bravery, the truly remarkable thing about Tim is that he manages to present his work so successfully to multiple audiences…
“He was the first of my students who was truly 'modern'; that is, even back in 1996, he was keen to embrace print, moving pictures and audio while studying to be a photographer. He was always an inspiration to be around. I'm so glad his work is being recognised at last."
Restrepo, which has already won last year’s Sundance Film Festival’s Grand Jury Prize: Documentary, will compete against Gasland, Inside Job, Waste Land and Banksy and Jaimie D'Cruz’s Exit through the Gift Shop at the Kodak Theatre, Hollywood, on February 27.
Story updated 01/03/2011
Unfortunately Tim didn't win the Oscar. The award was won by Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs for their documentary “Inside Job”.
Story updated 05/05/2011
Tim Hetherington was tragically killed while covering the 2011 Libyan conflict in the city of Misrata. more
Related Links
Restrepo movie website or on Twitter @RestrepoMovie