Jury Announced for PUMA.Creative Impact Award 2012

[Luke W Moody]

PUMA.Creative and the BRITDOC Foundation announce the jurors for the PUMA.Creative Impact Award 2012: Hollywood actors and activists, Danny Glover and Djimon Hounsou; director, Mira Nair; writer and campaigner, Jemima Khan; and Executive Director of Greenpeace International, Kumi Naidoo. The second annual PUMA.Creative Impact Award, which honours the documentary films creating the most significant impact in the world today, comes with a cash prize of 50,000 euros which acknowledges the film’s makers and also helps the continuation of the film’s campaigning work.

“This award is part of PUMA’s ongoing commitment at the intersection of film and activism, and is in line with our mission to contribute to a better world,” said Mark Coetzee, Programme Director, PUMAVision and Chief Curator, PUMA.Creative, “a world that is safer, more peaceful, and more creative than the one we know today." In 2011 the Award went to the team behind The End of the Line, an environmental documentary on the overfishing of the world’s oceans. That year the jury also awarded a special Jury Commendation— with a 25,000 euro prize—to the makers of Burma VJ, about the 2009 Burmese uprising and the video journalists who risked their life to report on it.

"Thanks to PUMA.Creative for making this important initiative possible. Together we want to identify and honour the filmmakers having the biggest effect with their work and to inspire others the world over to use the power of storytelling to bring about lasting improvements to society and the planet," said Jess Search, Chief Executive, BRITDOC Foundation. "I can't wait to see who this year's outstanding nominees are going to be."

The Call for Entries for the 2012 PUMA.Creative Impact Award is now open. Submissions close on May 11, 2012. Anyone can put a film forward from any country—filmmakers, distributors, film festivals, partner organisations including NGOs and Foundations, film critics and journalists. Films can be put forward any time up to three years after release. Filmmakers interested in applying for the PUMA.Creative Impact Award 2012 should go to: www.britdoc.org/impactaward