Iraq and Syria reporting dominates Rory Peck Awards

Freelancers working in some of the world's most dangerous conflict zones were honoured on Wednesday night

Zein Al-Rifai reporting from the front line of the Syrian civil war in Aleppo

Journalists from Syria, northern Iraq and Pakistan were honoured at the Rory Peck Awards on Wednesday night, in a 20th anniversary ceremony celebrating the bravest freelance cameramen and camerawomen.

The Rory Peck Award for News went to Syrian freelancer Zein Al-Rifai, 27, for his coverage of the brutal, on-going conflict in his home town of Aleppo, Syria. His film, Aleppo: Life in Ruins, shows the devastating impact of continuous barrel bombing on the civilian population. Judges said Zein’s footage “never loses sight of the humanity – of what makes people continue to soldier on – in the worst of circumstances.”

Three of the four prize winners were nominated for work in either Syria or Iraq. The News Features award was won by Iraqi freelancer Zmnako Ismael for a dramatic series of reports depicting the exodus of tens of thousands of Yazidis from Mount Sinjar as Islamic State swept through the region. The film, which was self-funded and broadcast by Channel 4 News, was “incredibly moving” according to the judges.

The remaining winners were Haider Ali, who won the Sony Impact Award for a report into the sexual abuse of boys by Pakistani truck drivers, and Hassan Ashwor, recipient of the Martin Adler Prize for local fixers. Ashwor has become a key contact for journalists and human rights organisations looking to investigate crimes perpetrated by Islamic State against the Yazidi population.

Sky News’ Alex Crawford hosted the event, which took place at London’s BFI Southbank, and many grandees from the world of journalism were also in attendance. The Rory Peck Trust – named after freelance cameraman Rory Peck who was killed while filming in Moscow in 1993 – provides financial and practical assistance to freelance journalists and their families all over the world.