Welcome to Babel Wins Documentary Australia Award at Sydney Film Festival

The Award-Winning Documentary

At the 71st Sydney Film Festival, Welcome to Babel took home the prestigious $20,000 Documentary Australia Award, marking a significant milestone for director James Bradley and his entire team. The film was recognised for its intimate portrayal of renowned artist Jiawei Shen and his relationship with his wife, Lan Wang.

The jury, which included Bhutanese director Arun Bhattarai, and Australian filmmakers Dean Gibson and Pat Fiske, praised Welcome to Babel for its beautiful cinematography and thoughtful storytelling.

A Global Story Told Through a Personal Lens

The jury highlighted the film’s unique approach, noting its ability to convey a global narrative through the intimate story of Jiawei Shen and Lan Wang. The emotional depth and ambition of the project resonated with viewers and judges alike.

Previous Documentary Australia Award Winners

Welcome to Babel now joins an illustrious list of previous winners, including last year’s Marungka Tjalatjunu (Dipped in Black) (2023) and other notable films such as Keep Stepping (2022) and I’m Wanita (2021). The award continues to highlight outstanding Australian documentaries and celebrate the craft of storytelling in film.

“The Jury felt that Welcome to Babel’s intimate story of artist Jiawei Shen was a beautifully made and thoughtful film that demonstrated the ambition to tell a global story through the intimate relationship of Jiawei and his wife, Lan. The cinematography and editing were exceptional and tonally perfect for the story. Congratulations to Welcome to Babel.”

SFF jury joint statement: Bhutanese director and producer Arun Bhattarai, and Australian directors and producers Dean Gibson and Pat Fiske