The Dolomiti Energia Award was awarded today

Published 25/04/2026

The indipendent award went to “The Road to Patagonia” by Matty Hannon.

The first of fourteen indipendent awards offered by Festival partner associations or organizations and chosen by independent juries, will be presented today. The Dolomiti Energia Award will be presented during the screening of the winning film, in Auditorium 1 at Cinema Modena, at 4.45 pm.

Established by Dolomiti Energia, the award is intended to celebrate the force of water, wind and the sun, which becomes a symbol of positive and lasting synergy between people and nature through transformation into energy for life – To the work that best interprets this relationship, by expressing the concept of energy in a natural context.

The jury, composed of Silvia Arlanch, Clara Mazzi, Chiara De Pol and Sofia Farina, awarded the prize to The Road to Patagonia by Matty Hannon (Australia/2024/90′) with the following motivation: “The Road to Patagonia emerges as the winner thanks to its intense and authentic narrative, which delicately interweaves a personal journey with the crucial balance between humanity and the planet’s resources. The journey becomes an opportunity for discovery, reflection, and change, leaving the viewer deeply engaged and profoundly moved. Furthermore, the quality of the pure and extremely varied cinematography was particularly appreciated, maintaining a respectful and powerful perspective while moving across radically different environments, from Patagonia, the Amazon rainforest and Central America to Alaska. The film masterfully transforms movement through space into narrative energy, and the power of nature into a driving force for deeper awareness of life”.

The film chronicles the incredible solo adventure of ecologist Matty Hannon from pristine Alaska to the edge of Patagonia. He leaves behind his city life to embrace the immensity of nature. Filmed over 16 years, the result is a stunning tale of a natural world that few have the opportunity to experience.

Matty Hannon has experience producing documentaries in extreme environments on six continents. He runs an award-winning production company from the heart of a national park on the north coast of New South Wales. The Road to Patagonia is his first documentary.