_{Master of Light by Rosa Ruth Boesten}

Statement by the jury: “In both substance and form, Master of Light is a gift. The earnest and gifted painter George Anthony Morton embeds viewers in his world as he struggles to render his mother — both on the canvas and in his psyche. Boesten disabuses us of static tropes about America’s merciless drug war and about contemporary art. With astonishing intimacy, the film’s visuals build an artful bridge between two- and three-dimensional realms that are deeply rooted and utterly transcendent. Put this painting of film in a museum, next to a Rembrandt and a Morton.”

Master of Light follows George Anthony Morton, a classical painter who spent ten years in federal prison for dealing drugs. While incarcerated, he nurtured his craft and unique artistic ability. Since his release, he is doing everything he can to defy society's unlevel playing field and tackle the white-dominant art world. Now, he is on a journey back to his hometown of Kansas City, where he tries to heal the broken relationship with his mother-- who's in-and-out of jail-- and paint family members in the style of the Dutch Old Masters.

See NL congratulates director Rosa Ruth Boesten, One Story Up Productions and Docmakers Amsterdam with this award! For the full list of winners of SXSW, click here.