“Villeneuve Pironi” the Formula 1 documentary chronicling the legendary rivalry between the two Ferrari drivers, has earned two coveted prizes at the 2023 International Motor Film Awards.
At the world’s most prestigious event for the automotive film and television industry, in addition to being named Best Feature Documentary, Villeneuve Pironi: Racing’s Untold Tragedy, produced by Noah Media Group for Sky Italia and Sky Studios, in association with F1.
It also claimed the top distinction – the Grand Prix Award – a competition which included several multimillion-dollar Hollywood blockbusters, including Fast and Furious, John Wick Chapter 4, and Grand Turismo.
The recognition is a testament to the documentary’s authenticity and profound storytelling, through the vision and interpretation of director Torquil Jones.
“The story is really about how the families and the wives and the girlfriends and the children, how they react to that and how they have to live with the emptiness of not having a husband, not having a father.
“The kind of long-term emotional scars that come with being with people where that singular passion really overtakes everything,” revealed Jones of his project in an interview with GRANDPRIX247.
John McKenna, co-founder and CEO of Noah Media Group, added: “Everyone at Noah Media Group is thrilled to receive two awards from the International Motor Film Award judges. To win the Grand Prix Award, open to all categories, exceeded all expectations.”
Mélanie: It’s heartwarming to see my father’s legacy continues to shine brilliantly across the world
“A huge thank you to the Villeneuve and Pironi families for trusting us to tell their poignant story. To be recognised by those within the sport in this way is amazing. We are very proud of all the team that made the film,” added McKenna.
Daughter of the illustrious F1 driver Gilles Villeneuve, Mélanie Villeneuve shared her honest reaction to the documentary’s unprecedented win. “I am deeply honoured and, quite frankly, stunned by the Grand Prix Award.
“It’s heartwarming to see that my father’s legacy not only resides in my heart but continues to shine brilliantly across the world. Gilles and the automotive industry have always shared a special bond, and these accolades symbolize his immortality,” Mélanie said.
The documentary delves into the intense rivalry between Gilles Villeneuve and Didier Pironi, two fearless Ferrari F1 drivers in the early 1980s.
Through captivating archive footage, interviews with F1 World Champions Jacques Villeneuve, Alain Prost and Sir Jackie Stewart, alongside the Villeneuve and Pironi families plus their F1 and Ferrari contemporaries, the in-depth story of their rise to glory culminating in that infamous and tragic 1982 F1 season is revealed.