Storyhunter 2016 Staff Picks

Born from our tradition of Storytime Fridays, where we get together at our Brooklyn office and watch videos produced through the platform, we are proud to present our 2nd annual Storyhunter Staff Picks!
Whether published on Facebook or YouTube, shot in New Delhi or the Mojave Desert, these videos all have two things in common: they were made through the Storyhunter platform and they’re unforgettable.
Congratulations to all the filmmakers and editors who produced these amazing videos!
BEST MINI-DOCS
It’s Always St. Patty’s Day for This Lady
Publication: New York Post
Storyhunter Production Company: Taper Media
After posting an assignment for story pitches related to St. Patrick’s Day, the New York Post was pitched this gem of a story by video journalist Fanny Texier and editor Martin Loper of Taper Media. Once the production company got the green light, they shot and edited it, only going through two rounds of editing notes before it was ready to publish and which received over 37 million views on Facebook. Enjoy this intimate portrait of a quirky character that you’ll only find in NYC.
The Lone Man Building a Cathedral By Hand
Publication: Great Big Story
Storyhunter Filmmaker: Diego Herrero
A timeless story of a man building an enormous cathedral on the outskirts of the city, Madrid-based filmmaker, Diego Herrero, shot this mini-documentary for GBS after answering an assignment calling for pitches about unique, inspiring people around the world.
Why India’s Youth Are Dating In Secret
Publication: Seeker, Discovery News
Storyhunter Journalist: Sidrah Fatma Ahmed
Based in India, freelance multimedia journalist, Sidrah Ahmed, produced and shot this mini-documentary for Discovery Digital Networks that provides a look into a relevant issue for India’s youth.
BEST MINI-DOCS SERIES
Great Big Story: Uncharted
This year, Great Big Story stunned all of us at Storyhunter with their Uncharted series. Each Uncharted documentary takes the viewers to some of the world’s most interesting, bizarre, and intriguing places. To develop the series GBS relied on an open assignment calling for pitches from around the world, as well as more specific assignments that they had identified back at HQ.
Title: A Medieval Abbey Trapped by Tides and Time
Storyhunter Journalist: Hela Khamarou
Great Big Story’s most watched video on Facebook with 16 million views, this is a wonderfully shot story, made possible by the persistence of their editors and Paris-based video journalist, Hela Khamarou, who fought to get this incredible drone access.
Title: Wasteland Weekend Is the Real Life ‘Mad Max’
Storyhunter Filmmaker: Jonathan Barenboim
Los Angeles-based DP, Jonathan Barenboim, brings us an unusual and incredible look into the strange world of Wasteland Weekend in the Mojave Desert.
BEST ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Daddy Daughter Hair School
Publication: 60 Second Docs
Storyhunter Filmmaker: Irene Carolina Herrera
Tokyo-based filmmaker, Irene Herrera, shot this heartfelt story about an important issue fathers face. The viral video received over 28 million views and 300,000 shares on Facebook since being published on November 29.
Ghana’s Eco-Friendly Bamboo Bikes
Publication: AJ+
Storyhunter Videographer: Stefan Wagner
Besides the fun look at bamboo bikes, Germany-based videographer, Stefan Wagner, brings us a close look at a Ghanaian entrepreneur who’s making a difference in her community. This video went viral with over 30 million views and 600,000 shares.
Refugees Have Always Sought Asylum in America
Publication: ATTN:
Storyhunter Filmmaker: Jacob Hurwitz-Goodman
You wouldn’t think a video of sit-down interviews would perform so well on Facebook. But the context and the emotional stories of these Holocaust survivors really resonated with people, and LA-based director, Jacob Hurwitz-Goodman’s video was shared over 130,000 times and racked up more than 7 million views.
BEST SHORT-FORM BRANDED
Kollecto: Revitalizing Detroit Small Business | JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Publication: Atlantic Re:think
Storyhunter Journalist: Carlos Perez Beltran
Carlos P. Beltran, a roaming video journalist based in Caracas, worked with Atlantic Re-Think on this well shot, lit, and edited video for JP Morgan Chase & Co.
GoPro: Behind the Piñata — A Mexican Tradition
Publication: GoPro
Storyhunter Filmmaker: John Dickie
Shot on all GoPro cameras, this video was a challenge. The idea was to tell a very personal story using GoPros in unusual ways and Oaxaca-based filmmaker, John Dickie, knocked it out of the park.
BEST RECIPE VIDEO
Southern Style Biscuits and Gravy
Publication: LittleThings
Storyhunter Videographer: Jared Abrams
Recipe videos have been taking Facebook by storm and freelance cinematographer, Jared Abrams, shot this fun mouth-watering video that received 3.5 million views.
BEST VIDEOS FOR A CAUSE
Natalie Robi — Kenya
Publication: Global Citizen
Storyhunter Freelancer: Shravan Vidyarthi
As part of their “I Am A Global Citizen” series on people making a difference in their communities around the world, the video tells a story of a brave woman who educates young women about female circumcision in Kenya. The video was produced by Nairobi-based freelancer Shravan Vidyarthi.
Sleeping Sickness: Combating a Nasty Parasite
Publication: Gates Foundation
Storyhunter Producer: Alex Pritz
Using techniques from media companies and social media videos, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation provides an insightful and engaging look into African Sleeping Sickness in this video by Nairobi-based producer, Alex Pritz.
BEST DRONE VIDEO
Behold the Marble Caves of Patagonia
Publication: Great Big Story
Storyhunter Journalist: Mathias Meier
The Marble Caves of Chile are an incredibly difficult place to get to, but Santiago-based journalist, Mathias Meier, makes this perfectly-shot drone video look effortless.
BEST NEWS COVERAGE
AJ+ on the Black Lives Matter Movement
In the last two years, AJ+’s coverage of the Black Lives Matter movement was relentless, beating even traditional news outlets to the stories by developing real-time, mobile journalism workflows. With dozens of mobile videos and live streams across the United States, AJ+ has provided viewers with an outstanding amount of journalism on this relevant topic.
Title: Black Students Matter
Storyhunter Freelancer: Tim Exton
Seattle-based freelancer, Tim Exton, produced two well-shot videos on Seattle schools supporting Black Student’s Lives Matter.
Title: Charlotte Protesters Demand Justice
Storyhunter Journalist: Myrna Perez
An excellent example of mobile journalism, Miami-based journalist, Myrna Perez, traveled to Charlotte to cover these protesters’ stories.
BEST UNTOLD STORY
More Arrests at Standing Rock
Publication: Fusion Media Networks
Storyhunter Freelancer: Sara Lafleur-Vetter and Jonathan Klett
Despite not getting much mainstream media attention, the protests against the DAPL at Standing Rock Reservation were covered relentlessly by Fusion. Storyhunter filmmaker Sara Lafleur-Vetter and Jonathan Klett even stuck around for the snowy, frigid winter to produce this piece. It turns out that despite the wintry conditions, the protests, and the arrests, are continuing.
BEST STORY ACCESS
Shocking video reveals how Venezuelans survive in the murder capital of the world
Publication: New York Post
Storyhunter Journalist: Carlos Perez Beltran
A prolific journalist on the platform, Carlos P. Beltran gets incredible access to these drug dealers in Venezuela.
Think you produced an equally deserving video through Storyhunter in 2016? We’ve been wrong in the past and will gladly add any deserving contenders. Send us the link at community@storyhunter.com.
By the Storyhunter Staff