The Grierson 2012 40th Anniversary British Documentary Award winners were announced on Tuesday night. The ceremony took place at the Empire Leicester Square and was hosted by artist and British icon Grayson Perry. The Dochouse and The Bertha Foundation Best Cinema Documentary award went to Bobby Fischer Against the World and was accepted by Dogwoof's founder and chairman, Andy Whittaker. The story of the prodigious rise of the American chess master kept the panel “completely hooked from beginning to end,” commented Chris Harris, Chairman of the judging panel.
Bobby Fischer against the World is a feature documentary that uses the narrative tension of the 1972 match between Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer to explore the nature of genius, madness, and the game of chess itself. This film tells the stranger-than-fiction story of the rise and fall of an Fischer, a true icon. From veteran filmmaker Liz Garbus, and the final project of late editor Karen Schmeer, Bobby Fischer Against the World exposes the disturbingly high price Fischer paid to achieve his legendary success and the resulting toll it took on his psyche. Rare archival footage and insightful interviews with those closest to him expand this captivating story of a mastermind’s tumultuous rise—and fall.
The film is currently available to watch on DVD, on iTunes and on DogwoofTV
A complete list of award winners is available here.