The Doc’n Roll Jury Award for Documentary of the Year 2025 has been awarded to the feature documentary Monk in Pieces, directed by Billy Shebar.
The accolade for Monk in Pieces was announced by Doc’n Roll co-directors Vanessa Lobon Garcia and Colm Forde on the final day of Doc’n Roll’s 12th annual London film festival. Shebar’s documentary is a stylistically rich tribute to the wildly original composer, performer and interdisciplinary artist Meredith Monk.
Via animation, archive footage, performance and more, Monk in Pieces spotlights emblematic projects by the fearlessly inventive artist, who began her career in the male-dominated New York arts scene of the 1960s and 1970s – and, as Shebar’s film shows, was obliged to battle for respect from critics and other gatekeepers.
Now hailed as a pioneer, and acknowledged by Philip Glass as the greatest of her generation, Monk is responsible for a dazzling body of work that ranges from opera and film to music theatre, dance and vocal jazz. She has influenced and collaborated with the likes of David Byrne and Björk, both of whom attest to her brilliance, wit and creativity in Monk in Pieces.
The Doc’n Roll jury also singled out two further films featured in this year’s programme for commendation: The Big Johnson and Move Ya Body: The Birth of House.
The Big Johnson is director and musician Lola Rocknrolla’s frank, vivid and loving tribute to the life and times of the indomitable Dean Johnson, a queer trailblazer, drag queen, Island Records recording artist, activist and escort.
Move Ya Body, directed by Elegance Bratton, tells the story of Chicago house’s creation in the dying days of disco, as Vince Lawrence and friends used drum machines and synthesisers to shape a new sound that would spark a global movement.
Applause for jurors Jeremy, Kate, Melissa, Pauline, Raul and Vic
This year’s Doc’n Roll festival jury included six members renowned for their creativity and prominence in the worlds of music, art, journalism and film.
All gave generously of their time to watch the six shortlisted films and name the best of the best in this year’s festival.
Doc’n Roll’s jury members for 2025 are: Jeremy Deller, the Turner Prize-winning artist; Kate Hutchinson, journalist, broadcaster and DJ; Melissa auf der Maur, musician, photographer and producer; Pauline Black, performer, singer, songwriter and author; Raul Niño Zambrano, Creative Director of Sheffield DocFest; and Vic Galloway, journalist, musician and BBC broadcaster.
‘Heartfelt thanks’ for recognition for Monk’s story: director
Acknowledging the Doc’n Roll Jury Award for 2025, Monk in Pieces director Billy Shebar said: “On behalf of the creative team behind Monk in Pieces and all the performers who appeared in the film, heartfelt thanks to the Doc’n Roll Film Festival for this honour.”
He added: ”Doc’n Roll did a brilliant job of presenting our UK premiere, and the award came as a lovely surprise at the end. We’re very grateful for it. Thanks also to Meredith for trusting me with her work and her story, and to my wife Katie Geissinger, who has worked with Meredith since 1990, and was a constant source of inspiration and insight during the making of this film.”
Doc’n Roll jury member Pauline Black commended Shebar’s skill in presenting facets of the artist’s ”bottomless” work.
“A superb film capturing the uniqueness of such a singular talent. The pieces are sometimes like looking at Hieronymus Bosch’s painting Garden of Earthly Delights. There is so much to see and hear, but it can only be broken down into pieces to fully absorb what she is trying to do; the depth of meaning she brings to her art seems bottomless. There is a wonderful moment where we see a whole load of critics in split-screen boxes babbling away about how best to describe Monk and failing to pigeonhole her – genius!” Black said.
Her fellow juror Vic Galloway added: “I loved this: the originality of the subject matter, as well as the cinematography, storytelling, animation, archive footage and unobtrusive b-roll were all superb. What an amazing life she has led and is still leading. The film is a great tribute to her as an artist, and is a work of art itself – brilliant storytelling that was clever, artful, elegant, tender, humorous, respectful, mysterious, yet honest and true.”
‘An extraordinary life’: jury plaudits for Dean Johnson doc
The Big Johnson director Lola Rocknrolla said: “The Big Johnson is honoured to receive a special jury mention from the Doc’n Roll Film festival. A huge thanks to Vanessa, Colm and the rest of the Doc’n Roll team.
“This festival, in my opinion, is the absolute best in the UK and in a word...they ROCK! Thank you so much. We are honoured to just be a part of it, and to have the jury recognise the film and Dean Johnson fills us all with gratitude and queer joy,” added Rocknrolla.
Juror Vic Galloway observed: “Although I am a NYC counterculture and music fan, I was unaware of Dean Johnson and was amazed to learn about his extraordinary life. He was a real pioneer and this is a great film about him. It didn’t shy away from harsh or shocking truths, but was tender and humorous in its portrayal.”
Also shortlisted for the Doc’n Roll Jury Award for Documentary of the Year 2025 were the feature documentaries I Was a Teenage Sex Pistol (directed by Andre Relis and Nick Mead), How Tanita Tikaram Became a LIAR (directed by Natacha Horn), and Boy George & Culture Club (directed by Alison Ellwood), all of which screened in London as part of Doc’n Roll’s 12th season.
Have your say: Doc’n Roll Audience Award 2025 votes close on 17 November
Once again this year, Doc’n Roll Film Festival’s filmgoers will have the opportunity to cast their ballots for their favourite film of the festival, and provide a popular-vote counterpart to the annual jury award.
To take part in our yearly people’s choice award, share your thoughts on any of the films you saw between 23 October and 9 November via the online voting form.
All entrants will have the opportunity to win four free streams from Doc’n Roll TV, Doc’n Roll’s on-demand platform featuring over 50 music documentaries.