WINNER: MDGs Award

Imagine an Africa without thousands of Western aid workers telling Africans what to do; imagine an Africa where Africans are proving that they can take themselves out of poverty for a fraction of the cost spent by typical NGOs. With a cast of thousands, that's the message of Africa Rising.

The judges said:

'A superbly shot and uplifting film about poor people in a rural region of Ethiopia who get together to help themselves. The jury found this a compelling piece of work that drew the viewer into the heart of this community as it struggled to shake off a dependency culture. From an endearing woman dismissed as mad for starting a café in her bush village, to the candid money lender lamenting the loss of his profits from the poor, this rich and inspiring production had it all.'