NEW YORK, November, 2013. In its inaugural debut, The Manuel Rivera-Ortiz Foundation for Documentary Photography & Film today awarded Sri Lankan journalist and filmmaker Kannan Arunasalam its first annual prize for best documentary film. Selected by the executive board of the foundation, Kannan Arunasalam will receive a US$5,000 prize for best documentary short film. His film, The Story of One, documents the lives of a priest and a boy as it attempts to trace what happened to them 22 years after their disappearance during the time of violence at the hands of security forces and among strife between Tamil Tigers and Muslims gangs in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. “Rooted in reportage and traditional documentary filmmaking, Kannan’s film doesn’t try to tone down these atrocities. Instead, he treats the viewer to the very voices of those that had been there and lost loved ones,” said Foundation Founder and President Manuel Rivera-Ortiz. “Kannan bears witness on our behalf reminding us yet again of the power of not only the moving voice, but of the moving picture. His work exemplifies the core mission of our foundation.”