Local documentary ‘Beacon Farms’ has won the Science and Education award at the London International Film Festival.
The film, which follows the fortunes of the North Side farm and its staff – all of whom are recovering addicts – was made by producer and director Candy Whicker and Little Films.
Whicker was in London to receive the award, the second the documentary has won on the international film festival circuit. In November, ‘Beacon Farms’ won silver at the Hollywood Independent Filmmaker Awards.
“The award is testament to all the wonderful people at Beacon Farms you see in the movie,” Whicker said of the London accolade. “It’s also particularly exciting that this award recognises the science and education aspects of the Beacon Farms project.
“The farm is really pushing boundaries for agriculture, as well as developing solutions for people in recovery. I hope this recognition attracts greater support for the important work they are doing.”
Whicker picked up the award at a ceremony at the Hilton Docklands on Friday, 9 Feb.
Beacon Farms is a non-profit organisation established to provide jobs in agriculture for Caymanians recovering from drug and alcohol abuse.
The movie, which premiered in Cayman in February last year, was shot by Whicker over three years – with a break during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. It captures the daily lives of the dozen workers on the farm, and their efforts to replace drugs and alcohol with hard work and a love of the land. It also explores the often uphill battle that the farm itself faces to stay sustainable and viable.
The London International Film Festival, also known as FFI London, was established 20 years ago to celebrate and recognise independent filmmakers across the globe.
Other main contenders for awards this year were full-length feature documentaries made by professional film companies, including ‘Away,’ a film about a professional Danish basketball player moving to the US during the pandemic, and ‘The Human Era’ about climate change and the Amazon, made by a Brazilian director, Iara Cardoso.
‘Beacon Farms’ is currently being shown, on Wednesdays at 6pm, at the Camana Bay Cinema. Tickets can be booked online at fandango.com.
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Congraulations to Candy Whicker, and to all those involved in the success of Beacon Farms.