Jury Announced for PUMA.Creative Impact Award 2012

LONDON, April 26, 2012 /CNW/ - Today PUMA.Creative and the BRITDOC Foundation announced the jurors for the PUMA.Creative Impact Award 2012. The jury consists of 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.

The 2012 PUMA.Creative Impact Award Jury represents the worlds of film, the arts, academia, social change and journalism.

The BRITDOC Foundation will assess the applications and produce a shortlist for consideration by an international Peer Review Committee including: Diana Barrett at Fledgling Fund; Heidi Gronauer at EsoDoc; Yvette Alberdingk Thjim at Witness; Wendy Levy at Tomorrow Partners; Willie McKenzie at Greenpeace International; Jamie Drummond at One.org; Pam Harris at Iris Films; and Sharon LaCruise at the Ford Foundation. Five finalists will emerge from this consultation period, which will be presented to the PUMA.Creative Impact Jury to assess the merits of the films, evaluate relative impact and announce an overall winner.

Filmmakers interested in applying for the PUMA.Creative Impact Award 2012 should go to

http://www.britdoc.org/impactaward

Editors' Notes:

For bios of the jurors, more information and to download images, please visit http://puma.digitalnewsagency.com/

Media Contacts:
Elise McCave, BRITDOC Foundation, [email protected], [phone]
Marlene Ringel, PUMA.Creative, [email protected], [phone]