The 60 min documentary produced for Five follows Biologist and extreme angler Jeremy Wade as he ventures deep into unmapped territory along a five-mile stretch of the Kali river in North India to discover what has been terrorizing local villagers. On his journey along the river, Wade uncovers a dark, unsettling truth. In a place where cremations are conducted on the riverbank, it seems that partially burned body parts discarded into the river have led an unidentified creature to develop a taste for human flesh. Aided with sonar and underwater cameras Jeremy is determined to reveal the identity of a man-eater. In an epic duel, Jeremy’s determination and skill is eventually rewarded in a scene to take your breath away and prove that truth is sometimes stranger than fiction.

The programme first aired on Five on 21st October 2008 at 8pm and achieved 7.4% of the audience share and 1.8M viewers

Flesh Eating River Monster was produced and directed by Luke Wiles

Harry Marshall was executive producer

Their nominee Duncan Fairs took home the Craft Award for Camerawork specifically for his work on River Monsters.

The series mixes reconstructions with actuality, interviews and natural history – in other words the full range of documentary genres and styles. The locations – tropical Amazonia – were amongst the most challenging physically and technically (humidity/heat/water and bugs…. all against you) and the challenge of documenting Jeremy catching some of the largest and rarest fish on the planet was formidable. But at every level Duncan Fairs not only succeeded, he triumphed.

Duncan brought a dark brooding style to the shows that has defined the River Monsters brand (and is now much imitated). The brief was to emulate the horror movie genre and Duncan did this with an action/adventure twist. The recreations – in particular of a bus crashing into the Amazon, the passengers to be devoured by piranha – stands comparison with any drama on television.

In terms of actuality, the sense of immediacy has set the series apart – giving viewers an uncanny and visceral sense of being present – immersed in the location and in the unfolding events.

What distinguishes Duncan Fairs and all experts at the height of their craft is that he makes it look easy; effortless and natural. Only those who have worked in similar locations and situations will fully know what an achievement this is and why Duncan Fairs is an extraordinary cameraman.

River Monsters was commissioned by Animal Planet US and became the best performing series in the network’s history . The 2nd series is due to air on Animal Planet US from April 2010.

Icon Films also had three finalist nominees:

Chris Stitchman for the Newcomer award; BBC One Show – Secret Sign Posted Britain for Daytime and Mountains of the Monsoon, a BBC 2 Natural World, for Specialist Factual.

The awards were presented on Friday 26th February at The Watershed and the full listing of results can be found here