JSchool news

Student projects on the red carpet

Posted by: admin | On: 24th Nov, 2017 | News

Joshua Campbell received a special jury prize for Sirocco: Winds of Resistance

It’s awards season, and the U of R’s Master of Journalism projects are hitting the red carpet. Joshua Campbell’s Sirocco: Winds of Resistance picked up a Special Jury Award from the Saskatchewan Independent Film Association on Nov. 17. The SIFA awards are adjudicated by three professional filmmakers, who select the best in Saskatchewan-produced independent films of the past year.

The film follows the struggles of two generations of Sahrawi women fighting for the return of traditional lands in the Western Sahara that are now occupied by Morocco. In his travels, Campbell discovered a Saskatchewan connection: Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan is the world’s biggest customer for phosphate mined in the conflict zone, providing the Moroccan government with income and motivation to continue its armed occupation.

Campbell’s film was also nominated for a Ruth Shaw (Best in Saskatchewan) Award at the Yorkton International Film Festival, alongside J-School undergrad project In Her Veins, where his competition included a U of R J-School undergraduate film.

In Her Veins was directed by Rebekah Lesko and Kendall Latimer and produced by Eric Westhaver, Carlos Prieto and Britton Gray as an assignment for the 4th-year Documentary class, taught by Trevor Grant. The film tells the story of a woman who hits rock bottom on the streets of Regina, and then finds a way to a better future.

Update: Sirocco won the viewer’s choice award at the Queen City Shorts Nov. 28 film screening. It will now be entered into the Queen City Shorts award festival weekend on January 25-28, 2018 weekend.

Sirocco: Winds of Resistance Trailer