Clio Barnard

Clio graduated from DJCAD after completing a postgraduate degree in Electronic Imaging. She is currently a Reader in Film Studies at the University of Kent.

Clio recently won the top British documentary award at The Griersons 2011 (also known as the British Documentary Awards). Her film "The Arbor" won the Dochouse and The Bertha Foundation Best Cinema Documentary award.

Dawn Airey, Chairman of The Grierson Trust opened the awards evening saying: "The creativity, dedication and determination displayed by this year's award winners demonstrate what rude health the genre pioneered by John Grierson more than 80 years ago is in. It's especially impressive when you consider the ever-increasing pressures film-makers face.

Still from "The Arbor"

"When it came to deciding the winners the judging day was once again robust and peppered with violent disagreements, but the final selection illustrates the sheer breadth and depth of subjects tackled by documentary makers. But it is absolutely right that these films should invoke strong passions and debate among the judges because that is precisely what documentary films should be doing in the wider world.

"It is that recognition by ones' peers that should make winning a 'Grierson' the high watermark of every documentary makers' career."

Clio's film "The Arbor" portrays the late Bradford playwright Andrea Dunbar. It blurs the lines between narrative and documentary film making and has already won Barnard a best new documentary filmmaker prize at 2010's Tribeca Film Festival.

Grierson 2011 Jury Chairman, Mandy Chang summed up the jurors' thoughts saying "The Arbor ambushes you in a good way. This is a moving and truly original film whose courageous creative approach makes a lasting impact."