Janus Metz' documentary "Armadillo" is up against news stories and documentaries from all over the world at the TV industry's most prestigious award show, The Emmy Awards. The prizewinning documentary is nominated in four categories:
- Best Documentary
- Outstanding Continuing Coverage of a News Story- Long Form
- Outstanding Individual Achievement in a Craft: Cinematography – Documentary and Long Form - cinematographer Lars Skree
- Outstanding Individual Achievement in a Craft: Editing – Documentary and Long Form - editor Per K. Kirkegaard
"Armadillo" premiered on US television as part of PBS's 'POV strand'. It's the first time a Danish documentary has received so many nominations from the US National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
The News & Documentary Emmy Awards will be presented on Monday 1 October at a ceremony in the Time Warner Center in New York City.
Behind the frontlines
"Armadillo" is an upfront account of growing cynicism and adrenaline addiction in young soldiers at war. Mads and Daniel are serving their first mission in Helmand, Afghanistan. Their platoon is stationed in Camp Armadillo, right on the Helmand frontline, fighting tough battles against the Talebans. The soldiers are there to help the Afghans, but as fighting gets tougher and operations increasingly hairy, Mads, Daniel and their friends becomes cynical, widening the gap between themselves and the Afghan civilisation. Mistrust and paranoia set in causing alienation and disillusion.
Director Janus Metz and cinematographer Lars Skree followed soldiers close at hand for a period of six months. Ronnie Fridthjof and Sara Stockmann produced "Armadillo" for Fridthjof Film Doc with support from the Danish Film Institute. International sales handled by DR TV
"Armadillo" received the Grand Prix de la Semaine de la Critique in Cannes as the first documentary ever, and has since won prizes at festivals all over the world, including London Film Festival and Moscow International Film Festival 2-in-1.
Read more about "Armadillo" in an interview with the director Between Heroes and Killers